County Selects Knowles Randolph for Board Attorney

Clayton Knowles

By: Shelia Mader

After the county’s top choice for county attorney withdrew from consideration, commissioners moved forward with their second-ranked applicant at Tuesday night’s county commission meeting.

County Administrator Jim Dean explained that the board had previously ranked six applicants and, at its second January meeting, directed staff to negotiate a contract with the highest-ranked candidate, Casey Bigelow. When negotiations were unsuccessful, Bigelow formally withdrew.

Under the board’s earlier motion, staff then began negotiations with the second-ranked firm, Knowles and Randolph, PA. Dean said a draft contract was prepared and reviewed, including by the county’s current general attorney.

When asked by Commissioner Dr. Willie Spires whether she had concerns about the agreement, the attorney said she did not and noted that her suggested revisions had been incorporated.

Dr. Spires made a motion to approve the contract.

Commissioner Edward Crutchfield asked for clarification on the compensation terms, saying he had only just received the contract before the meeting. Dean explained that the agreement includes a $6,000 monthly retainer covering up to 40 hours of work at $175 per hour, which was the rate proposed in the firm’s original submission. Any hours beyond 40 in a month would be billed at $175 per hour, with associate attorney time billed at $125 per hour.

Crutchfield calculated that the arrangement would total roughly $72,000 annually and said he was satisfied after confirming the terms matched the proposal submitted during the bidding process.

Dean clarified that the $6,000 retainer would be paid regardless of whether the firm worked fewer than 40 hours in a given month, and that additional hours beyond 40 would be billed accordingly.

Chairman Jamey Westbrook briefly commented that the amount was modest compared to what the county had paid previously.

With a motion and second on the floor, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the contract with Knowles and Randolph as county attorney.