MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:21 pm

County Attorney Jim Cope’s contract is up for renewal in November and Rutherford County’s Steering Committee is currently evaluating the position.

At Monday night’s Steering Committee meeting, a subcommittee presented a cost analysis of the county attorney’s office compared to a legal department.

“We explored all the options,” Steering Committee Chairman and subcommittee member John Rodgers said, “from continuing the way we have it to bringing the county attorney in house.”

In 2007 Rutherford County paid Cope $108,000 plus benefits. The county also funds two secretaries for the county attorney’s office.

For that sum, the county also receives legal guidance from other members of Cope’s firm, Cope, Hudson, Scarlett, Reed & McCreary PLLC.

“It’s really a question of staying with the present arrangement or change to in-house counsel,” Commissioner Jim Daniel said.

The subcommittee is just beginning the process now and will gather more information on the cost of all options over the next 30 days, Rodgers said.

Cope’s contract with the county expires Nov. 1.

Cope has served as county attorney for more than 25 years.

The county attorney’s office has come under fire recently from the Sheltons, the family who owe the land where Bible Park USA was proposed to be built.

The Sheltons claimed in a lawsuit against the county last year that the county attorney overstepped his bounds by approving petitions used to defeat the religious theme park.

The family also claimed the county attorney’s office has a conflict of interest because it represents the Daily News Journal and Consolidated Utility District as well as the county.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.