Day Care Owner Council Member Faces Pressure to Resign Amid Investigation

SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn. — Pam Bakken, a city council member and day care owner, is under scrutiny following an investigation by the Lakeville Police Department after a three-year-old child tested positive for methamphetamine after leaving her daycare facility. This incident prompted calls for her resignation during a packed council meeting on Tuesday night.

The investigation started earlier this month when Dakota County Social Services reported instances of maltreatment at Bakken’s daycare. This report emerged shortly after the Minnesota Department of Human Services suspended the daycare’s license due to what was described as ‘imminent risk of harm.’

During the council meeting, residents expressed divided opinions on Bakken’s ability to serve as an elected official while her daycare business is under investigation. Molly Fehrman, a South St. Paul resident, voiced her concerns, stating, “How can we trust you to make good decisions… when you can’t [manage] what goes on in your home?”

Greg Mills, another local parent, added, “You had a moral and ethical obligation to inform me and other families of the environment our children were in on a daily basis, you failed. Shame on you.”

However, Bakken has also garnered support from community members who argue for her right to due process. Nicole Delino Jansen asserted, “I feel strongly she deserves due process, and it is grossly premature to pass judgment now.”

Jeff Warner, another supporter, emphasized Bakken’s character and downplayed the allegations, stating, “[All] I can say is this family is one of the most outstanding families I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The day care incident has raised serious discussions regarding parental accountability and the responsibilities of public officials. Victoria Kane, the mother of the child involved, has called for Bakken to take accountability due to her elected position. She remarked, “I think she’s holding herself to a higher standard than the rest of the community because of her seat on the city council.”

Kane recalled the distressing day when she received a call from the daycare about her son’s unusual behavior. After noticing her son’s erratic actions on the way home, she took him to Children’s Minnesota Hospital, where doctors confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in his system. “About an hour later, we got the results back that came back conclusively as methamphetamine,” she said. During their hospital stay, Kane’s son mentioned ingestion of “onion crumbs” from a bathroom at the daycare, raising alarm and further investigation.

Kane—whose child has since recovered—highlighted how the daycare’s conditions had directly endangered children under Bakken’s care. A report from Dakota County Social Services outlined that neglect had occurred, although child protective services were deemed unnecessary. This decision noted that the maltreatment was linked to exposure to controlled substances by an unknown offender.

Officers from the Lakeville Police Department have announced that their investigation remains active, focusing on accountability and safety at the daycare. Meanwhile, Bakken has not publicly commented on the investigation during city meetings or otherwise.

As public discourse continues, the South St. Paul community is left navigating the complexities of trust in local leadership against the backdrop of serious child safety concerns.