Commission to begin search for new county counselor

Linn County Commissioner Alison Hamilton is pushing to start the process of hiring a county counselor. The county has not had an attorney in the counselor post since July last year, (Journal file photo)

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – On Monday, Feb. 24, Linn County Commissioners, Jim Johnson and Alison Hamilton discussed setting up interviews for two county counselor applicants that had applied. Commissioner Jason Hightower was not at the meeting.

Hamilton questioned whether they should start interviewing or wait another week. She then directed County Clerk Danielle Souza to set up interviews with the two applicants.

Hamilton asked if the human resources department provided questions and different things for the interviews. She said that they had kind of briefly talked about what options including KPERS, benefits, health insurance – not just the counselor candidate but for other positions for which people have applied. She said she would like to have that information available in a packet during interviews.

Johnson questioned whether the commission wanted somebody at the meeting every week or just have them if the commission needs them or if the commission needs them to come to a meeting.

Hamilton said it was all going to depend on how the interview process goes.

Hamilton pointed out that the pay matrix is another issue. She said the commission would probably have to adjust the pay matrix again because it’s not exactly what is wanted.

Johnson agreed. He asked if the commission would have to go off of the hours that the commission is looking at or pay by the hour. He said that the attorney he had talked with has done this in Miami County and they say they just go off an hourly rate. 

“That’s what they do for the hours that they work,” said Johnson.

Hamilton continued, “So, maybe next Monday we can go into executive session and we can all talk and discuss about, you know, just different ways or options we would have to hire someone. What are our expectations for the county counselor like when they come in here? 

“Are we okay saying they only show up physically here once a month, or are we okay with twice a month? And if it’s twice, what pay scale are we at on that? Are we going to pay hourly? Are we going to provide any benefits? Just where are we at on what we want.”

Johnson said that he thought that what the commission would find is that the applicants will tell them want they want.

The commission has not had a county counselor since Mark Hagen resigned at the end of June 2024. Hagen, who has a law practice in Overland Park, resigned the post about two months after he was hired.

In his resignation letter, Hagen indicated that he couldn’t represent a client who didn’t take his advice. Hamilton was not on the commission when Hagen resigned. He has since been hired by the county as a part-time assistant county attorney and has worked on zoning and trash compactor issues for the commission.

Hamilton’s suggestion to recess into a closed-door session to discuss qualifications of a prospective county counselor would likely violate the intent of the Kansas Open Meeting Act because it would involve a policy matter and would not adhere to executive session guidelines.