The Benton County Board of Commissioners agreed to seek outside land-use consultants and independent legal counsel to handle any potential land-use application from Republic Services and to reduce the role of county staff in that process.

County counsel Vance Cronin told the board the plan is to "authorize an expenditure of funds to hire a third lawyer to sit on that committee," naming Virginia Gustafson Lander as a potential candidate because she is a Benton County resident with land-use experience. Cronin said the outside lawyer would advise the consulting firm, support the county at planning commission hearings and, if necessary, carry the county's interest through appeals.

Cronin also asked the board to allow staff to solicit firms and lawyers. He said he had solicited candidate names from a county-counsel listserv and other local attorneys and would bring a short list of potential consultants back to the board after holiday scheduling constraints.

Commissioners framed the move as a transparency measure. Commissioner Matt Malone said the steps were important "to remove the perception that some folks hold, the county staff is somehow biased," and Commissioner Nancy Wise recorded general support for the request.

On membership, the board discussed filling a vacant seat on the work group with an appointed planning commissioner. Chair Nancy Wise said Andrew Struthers has expressed interest in the seat, and the board agreed to wait until planning-commission interviews are complete before formally appointing a replacement.

The board took one formal vote related to work-group membership. Commissioner Matt Malone "moved to remove Joel Guyer from" the work group and replace him with Chuck Gilbert; the motion was seconded, commissioners voted aloud "Aye," and the chair declared, "Motion carries." The board clarified that Guyer would continue to represent the county on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

The board did not adopt specific consultant contracts or vendor names at the meeting; staff said they would return with proposed names and further details for formal authorization.

What happens next: County counsel will compile candidate names for planning consultants and land-use lawyers and present them for the board's consideration. Staff emphasized a preference for a limited shortlist rather than a full RFP for these specialized services.

Votes and formal action

- Motion to replace work-group member Joel Guyer with Chuck Gilbert: moved by Commissioner Matt Malone, seconded by an unnamed commissioner; vote: unanimous "Aye." Outcome: approved.