Dakota County

General Government and Policy

Committee of the Whole

Minutes

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

9:30 AM

Conference Room 3A, Administration

Center, Hastings

(or following County Board)

Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Workman at 9:50 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.

The audio recording of this meeting is available upon request.

Audience

Chair Workman noted that all public comments can be sent to

CountyAdmin@co.dakota.mn.us

No comments were received for this agenda.

Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

3.1

Second: Mary Liz Holberg

Prior to a motion for approval, Item 7.1 - Approval of 2026 Medical Plans and

Premium Rates was recommended to be moved from the regular agenda to

consent agenda. The approval of the agenda was unanimously approved as

amended.

Ayes: 7

CONSENT AGENDA

On a motion by Commissioner Hamann-Roland, seconded by Commissioner Slavik, the

consent agenda was approved as amended. The consent agenda approval was approved

including Item 7.1- Approval of 2026 Medical Plans and Premium Rates.

County Administration - Approval of Minutes

Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on August 12, 2025

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Ayes: 7

4.1

Second: Mike Slavik

Central Operations

Resolution No: 25-437

5.1

Authorization To Execute Contract With Loffler Companies, Inc. For Managed

Print Services

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Second: Mike Slavik

WHEREAS, Dakota County (County) has an ongoing need to print and copy

documents; and

WHEREAS, the County has standardized and invested in the existing fleet of

multi-function printing and copying devices; and

WHEREAS, a Request for Proposal was issued July, 7, 2025, for Managed Print

Services; and

WHEREAS, Loffler Companies, Inc. was the sole responder to the RFP; and

WHEREAS, Loffler Companies, Inc. has provided high-quality customer service

to the County for over ten years; and

WHEREAS, Loffler Companies, Inc. has proposed the same price per page

rates for both color and black/white through September 2030; and

WHEREAS, Loffler Companies, Inc., was selected based on the evaluation

criteria as identified in the RFP; and

WHEREAS, staff recommends executing a contract with Loffler Companies, Inc.

for the purpose of Managed Print Services; and

WHEREAS, the total cost of the contract shall not exceed $840,000 for the

period of September 30, 2025, through September 30, 2030.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby authorizes the Deputy County Manager to execute a

contract with Loffler Companies, Inc. for Managed Print Services, in an amount

not to exceed $840,000, for the period of September 30, 2025, through

September 30, 2030, subject to approval as to form by the County Attorney’s

Office.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 9/23/2025.

Ayes: 7

Resolution No: 25-438

5.2

Authorization To Execute Contract With Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP For

Inflation Reduction Act Eligibility And Tax Credit Advisory Services

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Second: Mike Slavik

WHEREAS, Dakota County, Minnesota (the "County") owns and operates the

Lake Byllesby Dam, a hydroelectric facility that is undergoing a major

modernization project with an estimated cost of $50 million; and

WHEREAS, the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides for

significant clean energy tax credits, including the clean electricity Production Tax

Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC); and

WHEREAS, the requirements for claiming these federal tax credits are complex

and require specialized knowledge of tax law, particularly as it relates to energy

projects, prevailing wage, apprenticeship, the 80/20 rule, and domestic content

mandates; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best financial interest of the County to engage a qualified

professional services firm to navigate these complexities and ensure the County

can secure all eligible tax credits and benefits from the IRA; and

WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals was issued July 18, 2025, for Inflation

Reduction Act Eligibility and Tax Credit Advisory Services; and

WHEREAS, Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP has been selected as a highly

qualified firm with extensive experience in providing tax advisory services for

clean energy projects and public sector clients; and

WHEREAS, staff recommends executing a contract with Baker Tilly Advisory

Group, LP for the purpose of providing Inflation Reduction Act Eligibility and Tax

Credit Advisory Services; and

WHEREAS, the total cost of the contract shall not exceed $130,000 for the

period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025, with an option to renew

for an additional five years.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby authorizes the Deputy County Manager to execute a

contract with Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP for Inflation Reduction Act Eligibility

and Tax Credit Advisory Services, in an amount not to exceed $130,000, for the

period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030, with an option to renew

for an additional five years, subject to approval as to form by the County

Attorney’s Office.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 9/23/2025.

Ayes: 7

County Board/County Administration

Resolution No: 25-435

6.1

Approval Of Contract Renewal For 2026 Dental Plan

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Second: Mike Slavik

WHEREAS, the County’s fully funded Dental Plan has been administered by

HealthPartners since January 1, 2022; and

WHEREAS, proposed premium rates for 2026 have considered utilization and

claims experience of the Counties two dental plans; and

WHEREAS, renewal results in a composite rate increase of 9 percent across

both Comprehensive and Preventive Dental plans.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby authorizes the Employee Relations Director to approve

renewal with HealthPartners to continue to provide Dakota County’s 2026 dental

plan and related rates, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s office as to

form.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 9/23/2025.

Ayes: 7

REGULAR AGENDA

County Board/County Administration

Resolution No: 25-434

7.1

Approval Of 2026 Medical Plans And Premium Rates

Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland

Second: Mike Slavik

This item was moved to the consent agenda. There was no presentation or

discussion on this item.

WHEREAS, due to 2026 IRS limit changes in minimum deductibles for High

Deductible Health Plans, the Dakota Health Savings Account (HSA) plan will

have an increase in deductible $1700 for single and $3400 for family; and

WHEREAS this change will increase the County annual HSA contribution to

$850 for single and $1700 for family enrollment; and

WHEREAS, proposed premium rates for 2026 have been identified considering

utilization and claims experience of the three Plans, medical trend, Affordable

Care Act fees, and administrative expenses; and

WHEREAS, self-funded medical plan expenses projected for 2026 result in an

aggregate rate increase of 8.92 percent.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby approves the aggregate rate increase overall of 8.92

percent to the self funded medical plan. Dakota Advantage Plan will increase by

11 percent, the Dakota Select Plan by 8.5 percent, and the Dakota Health

Savings Account Plan will hold at 2025 rates.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 9/23/2025.

Ayes: 7

Overview Of Minnesota Paid Family And Medical Leave

7.2

7.3

Human Resources Director Andy Benish and DeLoitte representative Dan

Plante briefed this item and responded to questions. This item was on the

agenda for informational purposes.

Legislative Update

Communications and Public Affairs Director Mary Beth Schubert briefed this

item and responded to questions. This item was on the agenda for informational

purposes.

Information only; no action requested.

Central Operations

Update On Cyber Security And Preventive Security Measures Taken By

8.1

Information Technology

Senior Security Analyst David Senn briefed this item and responded to

questions. This item was on the agenda for informational purposes.

Information only; no action requested.

Public Services and Revenue

Resolution No: 25-436

9.1

Authorization To Discontinue Participation In Same-Day Issuance Pilot At

Lakeville License Center

Motion: Mary Liz Holberg

Second: Mary Hamann-Roland

Service and License Centers Director Kasha McLay briefed this item and

responded to questions.

WHEREAS, in the 2021 First Special Session, the Legislature directed in

Chapter 5, Article 4, section 141 that the Commissioner of Public Safety conduct

a same-day driver’s license pilot project for participating driver’s license agents

in the cities of Lakeville and Moorhead; and

WHEREAS, Lakeville License Center has been participating in a same-day

issuance pilot project since October 1, 2022; and

WHEREAS, the pilot allows customers to obtain a standard driver’s license,

identification card or permit same day; and

WHEREAS, customers and businesses have reported dissatisfaction with the

same-day issued card; and

WHEREAS, in the 2024 Report submitted to the Legislature, the Department of

Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services is not recommending expansion of the

pilot; and

WHEREAS, due to the inconsistent security features between the same-day

issued credentials and centrally issued credentials, the diminished document

verification and no address verification, the absence of a plan to improve the

consistency between both types of cards and recommendation from the

Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services to not expand the pilot,

staff recommend the pilot be discontinued at the Lakeville License Center.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of

Commissioners hereby authorizes the Service and License Center Director to

work with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety to discontinue

participation in the same-day issuance pilot at Lakeville License Center.

This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of

Commissioners on 9/23/2025.

Ayes: 7

Update On Voting Equipment Procurement

9.2

Elections Director Michelle Blue briefed this item and responded to questions.

This item was on the agenda for informational purposes.

Information only; no action requested.

10.

County Manager/Deputy/Director's Report

County Manager Heidi Welsch referenced written deputy director's reports and gave a brief

update on the upcoming budget workshop that will be held on September 16, 2025 at 8:30

a.m. Dakota County Staff, Scott and Olmsted County staff have been meeting to collaborate

on ways to improve public assistance programs. A future update to the committee will be

presented.

11.

Future Agenda Items

No future agenda items were discussed.

12.

Adjournment

Motion: Mike Slavik

On a motion by Commissioner Slavik, seconded by Commissioner

12.1

Second: Mary Hamann-Roland