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800 <br />2) Firm will not 6111 for routine services, such as phone conferences, <br />writing brief documents (15 to 30 minutes) as we are doing now. These services <br />will be furnished as part of the increased retainer. <br />3) Firm believes increased hourly charge for litigation from $50 <br />to $100 an hour in court to be fair. <br />Commissioner Walker asked whether $100 an hour would cover one or <br />more attorneys. Mr. Coleman said the $100 was a flat rate no matter how many <br />attorneys attended. <br />_ Commissioner Wi.llhoi.t said the decision of whether the County <br />Attorney attended all meetings was a policy decision. Ne said the county <br />needed to have a more formal process for utilizing legal services. He <br />felt the $20,000 figure was in the same price range as hiring a staff <br />attorney to check leases and maintenance agreements or subdivision <br />ordinance, etc. <br />Commissioner Whined said up tv this point we have discussed <br />1) Continuing the present arrangement until the end of the fiscal year, <br />2) Exploring our options and making a counter proposal or making other <br />arrangements for a county attorney, and 3) Adopting the proposal submitted <br />by the attorneys and making amendments to it. Commissioner l~lhitted said <br />the Board could appoint the County Attorney now, review compensation <br />during the year and adopt a compensation agreement at budget session. <br />Mr. Coleman said he would 6e glad to talk about employing a <br />staff attorney for the county, with his firm supervising the work, but he <br />felt the hiring of a staff attorney plus a library and support services <br />would end up costing the county more in the long run. Commissioner Wi1lhoit <br />said he would like to check the relative costs. <br />Commissioner Willhoit moved, seconded Icy Commissioner Barnes, to <br />appoint the firm of Coleman, Bernholz and Dickerson to represent the <br />county on legal matters at the current $9,500 a year retainer and $50 <br />an hour billing arrangement for general legal work. The retainers for 1976 <br />and 1977 are .to be paid. The County Attorney will attend Board meetings. <br />The Board will sign the social services contract and the IV-D contract <br />as submitted. Vote: ayes, Commissioners Barnes, Willhoit, Walker and Whitted; <br />noes, Commissioner Gustaveson. <br />