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Clay County renews contract with Winthrop & Weinstein for legislative lobbying services
Summary
The board approved a renewal with Winthrop & Weinstein at $4,000 per month ($48,000 annually) to represent Clay County’s legislative priorities; staff said previous lobbying helped secure roughly $11.8 million in funding for county priorities and urged continued targeted policy work.
Clay County staff presented a proposed renewal of a lobbying contract with Winthrop & Weinstein at $4,000 per month ($48,000 annually). Staff recounted prior‑year outcomes, saying the county’s primary priorities (flood mitigation and other bonding/earmark items) produced approximately $11.8 million in funding working with the firm. Staff framed that as a substantial return on the county’s investment and recommended renewing the contract for the coming budget year.
Commissioners discussed expanding the lobbyists’ scope to include policy issues that could affect county levies and argued the firm could help message county positions to the legislature. Commissioner Ebinger moved to approve the agreement; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The contract was reviewed by county attorneys before the board took the vote (as stated in the record).
No further action was required beyond approving the contract renewal; commissioners noted they may direct the firm to prioritize specific policy issues (mandates, error‑rate funding concerns, and grant coordination) going into the next legislative session.
