Northfield City Hall is home to many of the city's departments, including administration, community services and finance. It also houses the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles office in Northfield. City Hall also plays host to the majority of official city meetings, including, among others, City Council, planning commission and the economic development authority.
The building shares a lot with Washington Park, which has a playground, basketball court and softball field.
This 127-acre city-owned preserve offers an oasis for wildlife and human visitors. The park's interpretive center has displays of plants and animals, as well as a corner devoted to the tornado that struck the park in 1986. Six hiking trails allow visitors to explore Beaver Pond, Springbrook Creek and the surrounding natural areas.
Part of the nine-library Dakota County library system, Inver Glen Library is a modern and kid-friendly library. Although Inver Glen is one of the smallest branches of the county library system, it shares its collection with other county libraries.
Opened in the mid-1990s and recently expanded, the Bielenberg Sports Center is the hub of athletics activity in the city of Woodbury. Bielenberg operates two indoor ice arenas, a fieldhouse, as well as multiple lacrosse, soccer, football, softball and baseball fields on its spacious lot in southern Woodbury.
Burnsville's Maintenance Facility houses the city's Public Works Department, which is responsible for all of the city's water systems, sanitary sewer systems, storm water systems and city roadways, as well as snow removal, pavement repairs, striping, signs and traffic signals. The department also maintains all city-owned equipment. Also located within the Burnsville Maintenance Facility are the Natural Resources Department and Dakota Valley Recycling offices.
Eagan's Fire Department has the second largest volunteer fire department in the state and is actively involved in the community. Currently, the department has five full-time employees and 110 volunteers, with room for 150 volunteers. There are six fire stations, which are staffed by volunteers during an emergency call.
The fire department responded to 1,200 rescue calls in 2009 and is outfitted with 30 pieces of equipment.
Once a year, the station recruits new volunteer firefighters. Weekly training lasts for six months and costs the department $5,000-$10,000 per new firefighter. However, the department saves $3.5 million a year thanks to its volunteers.
Three volunteer firefighters live at the fire administration building/station #6, and they are part of the Volunteer Resident Firefighter program. According to Fire Chief Mike Scott, there is a waitlist to take part in the resident program. Resident volunteer firefighters are quick to respond to calls and help reduce the amount of time it takes to get to emergencies. They receive free room and board for their volunteer services, along with shared bathroom facilities, a small kitchen and a common living area.
The Eagan Fire Department/Administration Building and Fire Station #2, off of Lone Oak Circle, will be closing its doors once the new City of Eagan Public Safety Center is finished being built in spring 2011. At this time, three more resident volunteer firefighters will move in, for a grand total of six resident volunteer firefighters.
Fire Chief Mike Scott began his firefighting career in 1983 as a volunteer firefighter. He has been fire chief since 2006 and was the department's first full-time staff member. Scott's father was chief in 1971, and his sister became the first female firefighter in 1977 (she now works as an Eagan police officer).