HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.18.26 EDA MinutesEDA Minutes of May 18, 2026 Page 1 of 3
City of Farmington
Economic Development Authority
Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 18, 2026
The Farmington Economic Development Authority met in regular session on Monday,
May 18, 2026 at Farmington City Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Cordes called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Cordes lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Commissioners Holly Bernatz, Nick Lien, and Steve Wilson
Members Absent: Commissioner Phil Windschitl
Staff Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator
Deanna Kuennen, EDA Executive Director
Stephanie Aman, Economic Development Coordinator
Kim Sommerland, Finance Director
Kellee Omlid, Parks and Recreation Director
John Powell, Public Works Director
Melissa Geis, City Clerk
Also Present: Ryan Hentges, President and CEO, Dakota Electric
Jeffrey Rainey, Economic Development, Dakota Electric
Peggy Johnson, Community Relations Director, Dakota
Electric
Betty Jo Kiesow, Vice President of Engineering &
Administration, Dakota Electric
Jane Siebenaler, C.E.M, Dakota Electric
Kara Hildreth, Dakota County Tribune
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Commissioner Wilson and seconded by Commissioner
Bernatz to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
EDA Minutes of May 18, 2026 Page 2 of 3
5. CITIZEN COMMENTS
No one addressed the EDA to speak.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
6.1 Minutes of the April 20, 2026 Regular Economic Development Authority
Meeting
6.2 Monthly Financial Report
Motion was made by Commissioner Lien and seconded by Commissioner Bernatz
to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 4 ayes / 0 nays
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
8.1 Partnership Presentation – Dakota Electric Association
EDA Commissioners participated in a conversation with Dakota Electric
Association around collaboration and partnership opportunities.
Discussion included:
Dakota Electric Associations’ history in Farmington dating back to
1937, and their role as a member service organization to provide
safe, reliable, and affordable electricity.
They discussed their growth, today being one of the 20 largest
cooperatives in the United States with over 120,000 members, around
200 employees, and $220 million in revenue. They are currently
constructing a new headquarters facility and will be moving into the
facility next summer.
Dakota Electric is the only regulated cooperative in Minnesota. As a
regulated utility it means that they must have capacity to meet the
load demand and can only energize up to what is procured. They are
statutorily required to serve.
Dakota Electric does not own generation facilities. They focus on
distribution from the substation to the user.
Large load users (>50 megawatts) require a multi-step process to
determine when/what additional infrastructure will be needed to
serve them, and studies to determine impact of the load on the entire
distribution system. The costs of the studies are the developer’s