Commissioner Joe Harris was elected as the 2011 Dakota County Board Chair during the Jan. 4 board meeting. Harris has been on the board since 1981 representing District 1, which includes the cities of Coates, Farmington, Hampton, Hastings, Lakeville Precinct 13, Miesville, New Trier, Randolph, Vermillion, Northfield Precinct 3, and the townships of Castle Rock, Douglas, Empire, Eureka, Greenvale, Hampton, Marshan, Nininger, Randolph, Ravenna, Sciota, Vermillion and Waterford.
Harris last served as the board chair in 2005. He was also the board chair in 1986, 1990, 1995 and 1997. He has served eight times as the vice chair, a position he held in 2010. He was also the vice chair in 1984, 1987, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
Harris will also serve on the Byllesby Advisory Committee, MetroGIS Policy Board, Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition, Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA) Board, Red Rock Corridor Commission, Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Executive Committee, and Rosemount Research and Outreach Center at UMORE Park Advisory Council. He was appointed to the Dakota County Board/Court Policy Committee and the Dakota County Extension Committee. He is also the secretary treasurer of the Dakota County Regional Rail Authority.
Commissioner Nancy Schouweiler, District 4, who has served on the board since 1999, was elected the 2011 vice-chair.
In addition, the board appointed chairs for Dakota County's three Committees of the Whole— Administration, Finance and Policy; Community Services; and Physical Development. Commissioner Kathleen A. Gaylord, District 2, is chair of the Administration, Finance and Policy Committee of the Whole; Commissioner Liz Workman, District 5, is chair of the Community Services Committee of the Whole; and Commissioner Paul J. Krause, District 6, is chair of the Physical Development Committee of the Whole.
Find additional committee appointments for Dakota County Commissioners at www.dakotacounty.us, search elected officials.