| Countyís agreement with China made 2001 unique
Posted 1/4/02
by Laura Adelmann
Staff Writer
Unexpected security concerns, the establishment of an affordable housing fund, and a landmark trade agreement with a city in China made 2001 a unique year in Dakota County government history. Threats
In January, secretaries at the office of Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom took three calls from a man threatening to kill Backstrom.
An investigation led to the arrest and eventual sentencing of Maplewood resident Michael Anthony Zamora regarding the threatening calls.
In December, Zamora pleaded guilty to terroristic threats. He was ordered to serve 200 hours of community service, given five years probation and ordered to pay restitution for a security system installed in the Backstrom home. Fair admission
For the first time in its 135-year history, the Dakota County Fair Board voted to establish an admission fee to the county fair.
According to Fair Board President Henry Fox, the admission was necessary to fund property improvements and install safety features on bleachers to comply with an unfunded state mandate.
Admission for adults was set at $2; seniors ages 60 and older were charged $1; and children ages 6-15 also paid $1. Children under age 6 were allowed in free. Tax overhaul
In March, an Apple Valley tax reform forum attracted legislators, local city and school board members and business representatives to learn about Minnesotaís ìBig Plan.î
Part of the plan included funding formula changes resulting in lowered commercial and rental property taxes.
The plan also included a major proposal to fully fund the stateís per-pupil general education formula.
By November, state revenue forecasts were indicating the state will face an almost $2 billion budget deficient in 2002.
In December, Dakota County Administrator Brandt Richardson said the predicted shortfall will impact the county budget and services in the coming year. Jail staffing
In the spring, county officials learned a state inspection resulted in a required restructuring of the county jail operations.
Through creative scheduling and funding adjustments, lower staff-to-inmate ratios were attained. Work force
In May, education representatives and business managers held a summit at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount to discuss ways of improving what was described as their most important asset ó human capital.
Executive Director of the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Roger Hughes said it is important to continue building relationships with business and education.
He advocated more ìpenetrationî of business topics into the classroom. eBooks
By June, Dakota County library patrons were clamoring to get their hands on an electronic reader, a paperback-sized electronic book capable of storing 10 titles or more.
Although each county library was equipped with two eBook readers, each available for three-week checkouts, a waiting list was running about two months. Integrating agencies
To follow the federal blueprint for a fully integrated work force system, Dakota County commissioners renewed past agreements and added a computerized record system in June.
The plan allows businesses, organizations and government programs to combine and create an interlocking system of job training.
More thorough reporting to the state and federal governments, an increasing mandate, will also be met through the plan.
The plan mirrors the intent of the Workforce Investment Act and provides a delivery system of job training. Trolleys
July visitors to Dakota County Heritage Village, located on the Dakota County Fairgrounds, were the first to experience the newest old-fashioned way of getting around.
Two custom-made, historically-accurate trolley cars were unveiled and featured in several local parades during the summer.
The trolleys replaced the villageís old horse-drawn wagons that were deteriorating. HOPE
Fulfilling a goal of increasing affordable housing locally, Dakota County commissioners in August approved the establishment of the Housing Opportunities Enhancement (HOPE) Fund.
The fund provides gap financing to leverage other public and private sector financing for low-income housing.
The program is estimated to allow the retention or creation of up to 200 units of affordable housing annually. 9-11
Dakota County Board members and staff were gathered at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley for several morning meetings Sept. 11.
Before the first meeting, staff and county commissioners grappled with the severity of the national disaster, clinging around a radio for the latest word of the attacks in New York.
County Board Chair Mike Turner began the first meeting with a moment of silence, calling the attack a ìhorrible tragedyî and ìan encroachment on our freedom.î
During a break, staff and county board members gathered around a television set up just outside the board room doors.
Threats to national security proved to have lasting impact on county operations.
After the attack of Sept. 11, security at all county buildings became an important priority, unanticipated when the budget was set.
By December, county officials were developed a multi-level plan for improving security at all county buildings. Security
Dakota County Commissioner Patrice Bataglia was appointed to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Homeland Security Task Force following the attack.
Bataglia met with officials from across the nation to discuss strategies for responding to terroristic attacks.
The national group met twice in 2002 and will convene for the final time in March. Sister city
Despite fears of airline travel, in October, a delegation of Dakota County officials including board chair Mike Turner, traveled to China, consummating a sister city agreement between the county and the city of Chengde.
The agreement is intended to decrease trade barriers with the Chinese city.
Turner said members of the Dakota County delegation felt strongly about making the trip although the terrorist activities were forefront in their concerns.
ìWe told our Chinese hosts that reaching across the globe, as we are doing, will help provide global stability and cultural understanding that may be crucial to a peaceful future for both of our countries,î he said. Bomb threat
In the midst of unprecedented security concerns, the Dakota County Government Center was evacuated for about three hours Oct. 15 after administration personnel received a phoned-in bomb threat. Another call, stating the same threat, was made a few minutes later.
After Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson and many deputies and courthouse bailiffs searched the premises, nothing out of the ordinary was found and workers were allowed back into their offices. Ruling
In December, Backstrom pledged to fight a court ruling regarding the dismissal of a child pornography case.
If left standing, the ruling could lead to the dismissal of hundreds of child pornography cases in the state.
Judge Leslie Metzen ruled a 1999 amendment to state child pornography law unconstitutional, stating it requires the defendant to prove if the people portrayed are minors.
Backstrom said the legislative intent was to acknowledged a common claim of defendants in child pornography cases, that they didnít know the pornography in question involved minors.
He said the law never changed the burden of proof and remains the prosecutionís job to prove the defendant knew or had reason to know the pornography involved minors.
He has vowed to fight the ruling ìto the bitter end,î taking the case all the way to the state Supreme Court, if necessary.
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