Dakota County

Regional Railroad Authority

Minutes

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

9:30 AM

Boardroom, Administration Center,

Hastings, MN

(or following County Board)

Call To Order And Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by Chair Hamann-Roland at 10:17 a.m.

Commissioner Mike Slavik

Present

Commissioner Joe Atkins

Commissioner Laurie Halverson

Commissioner William Droste

Commissioner Liz Workman

Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg

Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland

Also in attendance were Heidi Welsch, County Manager; Tom Donely, First Assistant County

Attorney; and Jeni Reynolds, Sr. Administrative Coordinator to the Board.

Audio recording of the Regional Railroad Authority meeting is available upon request.

Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)

Resolution No:

2.1

Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)

Motion: Laurie Halverson

Ayes: 7

Second: Mike Slavik

Consent Agenda

On a motion by Commissioner Workman, seconded by Commissioner Droste, the Consent

agenda was approved as follows:

Resolution No:

3.1

3.2

Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on September 23, 2025

Motion: Liz Workman

Ayes: 7

Second: William Droste

Resolution No: 25-008

Scheduling Of 2026 Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Meetings

Motion: Liz Workman

Second: William Droste

WHEREAS, Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority regular meetings are

open to the public and subject to the Open Meeting Law (Minn. Stat. § 13D),

which requires a schedule of regular meetings.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Regional

Railroad Authority (Authority) hereby adopts the following 2026 meeting

schedule:

January 6

March 24

May 19

July 21

September 22

December 15

; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Authority meetings shall be scheduled

at 9:30 a.m. (or following the County Board meeting) in the Boardroom,

Administration Center, in Hastings, Minnesota; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this schedule can be amended throughout

the year by vote of the Authority.

Ayes: 7

Regular Agenda

Resolution No: 25-007

4.1

Certification Of Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority Property Tax Levy

And Adoption Of Budget For 2026

Motion: Laurie Halverson

Second: William Droste

Transportation Director/County Engineer Erin Laberee briefed this item and

responded to questions.

WHEREAS, the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (Authority) is

granted powers under Minn. Stat. § 398A to plan, acquire, construct, preserve,

and operate transitways and railroads; and

WHEREAS, the Authority develops a five-year plan for capital projects

consistent with Authority powers and priorities through the Authority’s Capital

Improvement Program (CIP) Budget; and

WHEREAS, the County Manager’s Recommended 2026-2030 Authority CIP

Budget identifies proposed projects to repair and replace railroad crossings of

County Highways; and

WHEREAS, the County Manager’s Recommended 2026 Authority Capital and

Operating Budgets do not require additional funds from the 2026 property tax

levy; and

WHEREAS, Authority capital project and operating costs may be funded by

Authority Fund Balance until such time when the Authority Fund Balance

reaches a level that can sustain Authority costs that are not eligible for use of

Dakota County Transportation Sales and Use Tax or Transportation

Advancement Account revenues; and

WHEREAS, a proposed maximum property tax levy of $0 was certified by the

Authority by Resolution No. 25-006 (September 23, 2025); and

WHEREAS, the County Manager’s Recommended 2026 Authority Property Tax

Levy of $0 is the same as the 2025 levy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Regional

Railroad Authority hereby certifies to the Treasurer-Auditor the Dakota County

Regional Railroad Authority property tax levy in the amount of $0 for taxes

payable in 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Regional Railroad

Authority hereby adopts an Operating Budget of $62,857; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Regional Railroad

Authority hereby adopts a 2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget of

$550,000.

Ayes: 7

Other Business/Staff Reports

No other business or staff reports.

Adjournment

6.1

On a motion by Commissioner Atkins, seconded by Commissioner Slavik, the

meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:21 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

William Droste

Secretary