Providing services, keeping costs low
Dakota County knows how important it is to provide critical services to residents and use your tax dollars wisely. The county’s proposed 2023 budget strikes that balance.
Next year’s budget proposal funds a variety of services, including public health, elections, law enforcement, roads, environmental protection, parks and libraries. The 2023 budget plan totals $437 million — $305 million for operations and $132 million for capital investment.
Just as inflation has driven up household expenses, the cost to maintain high-quality county services also has increased. Due to those rising costs, the budget includes a proposed property tax levy increase of 1.9 percent over the 2022 levy, to be voted on Dec. 13 by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners.
Dakota County is committed to providing residents with essential and popular services next year while maintaining the lowest county tax rate in the metro area and the lowest county tax per capita in the state.
Residents appreciate our careful budgeting. In the 2022 Residential Survey, most residents said they get great value from the county for their tax dollar.
To learn more, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search budget.
INSIDE: + Bison arrival + County elections + Holiday recycling + Park events + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + PLUS Welcome
Plus,
mailing
Combined with
twice-yearly
Newsletter, we’re giving you more county news, service information and activity updates
year.
to the winter 2022 edition of the Dakota County
a
to all county households.
the
Dakota County
throughout the
Bison arrive at Spring Lake Park Reserve
The reintroduction of American plains bison to Dakota County prairieland is underway.
Eight bison arrived this fall at Spring Lake Park Reserve. The animals were delivered from three participating members of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd — Minneopa State Park, Blue Mounds State Park and Olmsted County’s Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo. Over time, the Spring Lake Park herd will grow to about 15 bison. The bison — all females — spent the frst few weeks getting to know one another
inside an enclosure that encouraged interaction. They will spend much of the winter in a paddock on the prairie’s east end. Over time, the bison will rotate among diferent paddocks. The prairie should provide the bison ample nutrition throughout the winter, and they have access to fresh water. Dakota County-grown prairie hay will be kept on reserve if needed. Bison play an important role in restoring the prairie at Spring Lake Park Reserve. Their grazing habits boost plant diversity by giving fowers the chance to compete with the tall grasses bison eat.
Dakota County Parks will hold public events and programs in 2023 to celebrate the bison’s reintroduction.
www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search bison
Think spring with winter seeding
Help restore Dakota County All the necessary supplies, prairies by joining the volunteer materials and training to Seedsters team and growing successfully grow the native plants at home this plants will be provided. winter. What you grow will be planted in Dakota County Parks next year.
www.dakotacounty.us, search volunteer
Get help with homework
Free homework help for students in grades K–12 is available at two Dakota County Library locations:
• Galaxie Library, Apple Valley Tuesdays from 5–7 p.m.
• Burnhaven Library, Burnsville Wednesdays from 5–7 p.m.
Volunteers can help students with a variety of subjects, including math, science, language arts and more. For more information about homework help and other
free educational resources, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library, search learning support.
If you are interested in volunteering at Homework Help, visit www.dakotacounty.us, search volunteer
Bring
•
to
with your holiday trash
What
do
a 25-percent increase
During the holiday season, there is
of trash per household from gift wrap, packaging, decorations and more. Here is how you should get rid of it: Recycling cart
Cardboard and paper boxes, fattened
• Cards and envelopes
Keep Trash Recycle Donate, reuse or toss
Garland and tinsel
Glitter
foil wrapping paper and tissue paper
• Plain wrapping paper
•
•
or
• Ribbons and bows
bubble wrap, air pillows and string lights to a recycling drop-of site or throw them away. Find drop-of locations and more at www.dakotacounty.us, search recycling guide.
County elected ofces flled
More than 201,000 Dakota County voters cast ballots in the Nov. 8 general election. They elected a new county commissioner in District 4 and re-elected four others. They also elected the county attorney and a new sherif.
I Voted
Commissioner District 2
Joe Atkins — 18,122 Jimmy Francis — 7,352
Commissioner District 3
Laurie Halverson — 16,904 Janine Hudson — 5,547
Commissioner District 4
Bill Droste — 13,519 Seema Maddali — 10,817
Commissioner District 6
Mary Liz Holberg — 15,382 Mike Robole — 7,872
I Voted
Turnout among Dakota County’s registered voters was 71 percent. Statewide turnout was 61 percent.
County race results:
Commissioner District 1
Mike Slavik (unopposed) — 20,696
County Sherif
Joe Leko (unopposed) — 133,308 County Attorney
Kathy Keena — 84,519 Matt Little — 78,846
For detailed election results, go to mnvotes.org.
Sherif Leslie retires
Tim Leslie is retiring this month after eight years as Dakota County sherif and a total of 42 years in law enforcement.
Voters last month elected current Chief Deputy Joe Leko to succeed Leslie.
Leslie was frst elected sherif in 2014 after fve years as chief deputy. He was re-elected in 2018. He previously worked for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the St. Paul Police Department.
During Leslie’s tenure, he pushed for building the SMART Center,
a training facility for law enforcement and frst responders. He also advocated for mental health crisis response training.
Under Leslie’s leadership, the sherif’s ofce implemented body-worn cameras for jail and licensed deputies and established a sherif’s citizen advisory council. It also expanded its electronic crimes unit, enhanced commercial vehicle enforcement to improve safety and collaborated with police chiefs to make Dakota County a safe place to live.
Enjoy winter outdoors
A pair of special park events aim to set the winter scene. These family-friendly festivities begin with the annual New Year’s Eve Party Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Lebanon Hills Regional Park Visitor Center.
Enjoy candlelight ice skating, hiking and snowshoeing — weather permitting. Visit www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search new year’s eve for tickets and more information.
Trails by Candlelight returns Jan. 20 at Spring Lake Park Reserve for hiking and
snowshoeing on plowed paths and on Feb. 17 at Lebanon Hills, where trails will be lit for cross-country skiers, snowshoers and hikers. Visit www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search candlelight for more information.
Don’t miss out on outdoor activities all winter long
• Miles of cross-country ski trails. Get rental information and trail conditions at www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search skiing.
• Snowshoeing at six Dakota County parks, with rental equipment available at Lebanon Hills.
Stay healthy with vaccinations
Stay healthier this winter by staying up to date on your fu shot and other vaccinations.
Dakota County Public Health ofers immunization clinics for children and adults. Vaccines are free for families who qualify, including those who are uninsured and children on Minnesota health care plans.
COVID-19 vaccinations are also available, including
the new bivalent booster. COVID-19 shots are free for everyone.
Find upcoming clinics and schedule an appointment at www.dakotacounty.us, search COVID-19. Call 952-891-7999 for an appointment. Get additional vaccine locations across the county at www.vaccines.gov.
Dakota County Board
Mike Slavik
District 1 651-438-4427
Kathleen A. Gaylord
District 2 651-438-4428
Laurie Halverson
District 3 651-438-4429
Joe Atkins District 4 651-438-4430
Liz Workman
District 5 651-438-4431
Mary Liz Holberg District 6 651-438-4243
News for you
Mary Hamann-Roland District 7 651-438-4411
Get the latest county news emailed to you. Subscribe to Dakota County’s e-news service. Go to www.dakotacounty.us, search e-news.
Topics include
• Library and park events
• County meeting notices and agendas
• Recycling and the environment
Email: board@co.dakota.mn.us
Web: www.dakotacounty.us
• Public health and community services Public notices and more Administration Center
•
1590 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033
