Levy County to post county‑attorney position and issue RFP for outside legal services

County Manager Mariana Harper returned to the board Dec. 2 with the job description and direction requested at a prior meeting for a county attorney search and an RFP for legal services.

Harper said staff would post the full‑time job through HR and also prepare a draft RFP for outside legal services so commissioners could choose whether to hire in‑house, enter a contract with a solo practitioner who maintains a private practice, or select a firm. Commissioners discussed costs of an in‑house employee versus contract arrangements, whether a contract attorney would receive benefits or be paid via contract, and the convenience of a local attorney versus a Tallahassee‑based firm.

The board expressed consensus to pursue both tracks: staff will post the job (Harper said typical posting is 3–4 weeks, given the holiday season) and prepare an RFP model (several Commissioners suggested using examples from Jackson County) and return the draft at the next meeting; commissioners discussed a salary posting range of $100,000–$175,000 plus benefits and noted total package comparisons to prior attorney compensation.