KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County is losing its lawyer again.
Angelina Barnes was finally hired early last year after conflicts with their previous attorney, an extensive and prolonged national search, and a long period without an in-house attorney. Well, she has gotten a better offer and she is taking it.
Vice chair John Taylor says with no attorney on the payroll, they have to farm out their legal work to outside counsel and that can get to be quite expensive.
Filling any skilled job is a challenge right now, as County Commissioner Jen Strebs well knows.
Taylor says they may want to consider expanding the department to two lawyers with a paralegal, to make the position more attractive, and to give them back-up. Right now the challenge will be to find just one attorney.
Administrator Kevin Catlin says he wants to immediately begin a new search.
The County Board voted to let Barnes out of the contractual requirement to give them 60-days notice. That’s how much in-demand legal talent is these days.
It recently took the city of Kalamazoo over a year to replace their city attorney after Clyde Robinson announced his plans to retire.
Barnes’ last official day on the job will come next week.
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