Skip to main content (Press Enter)
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Maps & Directions
Official logo of Olmsted County, Minnesota government, featuring stylized text and emblematic design representing the county's identity.

Engage with Olmsted County

  • Residents
    • Services for Individuals & Families
    • Elections and voting
    • Garbage & recycling
    • Land & Property
    • Licensing, Permits, & Records
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Public Safety & Law Enforcement
    • Roads & Transportation
    • Soil & Water Resources
    • Image consent form
  • Business
    • Become a County Vendor
    • Building and Planning
    • Business Licensing & Permits
    • Commercial Garbage & Recycling
    • Surveying
  • Government
    • About Olmsted County
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Boards & Commissions
    • County Departments
    • Ordinances & Codes
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • County News & Events
  • I Want To
    • Apply
    • Pay
    • Obtain
    • Report
    • Subscribe
    • Visit
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility & Translation

About ROCOG

The Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) was established in November 1971 to provide comprehensive planning services to member local government units. It was organized to comply with the Federal Aid Highway Act, which requires that all urbanized areas with a population of more than 50,000 have an organization designated by the Governor of the state that is responsible for implementation and maintenance of a regional transportation planning program.

That program includes the preparation of a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and an annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which identifies a list of transportation improvements supported by federal funding. ROCOG maintains a cooperative relationship with the City of Rochester, the Olmsted County Planning Department and Olmsted County, utilizing their staff as necessary to fulfill its transportation planning responsibilities according to their bylaws. To view a copy of the bylaws, please contact the Planning Department at 507-328-7100.

The Olmsted County Planning Department does limited transportation planning, primarily in the area of studies and other special reports done with or for the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DOT).

ROCOG Policy Board

ROCOG Bylaws

The ROCOG Policy Board is comprised of sixteen individuals representing the local units of government within Olmsted County and two citizen members as follows:

City of Rochester 5 members
Olmsted County 3 members
Small Cities 2 members
Townships 2 members
School Districts 1 member
Citizen Representatives 2 members

Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC)

The Policy Board has a technical advisory committee which consists of eight members representing each of the major jurisdictions that has dedicated transportation staff. The Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) reviews transportation issues that have been identified in the ROCOG planning area and makes recommendations to the Policy Board. The make up of the technical committee is:

Olmsted County Planning Department 4 members
City of Rochester Public Works Department 2 members
City of Rochester Transit System 1 member
Olmsted County Public Works Department 2 members
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2 members

Through agreement with the Governor of Minnesota, the planning area for ROCOG includes all of Olmsted County along with the incorporated areas of Pine Island and Chatfield, as shown in the figure below.

ROCOG receives annual funding from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration to assist in the planning and development of transportation projects throughout the Rochester area. Federal funds provide approximately 80% of the funding used for transportation planning activities, with approximately 13% provided by the State of Minnesota and 7% from local area governments.

ROCOG strives to provide different community interests opportunity to be involved in the planning and programming of transportation improvements. Among the stakeholders are local government jurisdictions and agencies, the State of Minnesota, the Federal government, private citizens and business interests with an interest in the development of an efficient and well-maintained transportation system. ROCOG has an official policy on public involvement.

Current ROCOG Members

2025

  • Bill Schimmel, Jr., Small City Representative
  • Mark Benscoter, Citizen Representative
  • Laurel Podulke-Smith, Olmsted County Commissioner
  • Dustin Morrow, Rochester Public Schools
  • John Johnson, Township Representative
  • Dave Iseminger, Small City Representative
  • Michelle Rossman, Olmsted County Commissioner
  • Kim Norton, Mayor City of Rochester
  • Dianna Connelly, Township Representative
  • Nick Miller, Rochester City Council
  • Brian Mueller, Olmsted County Commissioner
  • Al Roder, Small City Representative
  • Patrick Keane, Rochester City Council
  • Sean Palmer, Rochester City Council
  • Andy Friederichs, Rochester City Council
  • Randy Reimer, Citizen Representative

This item appears in

  • Rochester Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG)

Share this page

  • Residents
  • Business
  • Government
  • I Want To
    • Apply
    • Pay
    • Obtain
    • Report
    • Subscribe
    • Visit
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIN
  • YouTube
  • nextdoor
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility & Translation
  • Salary Compliance
  • Privacy Policy and Disclaimer
  • Comprehensive Civil Rights Plan
  • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Greater Minnesota Transportation Sales and Use Tax
  • Local Option Sales and Use Tax
  • Posting on website policy

Copyright © 2025 Olmsted County, Minnesota