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Commission approves private-act changes for county attorney, sets $1,200 annual retainer and allows additional billing
Summary
After public comment and debate, commissioners amended the private act governing the county attorney to require annual election in September and to set a $1,200 retainer with the option for additional compensation for legal services; one commissioner registered opposition to the election timing change.
Hamblen County commissioners approved amendments to the private act that governs the county attorney, changing how the office is filled and updating pay language.
Under two separate motions the commission adopted (1) a change stating the county attorney will be elected annually by the legislative body at the September meeting and (2) a change specifying the county attorney shall receive an annual retainer of $1,200 and may receive additional compensation and reimbursement for actual expenses related to county legal services.
Commissioner Rodney Long moved the ballot-item-style amendments. The motion to require the annual September election passed on a roll call vote; Commissioner Edna Green recorded a "no" during the roll call. Debate during the finance committee and on the floor touched on cost comparisons and historical practice. Linda Noe (public commenter) presented a calculation she said showed annual attendance payments would total more than the retainer under the proposed change; she urged commissioners to retain the existing arrangement.
Supporters said the retainer is modest compared with typical attorney retainers and argued the change clarifies compensation and helps ensure continued representation. Opponents said the county is facing budget pressures and questioned additional costs during a year with significant county expenditures.
The commission directed staff to carry the approved language forward; the retainer provision passed on a later count recorded as 13 yeas, 0 nays.
