DEPARTMENT: Office of the County Manager
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Appointment To Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board Of Managers
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) is located just south of the Twin Cities along the Minnesota River and includes portions of the communities of Mendota Heights, Mendota, Lilydale, Eagan, and Burnsville; and
WHEREAS, the previous Dakota County representative on the LMRWD Board of Managers has resigned; and
WHEREAS, the LMRWD and Dakota County collaborated in the recruitment of candidates for appointment; and
WHEREAS, three applicants applied to Dakota County for potential appointment as the Dakota County Member of the Board of Managers for the LMRWD; and
WHEREAS, Steven Devich was the preferred candidate and meets the eligibility requirements set forth in Minn. Stat. § 103D.311; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends Steven Devich be appointed to the Board of Managers for the LMRWD; and
WHEREAS, this appointment will fill the current vacant term with any future appointment to be determined by the direction of the County Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby appoints Steven Devich to the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board of Managers for a term ending March 31, 2027.
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BACKGROUND
The LMRWD is located just south of the Twin Cities along the Minnesota River. Portions of the communities of Mendota Heights, Mendota, Lilydale, Eagan, and Burnsville are located within the LMRWD boundaries in Dakota County (Attachment: Map of Dakota County portion of LMRWD). The LMRWD is a Special Purpose Unit of government formed under Minn. Stat. § 103D. Upon establishment, the LMRWD became a legal entity for providing local participation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a navigational channel. With this purpose in mind, a nine-foot navigation channel was developed from the mouth of the Minnesota River to mile 14.7 at Savage, Minnesota. Construction of the project began in 1966 and was completed in 1968. The LMRWD is still actively involved today with the maintenance of the channel and also works with local units of government, private citizens, and local organizations to provide strategic resource evaluation and management.
Three residents of the LMRWD sought appointment to the Board of Managers.
Minn. Stat. § 103D.311 maintains that a “person may not be appointed as a manager who: (1) is not a voting resident of the watershed district; and (2) is a public officer of the county, state, or federal government, except that a soil and water conservation supervisor may be a manager.”
Members of the LMRWD Board of Managers serve three-year terms. The current term for the Dakota County Manager ends March 31, 2027.
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends appointment of Steven Devich as the Dakota County Member of the Board of Managers for the LMRWD for the term ending March 31, 2027.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
None.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-237; 5/7/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Map of Dakota County portion of LMRWD
CONTACT
Department Director: Heidi Welsch
Author: Jeni Reynolds