County Board Actions: Commissioners take office

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-348-5969

County board actions

Commissioners sworn in; Callison reappointed as chair

This Tuesday, four Hennepin County Commissioners took office and the Hennepin County Board reappointed Jan Callison, District 6, to serve as its chair for 2017.

Mike Opat, District 1; Jan Callison, District 6; and Jeff Johnson, District 7, who were all re-elected this term, were sworn into office before the board meeting. Debbie Goettel, former mayor of Richfield, also was sworn into her role as commissioner for District 5. 

Callison will lead the seven-member board. With the addition of Goettel, the board will have a female majority for the first time. 

"I look forward to continuing my role as chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners as we build on the accomplishments from 2016 and face the challenges of 2017," said Commissioner Callison. "I am honored to be chosen by my colleagues to lead the board."

"The county plays a critical role in responding to the needs of both residents and businesses. I look forward to continued collaboration with my colleagues, staff and other partners as we work to provide county services efficiently and cost-effectively, as well as position Hennepin County for the future." 

Callison, who has served on the board since 2009, has been chair since 2015. Her district includes Deephaven, northern Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.  

The board also reappointed Commissioner Linda Higgins, District 2, to serve as vice chair of the board. Higgins, who has served on the board since 2012, has served as vice chair since 2015. Her district includes the cities of Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, southeast Plymouth, St. Anthony and north and northeast Minneapolis, including the North Loop and Bryn Mawr neighborhoods.  

The board changed names of the board committees to better reflect the county's administrative structure, effective immediately, and appointed chairs for the new committees:

  • Public Works: Mike Opat, District 1
  • Health: Marion Greene, District 3
  • Human Services: Debbie Goettel, District 5
  • Public Safety: Jeff Johnson, District 7
  • Operations: Linda Higgins, District 2
  • County Administration: Peter McLaughlin, District 4

Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority leadership

Acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), the board re-elected Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, District 4, as chair and Commissioner Jan Callison, District 6, as vice chair of the HCRRA.

The county board normally meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Hennepin County Government Center. Find a complete schedule, meeting minutes and agendas at www.hennepin.us/boardmeetings

Board and committee meetings generally are live-streamed on the web, broadcast live on Metropolitan Cable Network Channel 6 and re-broadcast on Channel 6 at 8 p.m. Fridays.  

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.

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