# Lakeville, Minnesota *City in Dakota County, Minnesota, and the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area* Lakeville had 69,490 residents at the 2020 census. That made it the most populous city in [[Dakota County, Minnesota]] and the ninth most populous in the state.[^1] The city lies on Interstate 35 at the southern edge of the Twin Cities region, roughly 20 miles from the downtowns of both [[Minneapolis]] and St. Paul.[^1] The project's at-issue record has three entries on Lakeville, all from its Dakota County package. Two rest on HomeLine's analysis of [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)]] data. That analysis reports that Lakeville completed 29.1 percent of a 2010 goal of 5,227 units, that it carried "the highest need number of all suburbs in the region," and that it declined to take part in the review's interviews.[^2] The third entry concerns a 2024 minority report filed by five task force members, including Rep. [[Jon Koznick]] of Lakeville. The report proposed a reconstituted regional body effective January 1, 2027.[^3][^4] Lakeville also appears in federal criminal filings. On September 20, 2022, federal prosecutors announced charges against 47 defendants in the [[Feeding Our Future]] case, and the announcement listed two defendants with Lakeville addresses.[^5] ## Who A five-member council governs the city; the mayor sits on it. A city administrator manages daily operations.[^1] Luke Hellier is mayor.[^1] At the state level, Lakeville falls in [[Minnesota Senate]] District 57, held by [[Zach Duckworth]]. In the Minnesota House it is split between District 57A, held by Koznick, and District 57B, held by [[Jeff Witte]].[^1] Federally, the city lies in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by [[Angie Craig]] since 2019.[^1] ### Lakeville addresses in federal filings On September 20, 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota announced charges against 47 defendants in a case it valued at $250 million, involving Feeding Our Future.[^5] Two of the listed defendant addresses were in Lakeville: those of [[Khadar Jigre Adan]] and [[Asha Jama]].[^5] The charges were allegations as of that date. The sources cited here do not establish the outcome of either Lakeville defendant's case.[^5] The prosecution widened after the 2022 announcement: - On June 7, 2024, five defendants were found guilty in the first trial.[^6] - On June 6, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges against a 72nd defendant.[^7] - On May 22, 2026, the Department of Justice announced a 500-month sentence for the person it called the case's ringleader, [[Aimee Bock]] of [[Apple Valley]].[^8] ## Where According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city covers 37.83 square miles: 36.06 square miles of land and 1.77 of water.[^1] A branch of the Vermillion River crosses the city. It runs east across Dakota County to the [[Mississippi River]], and much of Lakeville drains into its watershed. The state Department of Natural Resources has designated the river a trout stream.[^1] Inside the city limits lies Argonne, a settlement project from after World War I. The project failed, and the area was rebuilt as suburban retail in the 21st century.[^1] Three school districts serve the city, along boundaries drawn when Lakeville was mostly farmland. Lakeville Area School District 194 serves most households, while Districts 196 and 192 serve parts of the north and east.[^1] Interstate 35 runs through the city, and Cedar Avenue (MN 77) serves it to the east.[^1] Airlake Airport serves Airlake Industrial Park. The Metropolitan Airports Commission manages the airport as a reliever for general aviation.[^1] ## When - **1855:** J. J. Brackett, a Saint Paul lumber baron and mail carrier who used the military road running south from [[Fort Snelling]], platted a site on a lake he called Prairie Lake.[^1] - **1858:** Lakeville Township was established.[^1] - **1910:** Marion Savage opened Antlers Amusement Park and built the Dan Patch Railroad Line to serve it. The lake was later renamed Lake Marion.[^1] - **1967:** The community was incorporated as a city.[^1] - **2002:** The [[Minnesota Legislature]] barred discussion and funding of the Dan Patch Corridor, which would pass through Lakeville.[^1] - **2005:** Lakeville South, the district's second high school, opened.[^1] - **2015:** Post Consumer Brands moved its headquarters to the city.[^1] - **2023:** The Legislature lifted the Dan Patch Corridor prohibition. The city still opposes public funding for a passenger rail line on the MN&S Subdivision through Lakeville.[^1] ## How many The 2020 census counted 69,490 residents in 23,265 households. Of those households, 44.1 percent had children under 18, and the median age was 36.7 years.[^1] The 2010 census had counted 55,954 people in 18,683 households.[^1] Airlake Industrial Park covers 1,500 acres and is home to as many as 200 companies with an estimated 4,500 employees.[^1] As of 2020, the city had 3,021 acres of parks, recreation areas and preserves.[^1] ## In the at-issue record ### Affordable housing goals (AI-Dakota-063) HomeLine's report *A Vision for the Next Decade* analyzes Metropolitan Council LCA data. It gives Lakeville a 2010 goal of 5,227 units, of which 29.1 percent were completed. It describes Lakeville's figure as "the highest need number of all suburbs in the region."[^2] The same analysis reports figures for three other Dakota County cities: - [[Apple Valley]] completed 20.8 percent of a 5,046-unit goal.[^2] - [[Burnsville]] completed 92.5 percent of a 917-unit goal.[^2] - [[Farmington]] added 25 new units against a 492-unit allocation in the three years before the review.[^2] These completion figures are HomeLine's, drawn from Metropolitan Council data.[^2] ### Declined participation (AI-Dakota-064) According to HomeLine, Lakeville "declined to participate in interviews" for the review.[^2] The sources cited here do not state the city's reasons.[^2] ### Minority task force report (AI-Dakota-068) Five members of a seventeen-member task force, Koznick among them, filed the *Metropolitan Council Council-of-Governments Minority Report* in 2024.[^3] The report proposed a [[Modified Council of Governments]] of seven county commissioners plus 33 municipal and township officials allocated proportionally, effective January 1, 2027.[^3] According to the record, the task force's membership included two Dakota County legislators and no Dakota County commissioner.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lakeville, Minnesota* (revision 1374527540, retrieved 2026-10-27) — city history, geography, census figures, government, economy and transportation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeville,_Minnesota [^2]: HomeLine, *A Vision for the Next Decade* (date not given in the record) — analysis of Metropolitan Council LCA data: Lakeville 2010 goal 5,227 units, 29.1 percent completed, "the highest need number of all suburbs in the region," declined interviews; Apple Valley, Burnsville and Farmington figures. https://homelinemn.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Vision-for-the-Next-Decade-Final-Version.pdf [^3]: Task force minority members, *Metropolitan Council Council-of-Governments Minority Report* (2024) — proposed Modified Council of Governments of seven county commissioners plus 33 proportionally allocated municipal and township officials, effective Jan. 1, 2027; signatories include Rep. Jon Koznick (Lakeville). https://www.lcc.mn.gov/mgtf/report/Met-Council-COG-Minority-Report-2024.pdf [^4]: Task force membership page, lcc.mn.gov (date not given in the record) — membership of the task force. https://www.lcc.mn.gov/mgtf/members.html [^5]: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota, *U.S. Attorney announces federal charges against 47 defendants in $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme* (Sept. 20, 2022) — charges against 47 defendants; Lakeville addresses for Khadar Jigre Adan and Asha Jama. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-47-defendants-250-million-feeding-our-future [^6]: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota, release on the first Feeding Our Future trial verdicts (June 7, 2024) — five defendants found guilty. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/five-defendants-found-guilty-their-roles-250-million-fraud-scheme [^7]: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota, release on charges against Dorothy Jean Moore (June 6, 2025) — 72nd defendant charged in the case. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/apple-valley-woman-charged-participating-250-million-feeding-our-future-fraud-scheme [^8]: U.S. Department of Justice, *Feeding Our Future ringleader sentenced to 500 months* (May 22, 2026) — sentence of Aimee Bock. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/feeding-our-future-ringleader-sentenced-500-months