Dakota County  
General Government and Policy  
Committee of the Whole  
Minutes  
Tuesday, June 24, 2025  
9:30 AM  
Conference Room 3A, Administration  
Center, Hastings  
(or following County Board)  
1.  
Call to Order and Roll Call  
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Workman at 10:47 a.m.  
Commissioner Mike Slavik  
Present  
Commissioner Joe Atkins  
Commissioner William Droste  
Commissioner Liz Workman  
Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg  
Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland  
Commissioner Laurie Halverson  
Absent  
Also in attendance were Heidi Welsch, County Manager, Tom Donley, First Assistant County  
Attorney, and Liz Hansen, Administrative Coordinator.  
The audio recording of this meeting is available upon request.  
2.  
Audience  
Chair Workman noted that all public comments can be sent to  
CountyAdmin@co.dakota.mn.us  
No comments were received for this agenda.  
3.  
Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)  
Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)  
3.1  
On a motion by Commissioner Droste, seconded by Commissioner  
Hamann-Roland, the agenda was approved unanimously.  
CONSENT AGENDA  
On a motion by Commissioner Hamann-Roland, seconded by Commissioner Slavik, the  
Consent agenda was unanimously approved as follows. Commissioner Holberg joined the  
meeting at 10:47 a.m. and did not vote on consent items.  
4.  
County Administration - Approval of Minutes  
Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on June 3, 2025 and June 10, 2025  
4.1  
Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland  
Second: Mike Slavik  
Ayes: 5  
Commissioner Slavik, Commissioner Atkins, Commissioner Droste,  
Commissioner Workman, and Commissioner Hamann-Roland  
Excused: 1  
Commissioner Holberg  
5.  
6.  
Central Operations  
Report On 2025 Year End Projections  
Information only; no action requested.  
REGULAR AGENDA  
County Board/County Administration  
5.1  
Legislative Update  
6.1  
Communications and Public Affairs Director Mary Beth Schubert presented this  
topic. Tom Downs, a representative from Downs, provided a brief update on  
federal legislation. Dan Dwight, a representative from Stinson, offered a brief  
update on state legislation.  
Although $6M in bonding dollars were allocated to the Minnesota Pollution  
Control Agency (MPCA) for their Capital Assistance Program and those dollars  
were intended for Dakota County, they were not specifically allocated to the  
Dakota County Recycling Zone Plus Project. Therefore, MPCA staff have  
indicated that they will be releasing a Request for Proposals for these funds later  
this year. Staff will continue to work with Stinson to develop a plan to secure  
these funds for the Recycling Zone.  
Mary Beth Schubert and Georg Fischer, the Physical Development Director,  
discussed potential 2026 bonding requests. Staff indicated that the four  
unfunded 2024 bonding requests (Recycling Zone Plus, CSAH 50, Thompson  
County Park and Energy Improvements) had been submitted to Minnesota  
Management and Budget (MMB) due to the short time frame. Projects budgets  
were updated to reflect current estimates, and the projects and budgets can still  
be amended as they work their way through the MMB process.  
The discussion emphasized the need for new requests and proactive planning.  
Staff will review the draft 2026-2030 CIP for other potential projects for future  
board consideration. Concerns were raised regarding the $25 million Recycling  
Zone project, which includes an $8 million request from the state and additional  
funding from federal sources. This highlighted the necessity for further  
discussions about the project's feasibility and the allocation of Environmental  
Legacy Funds.  
Information only; no action requested.  
7.  
Physical Development  
Resolution No: 25-321  
7.1  
Authorization To Execute Third Contract Amendment With The Boldt Company  
For Construction Manager/General Contractor Services For Phase II Of Byllesby  
Dam Water-To-Wire Development Project And Amend Total Project Budget  
Motion: Mike Slavik  
Second: Liz Workman  
Paul Sikorski, Finance Director, and Nikki Stewart, Environmental Resources  
Director, presented a third contract amendment for construction management on  
phase two of the Byllesby Dam project, which involves replacing defective piping  
and site improvements, including storm sewers and a parking lot. The project  
needs to be completed by year-end.  
Georg Fischer, Physical Development Director, and Cole Johnson,  
Environmental Supervisor, were also in attendance and spoke to this topic.  
Concerns included costs, the use of the Dakota County Environmental Legacy  
Fund to address budget shortfalls, potential project delays, and the contractor's  
contribution to replacing defective work and/or materials on the project.  
Commissioners suggested reevaluating County project standards to reduce  
costs on future projects.  
The potential to use a County Environmental Charge, like those used in other  
metro counties, to relieve some pressure on the Environmental Legacy Fund  
was also discussed.  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 15-532 (October 20, 2015), the Dakota County  
Board of Commissioners authorized staff to execute a contract for preliminary  
design tasks on a turbine upgrade project to replace the existing century-old  
equipment in the dam; and  
WHEREAS, to complete this project, County staff developed a team including  
an engineering consultant to provide project design, a turbine manufacturer to  
provide turbine and generation equipment in a complete package (e.g.,  
water-to-wire equipment), and a general contractor for installation of the  
equipment and modification to the powerhouse structure; and  
WHEREAS, due to the complexities in the design, construction, and installation  
of the water-to-wire facilities, including new turbines and generators to maximize  
the electric power output of the dam in the future, staff concluded that the  
standard low bid methodology of awarding the construction contract was not  
appropriate and was unlikely to provide the best value to the County; and  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 18-538 (October 23, 2018), in accordance with  
the authority granted in Minn. Stat. 130G.535, the County Board approved  
utilizing a special type of contractor relationship that provides both construction  
management and general contractor services on the project and allows staff to  
develop and solicit a request for qualification for services; and  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 19-773 (October 29, 2019), the Dakota County  
Board of Commissioners authorized the execution of a contract with The Boldt  
Company to perform Construction Manager/General Contractor Services related  
to the redevelopment of the site for the project; and  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 21-368 (July 20, 2021), the County Board  
authorized the execution of a contract with The Boldt Company to perform  
Construction Manager/General Contractor Services for Phase II of the  
development project; and  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-286 (July 19, 2022), the County Board  
authorized the first amendment to the contract, bringing the total contract value  
to a not-to-exceed amount of $22,652,875.42; and  
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-247 (May 21, 2024), the County Board  
authorized the second amendment to the contract, bringing the total contract  
value to a not-to-exceed amount of $26,335,502.01; and  
WHEREAS, the current amendment in the amount of $1,300,000 is necessary  
to cover costs associated with dam safety, electrical and mechanical supporting  
components, and high voltage interconnection work associated with selling  
power on the open market to increase dam revenues and reduce the project  
payback period; and  
WHEREAS, staff recommends execution of a third contract amendment with  
The Boldt Company, bringing the total contract amount to $27,635,502.01 and  
including an amendment of the overall project budget in the amount of  
$2,414,929, bringing the total project budget to $50,546,365.  
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of  
Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute  
a third contract amendment with The Boldt Company to provide Construction  
Manager/General Contractor services for Phase II of the Byllesby Dam  
Water-To-Wire Redevelopment Project in the amount not to exceed  
$27,635,502.01 and amend the overall project budget, totaling $2,414,929  
subject to the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and  
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners  
hereby amends the 2025 Byllesby Dam Capital Improvement Program Budget  
as follows:  
Revenue  
Environmental Legacy Fund  
$2,414,929  
Total Revenue  
$2,414,929  
Expense  
Byllesby Dam Water-to-Wire (BD0008)  
Total Expense  
$2,414,929  
$2,414,929  
This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of  
Commissioners on 7/8/2025.  
Ayes: 6  
8.  
County Manager/Deputy/Director's Report  
County Manager Heidi Welsch provided the following update:  
The budget process is currently halfway complete and staff continue to focus on compiling  
necessary cuts.  
9.  
Future Agenda Items  
The following future agenda item was discussed:  
Establishing a consistent policy for signing support letters. Staff mentioned that a governance  
workshop has been proposed to address these concerns.  
10.  
Adjournment  
Adjournment  
Motion: Liz Workman  
10.1  
Second: Mike Slavik  
On a motion by Commissioner Liz Workman, seconded by Commissioner Mike  
Slavik, the meeting was adjourned at 11:54 a.m.  
Ayes: 6  
Respectfully submitted,  
Liz Hansen  
Administrative Coordinator