Commissioner Joe Atkins has grabbed the reins as the new chair of the Dakota County Board for 2024, succeeding Commissioner Liz Workman. Sworn in by his peers on Tuesday, Atkins is no stranger to service, representing District 2 since 2017, which includes South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and parts of Inver Grove Heights. Looking ahead, Atkins aims to serve up a year sprinkled with respect, courtesy, and a nod to the Dakota way of life, Wódakota.
As the county marks its 175th birthday, Atkins, during his inaugural address, promised a reflective and forward-thinking year. "Milestones like that are reason to pause, look back at the county's history, and think about the future," he noted, as reported by the Dakota County's official announcement. Vice-chair duties for 2024 have landed on Commissioner Mike Slavik, elected in a show of confidence to assist Atkins.
The freshly minted chair outlined an ambitious array of goals for 2024. Top of the list are strategic policy issues such as housing, the budget, the government's role, economic development, and improving health and accessibility. There's a strong push on social services, too, with the West St. Paul Crisis and Recovery Center in the works and a focus on homelessness prevention, Atkins communicated in the county's announcement.
Book lovers can mark their calendars for the February opening of Kaposia Library. Boasting numerous large-scale restorations and developments, 2024 will witness the Mississippi and Minnesota River Greenways, coupled with the fresh Veterans Memorial Greenway, gain strides in pedestrian and park safety. Future travelers of busy highways and county roads can buckle up for transportation safety measures slated to roll out. Eyed for completion this year are Byllesby Dam upgrades, aimed at churning out double the electricity, with hopes of setting other energy-saving initiatives in motion. For the inside scoop on these announcements, residents can visit the county's Board of Commissioners page.
