The Dakota County Board of Commissioners has elected Heidi Welsch to be the next county manager. Welsch, who previously worked as the County Administrator for Olmstead County since 2017, will be the first woman to hold the office. Before moving to Olmstead County, Welsch had previously worked in Dakota County as Director of the Office of Planning and Analysis and then as the Deputy Director of the Employment and Economic Assistance Department.
“Dr. Welsch has an extraordinary record of success, innovation and consensus-building in every position she has ever held," Dakota County Board Chair Joe Atkins said. “I look forward to her leading Dakota County,” according to a press release from Dakota County.
Dakota County has been interviewing candidates for the county manager position since Matt Smith retired from the position in May of this year after an eight-year tenure. Thomas V. Novak has been acting as interim county manager in the meantime.
The board voted 5-2 for Welsch in a closed meeting on Tuesday, July 9. The other finalist was Lakeville City Administrator Justin Miller. While an employment offer to Welsch is still pending salary negotiations, Welsch is expected to start as county manger after Labor Day.
The county manager position is the administrative head for the county, overseeing more than 2,000 employees across 225 services and programs. The position is not only responsible for day-to-day county operations, but for carrying out the decisions and resolutions from the board of commissioners. Other roles under the purview of the county manager include preparing the county’s annual budget, as well as the long-range capital improvement program, according to the Dakota County website.
In Olmstead County, Welsch was previously recognized for reorganizing “county structures and processes to focus on accountability, transparency, and efficiency,” including the creation of a more transparent and accountable budget process, according to Olmstead County’s website.
Welsch holds a bachelor’s of science in anthropology and geography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a masters in geography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a doctorate in public administration from Hamline University.
“I'm grateful and excited for this opportunity to return to Dakota County," Welsch said. “I look forward to leading the great team of employees serving the residents and communities of Dakota County.”