Commissioners searching for new attorney (11/14/07)

Jay County commissioners are in search of a new attorney.

After serving as legal counsel for the county's top executive officials for 20 of the last 22 years, Brad Burkett an-nounced Tuesday he intends to move on.

Burkett, say-ing he is ready for a change, filed a two-week notice stating that he no longer wishes to serve as commissioners' attorney. His final day as lawyer for commissioners will be Monday, Nov. 26.

"Right before (lunch) he dropped a bombshell on us," Commissioner Gary Theurer said of Burkett.

"Realistically, in two weeks we'll need an attorney."

Commissioners spent part of Tuesday afternoon on the phone trying to contact area lawyers. They said they might pursue the services of a law firm to fill the void left by Burkett's absence, instead of hiring an individual.

The purpose behind this, Theurer said, is to ensure that a legal representative is available at all times.

Responsibilities for the attorney position include viewing and drafting legal work, such as contracts and ordinances, providing advice, attending meetings and monitoring bids for projects within the county, commissioners said.

"(The attorney) just keeps us on the up-and-up on stuff," Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said.

The commissioners hope to fill the position with a local law practitioner or firm, but all interested candidates are encouraged to apply, Miller said. The contract position will pay $16,967.71 in 2008, which is the same amount offered this year.

In other action Tuesday, commissioners named Sheriff Ray Newton the purchasing agent for new emergency radio equipment for the county's 911 service.

The equipment, which includes three new computers and software, comes at a cost of $21,048, said Nancy Culy, deputy auditor. It will be bought from Emergency Radio Service Inc., which currently does maintenance on the county's 911 equipment.

She added that there is money available for the purchase in the 2008 budget.

"It's their radio dispatching (equipment)," she said. "They need to upgrade it."

Bill Baldwin, Jay County 911 director, said the new equipment will replace outdated computers and software currently in use. This will allow ERS, which has offices in Muncie and Fort Wayne, to provide more efficient maintenance and service, he added.

"That's just one less worry I'll have to worry about," Baldwin said, adding he expects equipment to arrive in a few months.

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