Commissioners approve in-house Director of Legal Affairs after extended debate over corporate counsel role

The board voted to create a Director of Legal Affairs position that will be posted immediately and serve as the county's in-house day-to-day legal resource. The measure followed extended discussion of whether the new director would replace board-appointed corporate counsel and how to avoid loss of attorney knowledge during a planned transition.

County administration described the new director as a department head who will handle most day-to-day legal questions and coordinate outside litigation counsel when needed. Administrator presentation noted that existing outside firms (Dickinson Wright and Ron Bolche) would remain available during transition. Administrator told the board those firms "will remain, at kind of on the bench for the county in terms of providing legal support as needed." (paraphrase)

Several commissioners argued the county needs both an on-staff legal director and a separately appointed corporate counsel who can advise the board directly. Commissioner comments focused on overlap, the need for knowledge transfer shadowing with current counsel, and whether the board should issue a simultaneous RFP to identify corporate counsel options. After an amendment clarifying the director "does not replace corporate counsel to the board," the motion carried and staff will bring policy language back to the Planning & Policy committee to formalize roles and reporting lines.

The board also discussed transition logistics and timing so the incoming director can "brain dump" with current counsel before any retirement of long-serving outside counsel.