Dodge County, MN

Committee of the Whole

The Dodge County Committee of the Whole will review a recommendation from the Insurance Committee. The body will also discuss an expired conditional use permit (#04-15).

• Insurance Committee Recommendation presented by Nichole Farnsworth
• Discussion of expired CUP #04-15 presented by Jackson Miller

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss county administration, public health, and public works. Key items include fee approvals, facility maintenance, and road project payments.

• Approval of 2027 Tobacco License Fees
• Final payments for SAP 020-615-022 and SAP 020-601-016
• Public Health stoop and north door replacement
• Annex South Entry site improvements
• Lift Station Maintenance Agreement with the City of Kasson

Administration Committee

The Dodge County Administration Committee will meet to review bills and HR agenda items. The committee will also receive a presentation regarding a lift station maintenance agreement with the City of Kasson.

• Lift station maintenance agreement with City of Kasson
• Review of bills
• HR Agenda 10/13/2026
• Minutes of September 22, 2026 meeting

Public Health Committee

The Dodge County Public Health Committee will receive a departmental update from Director Amy Evans. The committee is also scheduled to consider the approval of tobacco license fees for 2027.

• Approval of 2027 Tobacco License Fees

Public Safety Committee

The Dodge County Public Safety Committee will meet to hear a presentation regarding the 2027 Towards Zero Deaths Grant. Sergeant Scott Prins is scheduled to present the item.

• Presentation on 2027 Towards Zero Deaths Grant

Public Works Committee

The Dodge County Public Works Committee will meet to review final payments for two SAP projects. The committee will also discuss an embankment quantity overrun related to a road widening project.

• Final payment for SAP 020-615-022
• Final payment for SAP 020-601-016
• Embankment quantity overrun for road widening project

October 7th, 2026 Planning Commission

The Dodge County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on an interim use permit (IUP#26-08) for Carstensen and consider a zoning amendment (ZA#26-04) affecting Chapters 16, 17, and 18. The meeting includes approval of the previous meeting's minutes and public hearing notice. Participation is available in person, via Microsoft Teams, or through written comments.

• IUP#26-08 Carstensen interim use permit
• ZA#26-04 zoning amendment to Chapters 16, 17 & 18
• Public hearing notice for October 7, 2026 meeting
• Approval of September 2, 2026 meeting minutes

Administration Committee

The Dodge County Administration Committee is meeting to review routine administrative items, including the approval of minutes from the September 8 regular session, a personnel agenda, and 2026 commissioner bills. No major policy decisions or public hearings are scheduled; the agenda consists of standard administrative business.

• Approval of minutes from September 8, 2026 regular session
• Personnel agenda for September 22, 2026
• 2026 commissioner bills

Board of Commissioners

The Dodge County Board of Commissioners will convene to handle routine business, including approving the consent agenda, reviewing departmental reports, and adopting the 2027 preliminary budget. The board will also consider several environmental services items, including a grant application, a market price adjustment for the transfer station, and abatement quotes for specific properties.

• Final payment for SAP 020-599-127
• Review CVSO grant/budget and approve funds to be returned
• Request to apply for Greater MN grant for the ReUse
• Market price adjustment for Transfer Station
• 2027 Preliminary Budget Adoption

The Board approved a preliminary 2027 budget and tax levy, authorized a grant application for a ReUse Center expansion, and awarded a $120,000 property abatement contract. Other actions included setting the 2027 solid waste market price and approving various personnel changes.

• Adopted 2027 preliminary budget of $43,986,813 and tax levy of $20,213,369 (4-1)
• Authorized grant application for ReUse Center addition not to exceed $175,000 (unanimous)
• Awarded property abatement bid for PID 10.010.0300 and 10.010.0301 to Timm’s Auto Salvage and Recycling for $120,000 (unanimous)
• Set 2027 Solid Waste Market Price at $89.60 per ton (unanimous)
• Approved preliminary special benefit tax levy of $62,284 for SEMMCHRA (4-1)
• Authorized return of $3,696.66 in unused grant funds to MDVA (unanimous)
• Approved $287,852.94 in bills across Revenue, Road and Bridge, and Environmental Quality funds (unanimous)
• Approved property tax penalty and interest abatement of $466.84 for parcel 24.951.0312 (4-1)

Fairview Care Center Board of Directors

Public Works Committee

The Dodge County Public Works Committee is meeting to receive two presentations from County Engineer Noah Baumgarten: one on the final payment for SAP 020-599-127 and another on a striping invoice. No decisions are listed on the agenda; these are informational items.

• Final payment for SAP 020-599-127
• Striping invoice

Veteran Services Committee

The Dodge County Veteran Services Committee is meeting to discuss a request from Veteran Services Officer Jacob Petersen to accept a donation for veteran services. The agenda contains only this single presentation item, with no other business listed.

• Request to accept Veteran Services donation

Administration Committee

Public Works Committee

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved a $5,800 grant for multidisciplinary opioid training and authorized $18,438.44 for parking lot seal coating. Commissioners also reviewed a request for a new Sheriff's Office staff position and directed staff to obtain cleanup quotes for two properties in violation of county ordinances. The 2027 budget and preliminary levy remain under discussion.

• Approved $5,800 for MNPrairie County Alliance training (5-0)
• Approved $18,438.44 for parking lot seal coat project (5-0)
• Approved professional service agreement for grandstand repairs (5-0)
• Approved personnel actions for Administration, Environmental, and Sheriff (5-0)
• Approved amended Conditional Use Permit for Return, LLC (5-0)
• Approved $246,049.30 in county bills (5-0)
• Directed staff to obtain cleanup quotes for Schienbein properties (Consensus)

Public Health Committee

September 2nd, 2026 Planning Commission

The Dodge County Planning Commission will meet on September 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Conference Room B of the Government Services Building. The main item is a public hearing on an amended conditional use permit (CUP#25-05) for Return LLC. The commission will also approve the agenda and minutes from the July 1st meeting. Public participation is available in person, via Microsoft Teams, or through written comments.

• CUP#25-05 (Amend.) Return LLC
• Approval of minutes from July 1st, 2026 meeting
• Public hearing notice for September 2nd, 2026 meeting
• Meeting at 721 Main St N., Mantorville, MN 55955
• Written comments due three business days prior to meeting

The Dodge County Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of an amendment to Conditional Use Permit 25-05 for Return LLC. The amendment allows for the addition of an onsite fertilizer pelletizing facility and three new structures at their existing Agricultural Sales Business in Hayfield Township, subject to 19 staff conditions. The commission also approved the September 2nd, 2026 agenda and July 1st, 2026 minutes.

• Approved September 2nd, 2026 agenda and July 1st, 2026 minutes (unanimous)
• Closed public hearing for CUP #25-05 Amendment (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of CUP #25-05 Amendment with 19 conditions (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting at 7:20 PM (unanimous)

Administration Committee

The Dodge County Administration Committee is meeting to review and discuss routine administrative items, including the approval of meeting minutes, human resources agenda items, and 2026 commissioner bills. No major policy decisions or public hearings are scheduled.

• Approval of August 11, 2026 regular session minutes
• HR agenda items presented by Employee Relations Director
• 2026 commissioner bills presented by Finance Director

Public Safety Committee

Public Works Committee

Board of Commissioners

The Dodge County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution of support for Al-Corn Clean Fuel's application to the Minnesota Forward Fund, which would help fund a nearly $250 million expansion. The board also approved personnel actions, a joint powers agreement, a gambling permit, and other routine items. All votes were unanimous.

• Approved Resolution #2026-28 supporting Al-Corn Clean Fuel's Future Forward Fund application (unanimous)
• Approved personnel actions including step increases and status changes (unanimous)
• Approved updated MNPrairie Joint Powers Agreement effective Jan 1, 2027 (unanimous)
• Approved National Preparedness Month proclamation (unanimous)
• Approved bills totaling $261,746.86 (unanimous)
• Approved WGA 4 Kids 50/50 raffle gambling permit for Sept 12, 2026 (unanimous)
• Approved out-of-state training for 3 Sheriff's Office employees at cost of $3,946 (unanimous)

Fairview Care Center Board Meeting

The Fairview Care Center Board is meeting to review and act on routine operational items, including approval of bills, financial reports, personnel actions, and a proposed preventative maintenance inspection plan for the HVAC unit. The board will also discuss workforce updates and facility maintenance projects.

• Approved bills totaling $216,736.97 for July 2026
• Approved $6,325 preventative maintenance inspection plan for HVAC unit effective 1/1/2027
• Approved personnel actions including 9 new hires and 4 terminations
• Discussed $18,894 repayment for Employee Incentive Grant
• Approved Roto Rooter drain inspection

Public Health Committee

Board of Commissioners

The Dodge County Board approved funding 50% of the requested amounts for Dodge Center Ambulance and West Concord Fire and Ambulance from opioid settlement funds, and supported a .20 FTE increase for Public Health. The board also approved personnel actions, bills totaling $184,916.38, a $69.50 donation to Drug Court, and out-of-state training for an assistant county attorney. No action was taken on the Extension FTE reduction or the 911 restructuring, though the board allowed the Emergency Management Director to proceed with the restructuring.

• Approved 50% opioid settlement funding for Dodge Center Ambulance and West Concord Fire and Ambulance (unanimous)
• Approved Public Health .20 FTE increase (unanimous)
• Approved personnel actions including step increases and new hires (unanimous)
• Approved bills totaling $184,916.38 (unanimous)
• Accepted $69.50 donation to Drug Court (unanimous)
• Approved out-of-state training for Assistant County Attorney Tyler Behrns (unanimous)
• Allowed Emergency Management Director to proceed with 911 center restructuring (no formal vote)
• No action taken on Extension FTE reduction

Administration Committee

The Dodge County Administration Committee is meeting to review routine administrative items, including 2026 commissioner bills, an HR agenda, and a plat for the Hayfield Industrial Park Third Addition. The agenda is largely procedural, with no major policy decisions listed.

• 2026 Commissioner Bills
• HR Agenda 8/11/2026
• Hayfield Industrial Park Third Addition Plat

August 6th, 2026 Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment will meet to conduct public hearings and review specific variance applications. The body will decide on requests identified as V#26-04 and V#26-05.

• Variance request V#26-04 Kasper
• Variance request V#26-05 Rohwer

August 5th, 2026 Planning Commission

Committee of the Whole

The Dodge County Board of Commissioners met in Committee of the Whole and received a presentation from Dr. R. Ross Reichard on the 2025 annual medical examiner data, covering topics such as causes of death, suicide and homicide rates, and drug-related deaths. The board also discussed a proposed 4-year medical examiner contract from Dr. Reichard, which includes 2% increases based on county population and is on the same fee basis as previous agreements; action on the contract is scheduled for the regular session under the Consent Agenda. No formal decisions were made during this committee meeting.

• Received annual medical examiner data presentation (2025 data)
• Discussed proposed 4-year medical examiner contract; action deferred to regular session Consent Agenda

Public Health Committee - Committee Meeting

The Dodge County Public Health Committee will discuss a Third Judicial District Cooperative Agreement for FY2027 and receive a public health update from the director. The meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2026, at 3:50 PM in the Government Services Building.

• Third Judicial District Cooperative Agreement (FY2027) with Drug Court Coordinator Eric Thompson
• Public Health Update from Director Amy Evans

Administration Committee - Committee Meeting

The Dodge County Administration Committee will meet to approve June meeting minutes, review commissioner warrants, and discuss a personnel agenda. All items are procedural; no substantive policy changes or financial decisions are on the agenda.