The Bracken County Fiscal Court voted to allow the Bracken County Ethics Commission to retain outside legal counsel on a case-by-case basis after the county attorney filed the complaint that prompted the commission's review.

Judge Teagarden introduced the commission's request and Christian Troll, a member of the ethics commission, explained the filing originated with the county attorney and that informal attempts to resolve the matter over several months had not produced a resolution. An ethics board representative said the matter may require something "more substantial than a letter" and that the board had begun contacting attorneys without conflicts of interest.

Magistrate Heather Brumley moved to allow the ethics commission to seek outside counsel and to return cost quotes to the fiscal court for approval; Craig Miller seconded the motion. During the discussion, commissioners debated whether attorneys should be sought locally or regionally to avoid conflicts and whether to set a not-to-exceed hourly cap before quotes are returned.

The court voted to authorize the commission to obtain outside counsel and asked the commission to present hourly and expense quotes for the court's approval. The motion passed with the voting members recorded as supporting the authorization.

The court did not set a firm budget amount at the meeting; officials said the commission would collect quotes, including hourly rates and mileage, and submit them at a subsequent meeting for formal approval.

What happens next: the ethics commission will return with specific quotes and recommendations for attorney selection; the fiscal court will consider and approve any expenditures before counsel is retained.