Heated Levy County discussion over legal services ends with motion to retain current county attorney

Levy County commissioners spent a large portion of their May 17 meeting on a contentious discussion about county legal services, including whether to retain Grama Robinson (current interim/permanent county attorney arrangement) or to hire specialized land‑use counsel for development services.

Commissioner Charlie Kennedy requested a workshop to evaluate bringing a dedicated land‑use firm to handle planning, zoning and development matters. The request prompted lengthy comment from the interim county attorney and members of the public. County legal staff advised the board that many of the services proposed for a separate firm are already covered under the interim contract with Grama Robinson and noted potential redundancy and unnecessary taxpayer cost in contracting two firms to cover the same functions.

Public commenters and multiple commissioners offered competing views: some urged the board to explore a contractor who could provide a daily, local presence to improve responsiveness; others urged the board to honor existing contracts and avoid paying twice for overlapping legal services. After discussion, a motion to uphold the current county attorney arrangement was made and passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: The county’s choice of legal representation affects development timelines, planning commission reviews and the workload of staff across departments. Commissioners discussed procurement options — including issuing an RFP for permanent county counsel — and potential short‑term steps to provide more consistent day‑to‑day legal support for development services.

What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to consider options that would ensure timely on‑site legal support for daily matters while avoiding redundant billing; the board asked staff to return with options and next steps as part of follow-up.