Caribou County commissioners renew conflict public defender contract with Jim Aldrich

The Caribou County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved renewal of the county's conflict public defender contract with Jim Aldrich at a special session on March 4, 2013.

Commissioner Phil Christensen moved “to renew the Conflict Public Defender Contract with Jim Aldrich” and to add language making the contract non‑exclusive and to set the contract to expire four years from the date of the motion; the motion also directed that the same contract be prepared between Caribou County and Greg Haney. Commissioner Mark Mathews seconded the motion, and Commissioners Earl Somsen, Phil Christensen and Mark Mathews voted yes.

The vote followed an executive session the board entered under the statute cited in the minutes as “I C 67 1234 1a and c.” The minutes record that the board voted to enter executive session and later reconvened to regular session; both votes were unanimous.

The renewed contract as approved by motion in the meeting is described in the minutes as non‑exclusive, to replace the existing contract (which the motion said would become void as of the meeting date), and to have a term expiring four years from March 4, 2013. The board also directed staff to prepare a similar contract between the county and Greg Haney; the minutes do not state whether Haney was present.

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.; it adjourned at 5:00 p.m. The minutes were signed by Commissioner Chairman Earl Somsen and attested by Caribou County Clerk Veda Mascarenas. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for March 11, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.