Hennepin County approves contracts, appointments and legal counsel after federal subpoena
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Summary
At the Jan. 27 meeting the board approved multiple contracts and appointments — including $6.9M building work, a $994,000 ADA contract, a $597,000 Ryan White Part B amendment, and appointments of Sarah Holly and David Hewitt — and authorized up to $250,000 for outside legal counsel after a federal grand jury subpoena.
The Hennepin County Board on Jan. 27 approved a series of routine and nonroutine items including contract awards, grant amendments and senior appointments, and authorized a not-to-exceed $250,000 contract for outside counsel after county officials were served with a federal grand-jury subpoena.
Among the approvals: publication contracts (13A–B), a contract to Riley Construction for City Hall and Public Safety Facility finishes reported at a little over $6.9 million (13C), and a contract to Ty Zack Concrete LLC for accessibility improvements tied to the county's pavement preservation program for about $994,000 (13D). Transportation staff said the ADA work will include corridor projects such as Old Shakopee Road (Bloomington), Bass Lake Road (Brooklyn Center), York Avenue (Edina) and Manitou Road (Tonka Bay).
The board also approved an amendment to a Department of Human Services agreement to extend Ryan White Part B HIV/AIDS services through June 30, 2026, and accept a $597,000 receivable to distribute to subrecipients and cover administrative costs (13G).
Two senior county appointments were confirmed: Sarah Holly as Assistant County Administrator for Health (effective Feb. 9, 2026), who will continue to serve as Community Health Services Administrator and Public Health Director; and David Hewitt as Assistant County Administrator for Human Services (effective Feb. 9, 2026). County staff noted Hewitt’s prior leadership of housing-stability work and a reported 33% local reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2020 under initiatives credited to his office.
The board also approved a contract with law firm Pollard Sparr LLP not to exceed $250,000 (13J). Deputy County Administrator Dan Rogan told the board a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury had been delivered to the board’s custodian of records and that the subpoenas are part of a federal grand jury criminal proceeding; he said Minnesota law permits counties to pay for criminal defense or legal services when matters arise from performance of official duties. The board approved the legal-services authorization by voice vote.
Other actions included scheduling a county board meeting at Hennepin Health on Feb. 11, the annual Valentine's Day marriage-ceremony use of the Government Center skyway and routine appointments across advisory boards and commissions.
What happens next: staff will proceed with the awarded contracts and enter agreements with the named vendors; the legal-services contract will be executed under the terms approved by the board, and the county clerk will publish board actions as part of the meeting record.
