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Board approves outside counsel option; director reports local attorney available
Summary
The tourism board voted to approve Walter Stubbs of Stubbs Law Group as outside legal counsel on an hourly basis if needed; board discussed whether county attorney services could cover tourism board needs and deferred routine legal work to budget decisions.
The Sumner County Tourism Board approved engaging outside counsel on an as‑needed hourly basis and heard that the county attorney could provide limited support depending on budgeting and workload.
The director reported she had interviewed Walter Stubbs of the Stubbs Law Group in Gallatin and said he "has experience in business law and real estate law" and is available at hourly rates stated during the meeting. The director said Stubbs is the only local attorney she found who focuses on business matters and real estate rather than family law or other practice areas.
Board members discussed whether the county attorney could represent or support the tourism board. The director said county staff had indicated the county attorney "can't represent us" without a specific budgeted arrangement, while a county commissioner told the director that in some cases the county can provide services as a budgeted item. The board concluded that retaining outside counsel provides a fallback if specialized business or real-estate advice is needed.
A motion to approve Walter Stubbs as an available outside counsel carried on a voice vote with members responding "Aye." The meeting did not adopt a retainer agreement or commit to specific hours; staff said the arrangement would be on an hourly basis if used.
Board members asked that staff seek multiple options in the future, and staff said they would do so.
