Liz Workman
Name: Liz Workman
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone:
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Workman for Burnsville
Candidate Bio
Current chair: General Government & Policy Committee
I35W Solutions Alliance
Member: AMC Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee
Community Development Agency (CDA)
Burnsville City Council – 12 years
Owner: Workman Insurance Agency, Burnsville
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
We are a nonpartisan board. We set policy, goals, give direction and then it’s best to stay out of the way and let the experts do their job.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
To secure funding for the redesign of the I35 & CR50 interchange. Dakota County was recently advised that our Federal request for RAISE grant was not funded. Due to the late session chaos, there was no State bonding bill which included a request for State funding,
Determine how to best distribute the new Local Metro Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA). This aid will help local metro units of government develop and preserve affordable housing. It is funded by a new 0.25% metro area sales tax. The variety of affordable housing needs are uniquely different: single, family, workforce, veterans and senior. The CDA has led the State in providing affordable housing opportunities.
Secure funding for a second recycling facility to be located in Lakeville. The Recycle Zone Plus is a partnership with Scott County to provide service to residents of both counties. An additional facility will ease the pressure felt at the 20+ year old Recycle Zone in Eagan. Funding for this facility was also included in our bonding request for State funding.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Dakota County?
Biggest challenge is maintaining a low levy and still meet demands. It provides an opportunity to look at how we deliver services, are we doing things because we’ve always done it that way or is there a better, more efficient way. Or, do we even need to continue that service.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
Governments roll has typically ben to protect the consumer through regulations. While this is still important, combining resources and expertise from the business community results in more robust and creative solutions. Joint initiatives whether it’s housing, education or workforce housing result in increased efficiency, innovation and access to different kinds of funding sources.
There were positive and negative impacts from the last legislative session, A records amount of new taxes, some which will help local units of government. IE: LAHA will help with the funding of affordable housing.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Dakota County?
The business climate is getting healthier, some sooner than others. The State shut down showed just how resilient businesses became, how they needed to pivot just to survive.
It is the county’s job to provide the safe and necessary infrastructure to support existing and attract new business. To look at existing regulations, do they help or hinder?
The board is in the middle of strategic planning and one of the questions we are asking ourselves is what is governments role in economic development.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
To ensure the Sheriff’s Department has the tools they need to maintain a safe county.
The Sheriff’s Department collaborates with the cities through the Drug & Violent Offender Task Force & Electronic Crimes Unit. We pay for embedded social workers in PD’s to support local law enforcement and the increasing difficult crisis calls PD’s are asked to respond to.
The County has the SMART Center which is a regional training center for crisis response.
The board encourages the Sheriff to utilize State Public Safety funding to expand community outreach county-wide to address the fentanyl crisis.
The jail is under the Sheriff and serves all cities. The soon to be completed Integrated Health Unit will serve the needs of those experiencing mental health crisis and substance use disorder.
Dakota County is a leader is public safety.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
As I previously stated, the new LAHA will help to address the shortage as well as preserve the current stock.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Dakota County is creating an interconnected system of greenways with a natural design that enhances natural resources and the rider experience. The Central Greenway Connectivity Plan, in part ensures bike & pedestrian access.
*Veterans Memorial Greenway when completed will be a 5-mile corridor
Stretching east to west within Eagan and Inver Grove Heights.
*MN River Greenway – 17-mile corridor following the south side of the
MN River from Burnsville to St Paul.
*Mississippi River Greenway – This national corridor follows the river from Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, 3,000-miles. Twenty-six miles runs
through Dakota County.
Dakota County annually analyzes road pavement for rehabilitation needs. A couple of current projects include construction of a round about at CR11 and Burnsville Parkway, in Burnsville. The reconstruction of Dodd Blvd (CR9) from Glasgow to Pilot Knob.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Dakota County was allocated just over $83 million in ARPA funds. As an eligible recipient, the county is required to comply with the Dept. of Treasury Federal Compliance & Reporting Guidelines. The county chose one-time capital projects that both responded to the pandemic and promote economic recovery.
*Byllesby Dam - $22M – replaced the 100-year-old turbines and powerhouse. The ‘water-to-wire’ redevelopment project modernized and maximized production of clean energy from the dam.
*Law Enforcement Integrated Health Unit - $15M – will provide medical and mental health services inside the jail.
*Nicols Pointe - $9M- a 24-unit apartment building in Eagan will provide affordable housing to 55+ with a Veterans preference.
Dakota County created the Small Business Relief grant program. Four rounds
of grants to qualified businesses which was administered by the CDA. Eligible
applicants receive up to $15,000 to cover payroll, rent, utility bills and other
operational expenses.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Counties were created to be the administrative arm of the State. We are responsible for property tax assessment, courts, jails, elections, solid waste, health and human services. To name a few.
Much of what we do is mandated by the State but is not fully funded. For starters, it would be nice if the State fully funded those mandated services. However, that’s a bit of a pipe dream.
MN is one of a handful of states where counties administer Health & Human Services. This accounts for 58% of our total budget. As one member, I don’t want to take on more duties unless it’s fully funded and something is removed.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone:
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Workman for Burnsville
Candidate Bio
- District #5 Dakota County Commissioner – 16 years
Current chair: General Government & Policy Committee
I35W Solutions Alliance
Member: AMC Environment & Natural Resources Policy Committee
Community Development Agency (CDA)
Burnsville City Council – 12 years
Owner: Workman Insurance Agency, Burnsville
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
We are a nonpartisan board. We set policy, goals, give direction and then it’s best to stay out of the way and let the experts do their job.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
To secure funding for the redesign of the I35 & CR50 interchange. Dakota County was recently advised that our Federal request for RAISE grant was not funded. Due to the late session chaos, there was no State bonding bill which included a request for State funding,
Determine how to best distribute the new Local Metro Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA). This aid will help local metro units of government develop and preserve affordable housing. It is funded by a new 0.25% metro area sales tax. The variety of affordable housing needs are uniquely different: single, family, workforce, veterans and senior. The CDA has led the State in providing affordable housing opportunities.
Secure funding for a second recycling facility to be located in Lakeville. The Recycle Zone Plus is a partnership with Scott County to provide service to residents of both counties. An additional facility will ease the pressure felt at the 20+ year old Recycle Zone in Eagan. Funding for this facility was also included in our bonding request for State funding.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Dakota County?
Biggest challenge is maintaining a low levy and still meet demands. It provides an opportunity to look at how we deliver services, are we doing things because we’ve always done it that way or is there a better, more efficient way. Or, do we even need to continue that service.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
Governments roll has typically ben to protect the consumer through regulations. While this is still important, combining resources and expertise from the business community results in more robust and creative solutions. Joint initiatives whether it’s housing, education or workforce housing result in increased efficiency, innovation and access to different kinds of funding sources.
There were positive and negative impacts from the last legislative session, A records amount of new taxes, some which will help local units of government. IE: LAHA will help with the funding of affordable housing.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Dakota County?
The business climate is getting healthier, some sooner than others. The State shut down showed just how resilient businesses became, how they needed to pivot just to survive.
It is the county’s job to provide the safe and necessary infrastructure to support existing and attract new business. To look at existing regulations, do they help or hinder?
The board is in the middle of strategic planning and one of the questions we are asking ourselves is what is governments role in economic development.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
To ensure the Sheriff’s Department has the tools they need to maintain a safe county.
The Sheriff’s Department collaborates with the cities through the Drug & Violent Offender Task Force & Electronic Crimes Unit. We pay for embedded social workers in PD’s to support local law enforcement and the increasing difficult crisis calls PD’s are asked to respond to.
The County has the SMART Center which is a regional training center for crisis response.
The board encourages the Sheriff to utilize State Public Safety funding to expand community outreach county-wide to address the fentanyl crisis.
The jail is under the Sheriff and serves all cities. The soon to be completed Integrated Health Unit will serve the needs of those experiencing mental health crisis and substance use disorder.
Dakota County is a leader is public safety.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
As I previously stated, the new LAHA will help to address the shortage as well as preserve the current stock.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Dakota County is creating an interconnected system of greenways with a natural design that enhances natural resources and the rider experience. The Central Greenway Connectivity Plan, in part ensures bike & pedestrian access.
*Veterans Memorial Greenway when completed will be a 5-mile corridor
Stretching east to west within Eagan and Inver Grove Heights.
*MN River Greenway – 17-mile corridor following the south side of the
MN River from Burnsville to St Paul.
*Mississippi River Greenway – This national corridor follows the river from Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, 3,000-miles. Twenty-six miles runs
through Dakota County.
Dakota County annually analyzes road pavement for rehabilitation needs. A couple of current projects include construction of a round about at CR11 and Burnsville Parkway, in Burnsville. The reconstruction of Dodd Blvd (CR9) from Glasgow to Pilot Knob.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Dakota County was allocated just over $83 million in ARPA funds. As an eligible recipient, the county is required to comply with the Dept. of Treasury Federal Compliance & Reporting Guidelines. The county chose one-time capital projects that both responded to the pandemic and promote economic recovery.
*Byllesby Dam - $22M – replaced the 100-year-old turbines and powerhouse. The ‘water-to-wire’ redevelopment project modernized and maximized production of clean energy from the dam.
*Law Enforcement Integrated Health Unit - $15M – will provide medical and mental health services inside the jail.
*Nicols Pointe - $9M- a 24-unit apartment building in Eagan will provide affordable housing to 55+ with a Veterans preference.
Dakota County created the Small Business Relief grant program. Four rounds
of grants to qualified businesses which was administered by the CDA. Eligible
applicants receive up to $15,000 to cover payroll, rent, utility bills and other
operational expenses.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Counties were created to be the administrative arm of the State. We are responsible for property tax assessment, courts, jails, elections, solid waste, health and human services. To name a few.
Much of what we do is mandated by the State but is not fully funded. For starters, it would be nice if the State fully funded those mandated services. However, that’s a bit of a pipe dream.
MN is one of a handful of states where counties administer Health & Human Services. This accounts for 58% of our total budget. As one member, I don’t want to take on more duties unless it’s fully funded and something is removed.