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County attorney authorized to solicit and negotiate RFQ to replace special magistrate for code enforcement
Summary
After the county’s special magistrate resigned, commissioners authorized a request-for-qualifications and gave the county attorney authority to negotiate a contract with the highest-ranked candidate, with a 5-0 vote.
Suwannee County commissioners voted unanimously June 3 to authorize a request for qualifications to hire a replacement special magistrate to hear county code-enforcement cases and to let the county attorney negotiate with the top-ranked candidate.
County Attorney Adam Morrison told the board the current magistrate, Rick Schutte, had resigned and the county had accumulated a backlog of enforcement hearings. Morrison recommended issuing an RFQ, assembling a scoring committee and allowing the county attorney to enter into contract negotiations with the selected firm or individual. He asked that Columbia County Attorney Joel Foreman join the scoring panel so a member of the Florida Bar would sit on the committee.
Commissioner White moved to authorize the RFQ; Commissioner Perkins seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Morrison summarized the proposed steps: issue the RFQ, have a scoring committee review responses (recommended members: Columbia County attorney Joel Foreman, an administrative representative and the county’s code-enforcement officer), authorize the county attorney to negotiate with the highest-ranked respondent, and permit the county administrator to execute the contract once negotiations succeed.
The board’s action aims to clear a backlog of enforcement hearings by securing a magistrate who is a member of the Florida Bar and available to hear pending cases.
Ending: With the board’s unanimous authorization, staff will issue the RFQ and proceed with a scoring and negotiation process; a contract will be presented to the board once negotiations are complete.
