Joe Atkins
Name: Joe Atkins
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 4
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (651) 451-6411
Website:
Twitter Handle: @commishatkins
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Commish.Joe.Atkins
Candidate Bio
Joe and his wife, Julia, grew up in Dakota County, went to school and church here, and chose to raise their family here. They have been married 28 years and have three children. Joe worked full-time to put himself through the University of Minnesota and law school, graduating with honors. For the past 25 years, Joe has been a small business owner and a partner in one of Minnesota’s oldest law firms.
With Joe Atkins as County Commissioner since 2016:
Why are you running for this seat?
To continue the strong record of success described above as well as address the serious challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the infrastructure and other needs associated with Dakota County’s growing population.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
Not surprisingly, the biggest challenge tight now is COVID-19 and the myriad issues it has caused. To address these issues, we are effectively balancing proactive efforts to protect public health while ensuring our businesses and families can remain successful. Fortunately, we have an award-winning health department doing exceptional work, combined with strong partners in our business community and local chambers of commerce who are making great efforts to weather this pandemic and its consequences. Among other things, Dakota County is providing Minnesota's most comprehensive testing program for residents vulnerable to COVID-19. With 75% of coronavirus-related deaths in Dakota County occurring among residents of long-term care or assisted-living facilities, Dakota County has adopted the most comprehensive, free COVID testing program of any county in Minnesota for residents and health care workers in congregate care settings.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
See above.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
See above. There are many ways we make Dakota County an attractive place to grow and retain jobs. Our workforce board also offers a direct connection for employers with potential employees.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Dakota County plays an important role by staying debt-free, holding down county property taxes, and keeping Dakota County a safe, healthy, affordable and attractive place for businesses and their employees.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
Most essential are county services needed to provide for public safety and public health as well as transportation and protection of clean air, land and water.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
No. However, we do need to strongly defend against the recent threat by an out-of-state investment company seeking to pump and ship up to 500 million gallons of groundwater from Dakota County to southwestern states like Arizona. With expectations of water quantities issues of our own here in Dakota County by 2040, we cannot stand idly by while an investment company seeks to ship and sell our water elsewhere. This is one of reasons I have fought so hard against it.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Dakota County is currently seeking to continue delivering excellent service but with fewer county employees; we have not replaced many employees who have retired or left for new positions in 2020.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
As a long-time small business owner myself, I know firsthand that the business climate in Dakota County is excellent. However, like communities across the country, we are facing COVID-caused challenges. Dakota County’s outstanding public health department, public safety, debt-free status, low property taxes, top schools, and terrific workforce place us in a stronger position than most to weather this pandemic and its consequences.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
We are fortunate to have some of the best minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County that can successfully compete with anybody for work. For example, three of Minnesota’s five largest and most successful women-owned businesses are located in Dakota County.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
We have many such partnerships in Dakota County. For example, Dakota County partners with our local cities to deliver 911 services, and have saved county taxpayers over $10 million by doing so.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
To keep up with growth and improve safety, Dakota County currently has priority transportation projects underway all across the county – see https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/CurrentConstruction/Pages/default.aspx, as well as additional projects planned for 2021 and coming years – see https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/PlannedConstruction/Pages/default.aspx.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our outstanding public health department, public safety, debt-free status, low property taxes, top schools, and terrific workforce place our local businesses in a position to recover. We are also administering federal CARES-funded grants to assist impacted businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Comments, questions and suggestions from residents and business about Dakota County services are welcome by email at [email protected] or by phone at (651) 438-4430.
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 4
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (651) 451-6411
Website:
Twitter Handle: @commishatkins
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Commish.Joe.Atkins
Candidate Bio
Joe and his wife, Julia, grew up in Dakota County, went to school and church here, and chose to raise their family here. They have been married 28 years and have three children. Joe worked full-time to put himself through the University of Minnesota and law school, graduating with honors. For the past 25 years, Joe has been a small business owner and a partner in one of Minnesota’s oldest law firms.
With Joe Atkins as County Commissioner since 2016:
- Dakota County has become debt-free, making it one of the only counties in the country with zero debt;
- Dakota County has been named the nation’s top local health department;
- Dakota County remained Minnesota’s lowest-taxed county, with the lowest county property taxes per person of any of the state’s 87 counties;
- Dakota County has been singled out for the National Association of Counties top award in public safety, out of over 3,000 counties nationwide.
Why are you running for this seat?
To continue the strong record of success described above as well as address the serious challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the infrastructure and other needs associated with Dakota County’s growing population.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
Not surprisingly, the biggest challenge tight now is COVID-19 and the myriad issues it has caused. To address these issues, we are effectively balancing proactive efforts to protect public health while ensuring our businesses and families can remain successful. Fortunately, we have an award-winning health department doing exceptional work, combined with strong partners in our business community and local chambers of commerce who are making great efforts to weather this pandemic and its consequences. Among other things, Dakota County is providing Minnesota's most comprehensive testing program for residents vulnerable to COVID-19. With 75% of coronavirus-related deaths in Dakota County occurring among residents of long-term care or assisted-living facilities, Dakota County has adopted the most comprehensive, free COVID testing program of any county in Minnesota for residents and health care workers in congregate care settings.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
See above.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
- Keeping Dakota County debt-free. Currently, we are one of the only counties in the country with zero debt. Not having to pay tens of millions of dollars in interest payments like other metro counties do each year helps enable Dakota County to hold down property taxes for residents and businesses.
- Continuous improvement in already exceptional public health, public safety, and parks. Dakota has been named the nation’s top local health department, been singled out for the National Association of Counties top award in public safety, and is home to award-winning parks, trails and natural areas enjoying record-setting popularity.
- Continuing to be Minnesota’s lowest-taxed county. Having the lowest property taxes per person of any of the state’s 87 counties and among the nation’s best schools makes Dakota County an attractive place for families and a great place to start, grow or relocate a business.
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
See above. There are many ways we make Dakota County an attractive place to grow and retain jobs. Our workforce board also offers a direct connection for employers with potential employees.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Dakota County plays an important role by staying debt-free, holding down county property taxes, and keeping Dakota County a safe, healthy, affordable and attractive place for businesses and their employees.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
Most essential are county services needed to provide for public safety and public health as well as transportation and protection of clean air, land and water.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
No. However, we do need to strongly defend against the recent threat by an out-of-state investment company seeking to pump and ship up to 500 million gallons of groundwater from Dakota County to southwestern states like Arizona. With expectations of water quantities issues of our own here in Dakota County by 2040, we cannot stand idly by while an investment company seeks to ship and sell our water elsewhere. This is one of reasons I have fought so hard against it.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Dakota County is currently seeking to continue delivering excellent service but with fewer county employees; we have not replaced many employees who have retired or left for new positions in 2020.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
As a long-time small business owner myself, I know firsthand that the business climate in Dakota County is excellent. However, like communities across the country, we are facing COVID-caused challenges. Dakota County’s outstanding public health department, public safety, debt-free status, low property taxes, top schools, and terrific workforce place us in a stronger position than most to weather this pandemic and its consequences.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
We are fortunate to have some of the best minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County that can successfully compete with anybody for work. For example, three of Minnesota’s five largest and most successful women-owned businesses are located in Dakota County.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
We have many such partnerships in Dakota County. For example, Dakota County partners with our local cities to deliver 911 services, and have saved county taxpayers over $10 million by doing so.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
To keep up with growth and improve safety, Dakota County currently has priority transportation projects underway all across the county – see https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/CurrentConstruction/Pages/default.aspx, as well as additional projects planned for 2021 and coming years – see https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Transportation/PlannedConstruction/Pages/default.aspx.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our outstanding public health department, public safety, debt-free status, low property taxes, top schools, and terrific workforce place our local businesses in a position to recover. We are also administering federal CARES-funded grants to assist impacted businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Comments, questions and suggestions from residents and business about Dakota County services are welcome by email at [email protected] or by phone at (651) 438-4430.