County attorney outlines vacancy plan and short-term coverage while board readies appointment notice
Summary
County Attorney Erin explained timelines for filling a vacancy if she resigns after election, proposed running a notice of vacancy and described a short-term temporary coverage plan (possible interim coverage by Matt Schultz) and hiring a part-time assistant to enable delegated acting authority.
County Attorney Erin briefed Madison County supervisors on the expected vacancy in her office after the election and presented a plan to ensure continuity of legal services.
Erin said the legal timeline requires an appointment within three days of a vacancy and that boards must follow the statutory 4-to-40-day appointment window; she recommended issuing a notice of vacancy now to solicit applications and then making an appointment after the election to avoid procedural confusion. Erin also described a likely temporary, part-time arrangement to provide immediate coverage: she said attorney Matt Schultz had offered to act as a temporary county attorney for about three weeks, and she proposed recruiting a part-time temporary assistant county attorney who could be delegated as acting county attorney during the interim.
Supervisors discussed residency requirements and the possibility of using a 60'90 day appointment provision if a candidate needs to relocate into the county. Erin said she would circulate a notice of vacancy and coordinate posting with legal and professional channels (including bar/attorney association lists) and return to the board with any action items for payment or hiring approval. The board asked staff to prepare the notice and mechanism to accept applications and said it would review potential appointees after the election window closes.
