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Neighborhood group pushes for attorney change




The Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance wants a new in-house legal counsel for Rutherford County government.

The Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance wants a new in-house legal counsel for Rutherford County government.

Members of the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance continue to make their case for in-house legal counsel for Rutherford County government.

Rutherford County Alliance president Mike Linton said the issue has been discussed for about 10 years, and continues to be a point of interest for several parties. Linton said his organization, which has pushed for in-house legal services for Rutherford County in the past, presented its argument to Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, who invited the group to preview its stance before more in-depth discussion next month.

“The RNA’s interest is in proposing a system different from the one this county presently uses. This is not a matter of particular persons or organizations, but instead, of alternative structure. Our concern is structural, not personal,” Linton said.

Rutherford County contracts its legal services. Josh McCreary of Hudson, Reed & McCreary currently serves as county attorney. Under his agreement, McCreary receives health insurance benefits and county retirement as a semi-employee, similarly to county commissioners.

Linton and other members of the group voiced concerns about former and potential issues with the contracted legal services, such as conflicts of interest and the inability of the contracted firm to fulfill the county’s needs due to other demands.

“I would expect an in-house legal counsel would have the ability, time and opportunity to be looking at reviewing our policies, our procedures, our manuals, our ordinances and looking at those for problems before they arise,” Avent Lane said. “In the past, it seems like the county has so often operated on a retroactive-type basis. We recognize problems only when they come up, are created or we’re sued.”

“Since 2009, when this process of creating an in-house attorney began, our population has grown, adding more than 55,000 people, and we are on the brink of becoming the fourth-largest county in the state,” Susan Allen said. “As our population continues to grow, our legal needs will continue to grow.”

“Our legal department must operate under an agreement that makes it absolutely clear that the attorney’s job is to protect the county, and whose allegiances cannot be questioned,” Teresa St. Clair said. “We need to start over again with a lawyer who works solely for the county, is eligible for benefits and with a contract that leaves absolutely no room for conflicts of interest.”

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