Jackson County commission directs ranking committee to return up to four qualified legal-services applicants for interviews

The Jackson County Commission voted to direct a previously named ranking committee to review written proposals for legal services and return up to four qualified applicants for the board to interview, the commission decided during a public meeting.

Commissioners discussed whether the board should review all submitted packages or rely on a ranking committee to pare the field. Speaker 4 described the committee members as Herman Larmore, Frank Bondurant, Commissioner Branch and former judge Woodrow Hatcher and said the committee would rank proposals and refer a shortlist to the board. Speaker 5 said the board should retain the final hiring decision.

Speaker 5 introduced a motion that the ranking committee rank applicants and bring a recommendation to the board; Speaker 2 amended the motion to have the committee return the top four qualified applicants (fewer if fewer respond). Speaker 2 seconded the amended motion. The chair called for a voice/hand vote and announced the motion passed with four in favor and one opposed.

On timing, Speaker 4 told commissioners the ranking committee would likely need about five to 10 days to review written responses and report back so the board could schedule interviews at its next meeting if necessary. The board also discussed options to avoid potential protests by setting a clear interview shortlist procedure in advance rather than arbitrarily choosing interviewees after proposals arrive.

The motion affects the county’s procurement timeline for legal services: staff will accept written proposals through the stated RFQ deadline, the ranking committee will rank submissions, and the commission will interview the shortlisted candidates and make the final selection.