DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Amend Agreement With Minnesota Department Of Agriculture And To Amend Joint Powers Agreement With Scott County And Washington County For South Metro Private Well Pesticide Mitigation Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
• Authorize amendment of grant agreement for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) South Metro Private Well Pesticide Mitigation Program (Program) to extend funding expiration date by one year.
• Authorize amendment of the joint powers agreement (JPA) with Scott and Washington counties to extend the JPA by one year.
SUMMARY
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Dakota County identified private drinking water wells in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties exceeding the Minnesota Department of Health-established Health Risk Limits (HRL) for total cyanazine. As of February 2026, MDA has identified a total of 180 private wells serving 196 residences in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties as exceeding the total cyanazine (cyanazine and cyanazine breakdown products) concentrations at or above the HRL of one microgram per liter (μg/L). MDA anticipates continuing to conduct annual pesticide monitoring in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties. The number of impacted wells is expected to grow as previously untested wells are being identified and evaluated each year.
The MDA provided funding for pesticide mitigation to cover 100 percent cost-share to households with a private well equal to or exceeding the total cyanazine, or other established pesticide HRL. By Resolution No. 24-428 (August 27, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized Dakota County to execute agreements with the MDA and Scott and Washington counties to act as the fiscal lead agency to receive funding from MDA and reimburse Scott and Washington counties for expenditures per the JPA.
By Resolution No. 25-394 (August 26, 2025), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized an amendment to the JPA with Scott and Washington counties to allow the Dakota County Authorized Representative flexibility to redistribute pesticide mitigation funding between counties based on (1) annual MDA pesticide sampling results; (2) eligible well owner response to state and county outreach efforts; (3) treatment need priorities identified in the JPA; and (4) remaining available funds.
The allotment from MDA was $161,200, divided into the task categories shown in the table below:
|
Task |
Description |
Allocated Amount |
Remaining Amount (as of 1/1/26) |
|
Pesticide Mitigation |
Reverse osmosis system purchase and installation |
$135,700 |
$62,406.58 |
|
Administration by Dakota County |
Coordinating with partners, identifying eligible wells, coordinating water treatment contractors, and general project outreach and technical assistance activities |
$7,500 |
$11,435.08 |
|
County Coordination |
Project outreach and technical assistance activities for Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties at $6,000 each |
$18,000 |
$2,419.21 |
|
Total |
|
$161,200 |
$76,260.87 |
The current MDA grant agreement expires on June 30, 2026. Not all funds will be expended by the current expiration date, due to the number of eligible and interested private well owners. The proposed grant agreement and JPA amendment extend the expiration date to June 30, 2027.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to amend the contract agreement with MDA and the JPA with Scott and Washington counties.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There are no impacts to the Environmental Resources Department Operating Budget. No changes are proposed to Dakota County allocations for staff time to support Program administration and coordination.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Dakota County have identified private drinking water wells in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties that have exceeded the Minnesota Department of Health-established Health Risk Limits (HRL) for total cyanazine; and
WHEREAS, in response, MDA provided funding for pesticide mitigation to cover a 100 percent cost-share to households with a private well equal to or exceeding the total cyanazine, or other established pesticide HRL; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-428 (August 27, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized Dakota County to enter into agreements with the MDA and Scott and Washington counties to act as the fiscal lead agency to receive funding from MDA and reimburse Scott and Washington counties for expenditures per the joint powers agreement (JPA); and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-394 (August 26, 2025), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized an amendment to the JPA with Scott and Washington counties to allow the Dakota County Authorized Representative flexibility to redistribute pesticide mitigation funding between counties based on (1) annual MDA pesticide sampling results; (2) eligible well owner response to state and county outreach efforts; (3) treatment need priorities identified in the JPA; and (4) remaining available funds; and
WHEREAS, pesticide mitigation funding expires June 30, 2026, under the current grant; and
WHEREAS, not all funds will be expended by the current expiration date, due to the number of eligible and interested private well owners; and
WHEREAS, the proposed grant agreement and JPA amendment extend the expiration date to June 30, 2027.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Assistant County Manager to execute the grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the South Metro Private Well Pesticide Mitigation Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Assistant County Manager to amend the joint powers agreement with Scott and Washington counties, substantially as presented to the County Board on April 7, 2026, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-428; 8/27/24
25-394; 8/26/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: MDA Contract Agreement
Attachment: JPA Amendment with Scott and Washington counties
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Nikki Stewart
Author: Valerie Neppl