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In the second phase – likely in the spring – the focus will be on phase two, which will be large-scale community clinics and reaching hard-to-reach populations, the homeless, underinsured or uninsured and mobility impaired people.

By summer, she said the vaccine distribution will be wide.

“We’ve really learned a lot about how to safely run clinics during COVID, with drive-throughs and social distancing,” she said. “We are prepared and ready to go. We have a really dedicated staff who are working hard to make sure we get the vaccine out as quickly as possible.”

Atkins created the work of Dakota County Public Health, which he noted has been rated “top Public Health in the country.”

“If there was ever the time to have you guys doing what you’re doing, it’s now,” he said.

Slavik gave a presentation of what the county has done to help citizens and businesses, largely through CARES Act funding distributed to states from Congress.

“There have been very many people since the beginning of the pandemic that have been struggling,” said Slavic. “We received $52 million to go out and respond to the challenges our citizens and our businesses have been really struggling with.”

“We’ve given out almost $14 million to small businesses to support them and keep their lights on. We know it’s not over yet,” said Slavic.

He noted that the county has given citizens economic assistance, housing assistance and eviction protection as well. Nonprofit organizations were helped with CARES Act funding, and money was earmarked to help improve broadband service.

“We were able to put dollars to areas that are unserved or are underserved,” Slavic said.

The county acted quickly in the spring to help.

“We knew we were in crisis, and we knew we had to help people, businesses and nonprofits,” said Slavic.

Atkins added, “If there was ever a year where it paid off to be debt free, this was it. We are one of the few counties in the nation that has no debt. We were able to hold the line on property taxes this year. It allows you to weather the storm better than others not in that position.”