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i~1:I:NUTES <br />City Council <br />January 6~ lyt~2 <br />Mr. Fahey informed ~Ir, Sweeney that the Council would like to appoint <br />the City Attorney by the first meeting in January with the Attorney in <br />attendance at that meeting. The present City Attorney has been retained <br />£or criminal work through the end of January, <br />Mr. Sweeney stated that he had no problem with that. Sweeney also <br />stated that he presently does not represent any developers or property <br />owners in the City and~ therefore~ feels that he would have no conflicts <br />o£ interest. Sweeney stated that he would not represent any resident o£ <br />the City i£ it posed a conflict of interest. <br />Mr. Sweeney also stated that he would not represent any bordering city <br />to Little Canada in order to avoid the possibility of problems. <br />The Council thanked Mr, Sweeney, <br />Next the Council interviewed Mr, g.ogex Knutson, Mr, Vance Grannis, and <br />Mr. Yat F'arrell of the £irm Grannis, Grannis, Campbell and Farrell, <br />This firm is proposing to represent the City for a retainer o£ $600 <br />for civil work and $1,300 for criminal work, Other work would be done <br />at a rate oP ~i65 per hour, <br />Mr. Knutson infoxmed the Council that his firm has 11 lawyers on staff. <br />Mr. Knutson stated that he specializes in municipa]. work. Knutson stated <br />that the firm has 20 years experience in municipa7. work and currently <br />represent the cities of Burnsville, Rosemount and Lakeville for civil <br />and criminal work and the City of Inver Grove Heights £or criminal. <br />Mr. Knutson stated that since he graduated £rom law sehool in 1973 he has <br />done municipal work. <br />Knutson stated that the firm is located in South St, Paul, The fixm is <br />a rnember of various municipal law associations and has a large law library <br />in municipal law. The firm also is equipped with word processors. <br />Mr. Knutson stated that as a City Attorney he would not be the decision <br />maker or policy maker. That is the Council~s job. Ae would advise the <br />Council and would te11 the Council what the law is. He wou].d also tell <br />the Council in advance if he spotted a problem, The firm would also be <br />the City+s advocate in court. Mr. Knutson stated that he would handle <br />tne civil work and Mr. Farrell and others would handle the criminal, <br />Mr. TCnutson stated that it was difficult to work up the fees as the other <br />cities that this firm represents do not reimburse the firm on a retaaner <br />basis. Mr, Fahey asked iS the firm was willing to live with the £igures <br />quoted £or the year 1982. Mr, Knutson replied that it would as long as <br />they were not drastically out of line, <br />Mr. Knutson also stated that his firm has many speciali~t~s in the of£ice <br />and~ therefore, can get things done quickly, <br />Page .-3- <br />