Questions raised about labor attorney consultation by Kandiyohi County Board – West Central Tribune

WILLMAR

— Kandiyohi County Commissioner Dale Anderson, at the April 2 board meeting, asked for clarification on the process the board should follow when hiring outside legal counsel.

The question arose due to a $559 bill being paid to Ratwik Roszak and Maloney, a law firm that specializes in issues pertaining to schools and local governments. An attorney from the firm, Anne Goering, was consulted by Commissioner Roger Imdieke, about the performance evaluations of County Administrator Kelsey Baker.

Contributed / Kandiyohi County Board

“How does that get approved, who authorizes that person as an attorney to do that?” Anderson asked.

There was no

Kandiyohi County Board-

approved resolution or motion to engage the law firm’s services. Baker said the county normally does not have a labor attorney on retainer.

Imdieke said Goering has worked with Kandiyohi County and others regarding labor issues and he was in need of counsel

during the contentious evaluations

. He also said County Attorney Shane Baker wasn’t available during the six-month review done in August 2023 because it was a closed session.

“I needed to have somebody who I could speak to, to cover this, because it was new ground for me,” Imdieke said.

Imdieke also said that because the Kandiyohi County Board does not have board operating guidelines that could help in such situations, he made the decision on his own.

“I was put in a position where I needed counsel and I had to make a call,” Imdieke said.

Commissioner Corky Berg said he was under the impression that commissioners could obtain legal counsel for things such as labor issues and believes it is an important option when questions arise, especially when dealing with labor.

“I don’t want to lose that option, if I ever have that need to talk to an attorney,” Berg said. He did add he felt it was important that all the commissioners are aware of that option and can ask questions themselves.

Anderson thought it might be a good idea to have a labor attorney available, so there is someone already in place for the entire board or individual commissioners to consult if needed.

“If it is something we should have. We should do that at the beginning of the year like our appointments to committees, that we are going to have that person to contact,” Anderson said.

The board and Baker have spoken briefly about establishing board operating guidelines at past meetings, which they hope will help the board work more efficiently and as a group. Imdieke said the concerns raised April 2 are a good example of the need.

“That is a good question and probably another good reason to have board operating guidelines,” Imdieke said.