Dear Editor:
It recently came to my attention that, beyond the customary retainer Union County pays its attorney, in the last 12 months, the county paid an additional $56,180.25 in professional charges for legal services.
The county attorney receives a retainer of $2,910 a month, or $34,920 annually, to attend all regular and special meetings as required by the board of county commissioners. The attorney receives $212 per hour for all other legal services to the county.
A public records request was submitted for statements of professional charges from the county attorney for the period of March 2024 through February 2025.
The attorney’s work was documented as a line item by date, time charged, work performed, and total dollars billed for that date. There were 183 dates during the 12 months reviewed resulting in billing to the county. Numerous dates included several events having occurred on the same date; however, they do not reflect time dedicated to the individual event or individual cost, only total for that date.
Of the approximately 75 contacts with citizens, 64 were related to land development regulations (LDRs). Statements reveal about 64 individual citizens communicated with the attorney by telephone or email, six on two occasions, one on three occasions and one seven times.
Total cost to county for line items, including LDR, was $29,391.25.
Total cost to county by line item where LDR and “citizen,” or name of person not employed by county is included with other tasks is approximately $18,638.25.
Total cost to county by line item where only LDR and citizen is listed is approximately $3,791.
Without each task being documented as a separate line item, it is impossible to determine the exact cost to the county for citizens to be contacting the attorney directly.
Land development regulations, unlike Florida statutes, generally do not require a law degree to comprehend, which begs the question, why is the county attorney fielding so many calls from citizens about LRDs? How are (and who directs) citizens to contact the county attorney directly?
In that the LDRs are integral to many functions under the county purview, it would seem there would be an employee at the Union County Board of Commissioner’s office, well versed in the LDRs, sufficient to inform citizens on land development issues and less expensive than $212 an hour.
At a special meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners on March 25, 2024, during the meeting there were citizens and elected officials who expressed distrust in the county coordinator to properly execute their duties and conflicts of interest. A commissioner recommended the county coordinator never supervise the building department or LDRs. Another commissioner suggested the county attorney assume the role of LDR administrator.
The governor’s office recently created the Florida Department of Government Efficiency to identify, review and report on unnecessary spending within local governments. Perhaps over reliance on the county attorney warrants examination.
Jack Schenck
