DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreement With Dakota County Soil And Water Conservation District For Lawns Reimagined Compost Grant Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for Lawns Reimagined Compost Grant Program.
SUMMARY
In Minnesota, metropolitan counties are responsible for waste management policy and programs to achieve state goals for waste management (Minn. Stat. ? 115A.551). By Resolution No. 25-456 (September 23, 2025), the County Board adopted the 2024-2044 Dakota County Solid Waste Management Plan (Solid Waste Management Plan). The plan includes tactics to support use of compost in earthworks projects. Use of compost supports organics markets and has environmental benefits. Compost application provides moisture holding capacity for seeds during establishment and beyond and contains slow-release nutrients that prevents runoff.
The County has a food scraps drop-off program and other organics diversion programs to encourage residents, businesses, schools, and other government organizations to compost food scraps and other organic materials that can be used for many different applications, including seedbed for fine fescue seeds. Dakota County receives Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment (SCORE) grant funds from the State of Minnesota to implement landfill abatement programs. The County is required to expend at least 50 percent of SCORE funds that exceed the State's fiscal year 2014 allocation on organics programming (Minn. Stat. ? 115A.557). Dedicated organics programming SCORE grant funds can be used to cover the acquisition and delivery of compost to residents.
The Dakota County SWCD established the Lawns Reimagined Program (Program), which provides education and support to Dakota County residents to convert their lawns to longer-roote...
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