Departments
curve slider image

The Administration Division includes the County Administrator, Employee Relations, Finance, Information Systems, Building Maintenance, Elections, and serves as the contact for the County Board. The division coordinates the annual county budget process, financial management and planning, employee recruitment, benefits and elections administration, technology implementation and upgrades, building maintenance, passport applications, and property tax inquiries.

The County Attorney is an elected representative of the county with legislative control over criminal and civil matters. The office acts as legal advisor to the County Board and the legal interests and concerns of all other departments in the county. The office also prosecutes all criminal offenses committed in the county except for municipal ordinance violations.

The Court Administrator’s office is responsible for case management of traffic, civil, family, criminal, juvenile, and probate divisions from time of filing to disposition, including jury service. This office works closely with the County Attorney, Court Services, Human Services and the Sheriff’s Office to insure timely processing of all court cases.

Court Services and Probation provide local comprehensive correctional programs under the Community Corrections Act of 1973. Dodge County partners with Fillmore and Olmsted Counties to deliver rehabilitative and restorative programming to help offenders in improving their daily living skills and in reducing their risk to re-offend.

The Drug Court Program seeks to reduce substance abuse and criminal behavior among participants and help adults and families support positive lifestyles. The program provides intensive intervention and rehabilitation services tailored to meet the needs of the participants and their families. The program seeks to promote public safety, reduce system costs, and improve the offender and family functioning.

The Economic Development Authority seeks to create a welcoming environment for business and industry. The group has helped with the collection of data for housing surveys and residents’ visions for the county’s future. They have also helped seek grant funding for qualified projects. They are a resource for established businesses and for new businesses seeking to open offices in the county.

Emergency Management
is responsible for managing all aspects of the county emergency management system including hazard analysis, emergency preparedness, and hazard mitigation.

The Environmental Services department oversees waste disposal, recycling, composting, hazardous waste treatment and water testing. The department also enforces regulations concerning septic systems, storm water management, shoreland use, wetland conservation, and solid waste disposal. The Zoning office within the Environmental Services department regulates land use through county ordinance and the county land use plan.

The Extension office is a cooperative effort with the University of Minnesota. The office provides educational resources for citizens in agriculture, consumer skills, 4-H youth development, home horticulture, community economic development and natural resource conservation.

The Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center provide services in nursing, physical/ occupational/speech therapies, dietary, social services, activities, housekeeping, laundry and maintenance. The facility also offers outpatient therapy services. The center is certified for Medicare and Medical Assistance. Medical services are provided through the Kasson Mayo Family Clinic and there is a nurse practitioner on site three days each week.

The Highway Department is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the county’s roads and bridges. Routine maintenance includes road repair, grading, drainage, signing, snow removal, ice control, and minor road improvements. Department personnel also issue permits and rural addresses, maintain county highway maps, apply dust control and update road restrictions. The department also maintains the county's Parks and Trails Systems.

Human Services are provided through the Minnesota Prairie County Alliance, a collaboration amongst Dodge, Steele, and Waseca Counties. Services include health care coverage, child support, income and food assistance, children and family services, mental health services, disability services, substance use services, and senior services.

The Department of Land Records provides assessment and document recording services as well as overseeing the county’s geographical information systems (GIS) and surveying. The department also provides certified birth and death certificates, marriage records and licensing and notary public records. Residents may renew drivers’ licenses, obtain state ID cards, and passport photos through this office.

The Public Health Department responsibilities include the prevention of epidemics and the spread of disease, protection against environmental hazards, prevention of injuries, promotion and encouragement of healthy behaviors and mental health, and responding to disaster and assisting communities in recovery.

The Sheriff’s Office serves people living or doing business in 12 townships and the municipalities of Claremont, Dodge Center, Hayfield, and Mantorville. The other two towns in the county; Kasson and West Concord, have their own police departments. In addition to patrol, the Sheriff’s Office has deputies assigned to the departments of investigations, the School Resource Officer Program, D.A.R.E., training officers, the ENTRY Team, crime prevention, and warrants. The Office also includes the 911 Dispatch Center which handles emergency calls for the three law enforcement agencies, six fire departments and the three ambulance services.

The Veteran Services office provides services for county veterans and their families by advocating for state and federal benefits earned by the veterans’ honorable service in the armed forces of the U.S.; answering questions about education and health benefits; assisting disabled veterans with claims, appeals, and vocational rehabilitation; providing information about death benefits; assisting with state veterans’ programs; and providing other assistance as needed. The office provides transportation to the VA hospital on a regular basis.

Victim Services is a partnership amongst Dodge, Fillmore, and Olmsted Counties and is two programs in one. In the Victim/Witness program, personnel focus on assisting victims of general crime, such as assault, vandalism, burglary. The other program is to assist and support the victims of sexual assault. Services are free of charge.