Dakota County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Dakota County Board reviews budget, grants, and farm recognitions; upcoming meetings to tackle capital plans and opioid funds

The Dakota County Board held several meetings in early August, but no final decisions have been published yet, as minutes are pending. The board discussed the 2027 budget, considered grants and contracts, and held a special meeting at the fairgrounds. Upcoming meetings will address capital improvement plans, opioid settlement funds, and a closed session on labor negotiations.

Recent meetings

Budget work session (Aug. 4)

The board held a work session to discuss the 2027 budget, focusing on levy priorities and financial planning. The meeting was procedural, with no major decisions expected. The board reviewed fiscal pressures and the budget development environment.

Board of Commissioners (Aug. 4)

The board considered several agreements, contracts, and grants. Agenda items included a public hearing for amended Park Ordinance 107, authorization to execute a contract with Short-Elliott-Hendrickson for Greenway Trail design, grant funds from the Minnesota Historical Society for the Heroes and Heritage Interpretive Trail, an amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement for Local Affordable Housing Aid, and a contract with Dakota Electric Association for a Broadband Network Agreement. No votes were recorded because minutes are not yet published.

General Government and Policy Committee (Aug. 4)

The committee reviewed financial reports and legislative updates, including budget amendments and contracts, the Second Quarter Dakota County Investment Portfolio 2026, and a legislative update from Communications and Public Affairs. Actions taken serve as recommendations to the County Board.

Special meeting at fairgrounds (Aug. 11)

The board held a special meeting at the Dakota County Fairgrounds. The agenda consisted of procedural items and recognitions of local agricultural groups, including the University of Minnesota Extension's 2026 Farm Family of the Year, Century and Sesquicentennial Farms, and 4-H updates. No policy decisions, ordinances, or contracts were listed.

Upcoming meetings

Community Services Committee (Aug. 18)

The committee will discuss and recommend actions on opioid settlement fund usage, including contract amendments with four recovery organizations: Thrive! Family Recovery Resources, Minnesota Recovery Connection, Lionheart Wellness and Recovery, and Wayside House, Inc. They will also receive updates on the opioid settlement response, overdose awareness month, and the county's substance use services continuum. A proclamation of August as Overdose Awareness Month is also on the agenda.

Board Work Session (Aug. 18)

The board will review the proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the Capital Equipment Program (CEP), and proposed updates to the 2027 fee schedule. This is a discussion and overview session, not a final decision-making meeting.

Board of Commissioners special meeting (Aug. 18)

The board will hold a special meeting solely to enter a closed executive session to discuss labor negotiations strategy. No other business is scheduled.

Physical Development Committee (Aug. 18)

The committee will review and provide direction on the METRO G Line terminal station at the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. They will also consider releasing a draft Natural Systems Plan for public comment, transferring Environmental Legacy Funds from the Veterans Memorial Greenway Project (P00147) to other eligible capital projects, and applying for Minnesota DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant funds.

Coming up

• **Community Services Committee** – Aug. 18
• **Board Work Session** – Aug. 18
• **Board of Commissioners special meeting** – Aug. 18
• **Physical Development Committee** – Aug. 18

All meetings are open to the public unless noted as closed sessions. Check the county website for times and locations.

Dakota County Board Weighs Park Ordinance, Trail Contract, Broadband Agreement

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 4 to consider a range of items, including a park ordinance amendment, a trail design contract, and a broadband network agreement. The board also held a work session on the 2027 budget and a committee meeting on financial reports. No decisions have been published yet; minutes are pending.

Board of Commissioners

The board's agenda included several items for potential action:

• Public hearing for amended Park Ordinance 107
• Authorization to execute contract with Short-Elliott-Hendrickson for Greenway Trail design
• Grant funds from Minnesota Historical Society for Heroes and Heritage Interpretive Trail
• Authorization to amend Joint Powers Agreement for Local Affordable Housing Aid
• Authorization to execute contract with Dakota Electric Association for Broadband Network Agreement

These items were listed on the agenda, but the board's votes and any final approvals have not been released.

General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole

The committee met to review financial reports and legislative updates. Its actions serve as recommendations to the County Board. Agenda items included:

• Report on budget amendments and contracts
• Update on Second Quarter Dakota County Investment Portfolio 2026
• Legislative update from Communications and Public Affairs

Board Work Session

The board held a work session to discuss the 2027 budget, focusing on levy priorities and financial planning. The meeting was described as primarily procedural, with no major decisions expected. The board reviewed fiscal pressures and the budget development environment. The session was open to the public and held in person.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the county's official meeting calendar for future agendas and minutes.

Dakota County's July 21 Meetings Canceled; Board Set to Act on Grants, Contracts, and Broadband Aug. 4

All three Dakota County government meetings scheduled for July 21, 2026, were canceled, so no official business was conducted in the past two weeks. The Board of Commissioners, the Regional Railroad Authority, and the General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole each had their July 21 sessions officially called off. Minutes have not yet been published for any of them.

What Was Decided

Nothing. The three scheduled July 21 meetings — Board of Commissioners, Regional Railroad Authority, and General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole — were all canceled. No votes, contracts, or other actions were taken.

Coming Up: Aug. 4 Board of Commissioners

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners meets Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, with a packed agenda of agreements, contracts, and grants. Items listed on the upcoming agenda include:

• A public hearing on amended Park Ordinance 107.
• Authorization to execute a contract with Short-Elliott-Hendrickson for Greenway Trail design.
• Grant funds from the Minnesota Historical Society for the Heroes and Heritage Interpretive Trail.
• Authorization to amend the Joint Powers Agreement for Local Affordable Housing Aid.
• Authorization to execute a contract with Dakota Electric Association for a Broadband Network Agreement.

The board is also scheduled to consider authorizations for contracts, agreements, and budget amendments across several departments, including Parks, Public Services, and Social Services. A public hearing on revenue obligations for a 360 Communities project is also listed. No vote tallies or dollar amounts were available in the agenda materials provided.

Coming Up: Aug. 4 General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole

The General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole also meets Aug. 4. Its agenda includes a report on budget amendments and contracts, an update on the Second Quarter 2026 Dakota County Investment Portfolio, and a legislative update from Communications and Public Affairs. Actions by this committee serve as recommendations to the County Board, not final decisions.

Coming Up: Aug. 4 Board Work Session

The County Board will hold a work session the same day to discuss the 2027 budget, focusing on levy priorities and financial planning. The session is described as primarily procedural, with no major decisions expected. The board will review fiscal pressures and the budget development environment. The work session is open to the public and will be held in person.

Coming Up

• **Aug. 4, 2026 — Board of Commissioners:** Public hearings on Park Ordinance 107 and 360 Communities revenue obligations; votes on trail design, broadband, housing aid, and department contracts.
• **Aug. 4, 2026 — General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole:** Budget amendments, investment portfolio update, and legislative update.
• **Aug. 4, 2026 — Board Work Session:** 2027 budget discussion, open to the public, in person.

Dakota County Board eyed road condemnations, library budget, and 2027 budget planning; all July 21 meetings canceled

Dakota County commissioners and committees spent the past two weeks reviewing infrastructure projects, park restoration contracts, and early 2027 budget planning, according to recently posted agendas. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the four meetings held between July 7 and July 14, so no final votes, dollar amounts, or outcomes can be confirmed from the available record. All county meetings scheduled for July 21 have been canceled.

Board of Commissioners — July 7

The Board of Commissioners agenda listed several physical development items, including a quick-take condemnation for County State Aid Highway 42 in Apple Valley and a budget amendment for the Burnhaven Library Renovation. The agenda also included a contract with Native Resource Preservation, LLC for restoration work at West Lebanon Hills Regional Park, a consultant contract for a Mill Towns State Trail alignment study, and an engineering services amendment for the Veterans Memorial Greenway in Inver Grove Heights and Eagan.

A closed executive session regarding property interests in Randolph Township was also scheduled. Because minutes are not yet published, it is not known which items were approved, amended, or tabled.

General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole — July 7

This committee agenda focused on historical trail signage and county operations. Items included a grant agreement with the Minnesota Historical Society and a subrecipient agreement with the Dakota County Historical Society for wayfinding signage on the Heroes and Heritage Interpretive Trail Loop. Members were also scheduled to receive updates on 2025 audit results, 2026 Board Priorities for the second quarter, and legislative matters.

No outcomes are available.

Board Work Session — July 13

The Board held a work session to review the current financial outlook and levy forecasts for the 2027 budget. The agenda included discussion of potential budget reduction scenarios for the upcoming fiscal year. Work sessions are typically discussion-only, and no minutes have been published.

Physical Development Committee of the Whole — July 14

This committee agenda included a safety and operations mitigation update for the County State Aid Highway 50 and 60 intersection in Lakeville. Also listed was contract amendment five with Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, Incorporated for Veterans Memorial Greenway design in Inver Grove Heights and Eagan, and an update on the county's excess property disposition process.

No outcomes are available.

Coming up

All three meetings scheduled for July 21, 2026 — the Board of Commissioners, the Regional Railroad Authority, and the General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole — have been canceled. No business will be conducted by those bodies on that date. Residents should check the county's official meeting calendar for any rescheduled dates or newly posted agendas in the following weeks.

Dakota County doubles annual wheelage tax to $20; board to weigh road condemnation, library renovation July 7

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners on June 23 approved doubling the annual wheelage tax from $10 to $20 per year, a move that will generate additional revenue for road and bridge maintenance. The board also authorized several construction contracts, approved final plats, and accepted grant funding for youth and workforce programs, according to the agenda and official board action.

Wheelage tax increase approved

The board voted to raise the annual wheelage tax from $10 to $20 per year, effective as of 2026. The tax is collected when residents register their vehicles and is dedicated to county road and bridge projects. The increase is expected to generate additional funding for transportation infrastructure.

Other board actions from June 23

The board approved final plats as recommended by the Plat Commission and authorized contracts for multiple infrastructure projects, including:

• Retaining walls on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 38
• Improvements to CSAH 28 and CSAH 56
• Reconstruction of Bridge 19578
• West Lake Byllesby and Lake Byllesby park improvements

In addition, the board accepted grant funding for the Minnesota Youth Program 2027 and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services.

Committee of the Whole reviews AI, legislation

Also on June 23, the General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole met for an informational session. The committee received a legislative update from Communications and Public Affairs and an update on artificial intelligence from Central Operations. No ordinances, contracts, or rezonings were voted on; the meeting was primarily procedural.

Coming up: July 7 meetings

Two county meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 7:

Board of Commissioners (9 a.m.) — The board will consider several physical development items, including a quick-take condemnation for County State Aid Highway 42 in Apple Valley, a budget amendment for the Burnhaven Library Renovation, and a contract with Native Resource Preservation, LLC for West Lebanon Hills Regional Park restoration. The board will also discuss a consultant contract for the Mill Towns State Trail alignment study and an engineering services amendment for the Veterans Memorial Greenway in Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. A closed executive session is planned for property interests in Randolph Township.

General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole (following the board meeting) — The committee will review a grant agreement with the Minnesota Historical Society for wayfinding signage on the Heroes and Heritage Interpretive Trail Loop, as well as a subrecipient agreement with the Dakota County Historical Society. Members will also receive updates on 2025 audit results, second quarter board priorities, and legislative matters.