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Commission approves one-year 2025 city attorney agreement; retainer set at $8,000 per month
Summary
The Huron City Commission approved a one-year city attorney services agreement for calendar year 2025. The contract sets a monthly retainer of $8,000 and an hourly rate of $250 for additional legal services, and the commission agreed to edits to the scope of services requested by commissioners and the new attorney.
The Huron City Commission on Dec. 30 approved a one-year agreement for city attorney services for 2025, setting a monthly retainer of $8,000 and an hourly rate of $250 for additional legal work.
Human Resources Director Shawn O'Starritt presented the contract changes. The commission changed the prior four-year term to a one-year term so the city can review hours and reporting during 2025. O’Starritt said the contract’s effective dates would be Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.
The commission discussed edits to the exhibit that describes the scope of services. Commissioners asked that language allowing the city attorney to “testify before legislative boards” be removed or reworded; they discussed the need for coverage by another attorney from the firm when the city attorney is unavailable during the legislative session. The commission also asked that certain reporting language be removed from the scope per the agreement and requested clarification about who can request the attorney’s attendance at commission meetings.
Commissioners recorded a roll-call vote approving the agreement with the requested edits.
Contract specifics discussed at the meeting: monthly retainer of $8,000; hourly legal services at $250 per hour (as set forth in the contract exhibit); contract term 01/01/2025–12/31/2025; edits to exhibit paragraphs 1 and 16; removal of item 12 requiring a monthly written report; removal or rewording of language permitting testimony before legislative boards and a contingency that another attorney from the firm would provide coverage during legislative session periods.
Why it matters: The agreement establishes the city’s primary legal services relationship for 2025 and sets billing terms and scope expectations. Commissioners focused on conflict-of-interest and availability issues tied to the city attorney’s outside duties and asked the contract and exhibit to reflect coverage arrangements and limits on testimony before legislative bodies.
The commission approved the agreement by roll-call vote.
