County wants Whitcom to pay legal services

Whitman County commissioners now want Whitcom, the emergency 911 dispatch services agency, to get its own attorney for any legal services the agency might need and to pay for those services.

Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy told commissioners Monday morning that since the agency was formed in 2004, he has been the attorney to provide legal services for the agency. Since the agency’s interlocal agreements are being redone, he said he is not comfortable having an agreement that says he must provide all legal services.

“It doesn’t require a lot of my time,” he said. He said his time with the agency fluctuates. There may be months when he won’t devote any time to the agency and then he might put in five hours all at once, he said.

“I’m okay with us doing it, but I’m not okay with the wording (in the interlocal agreement),” he said. “I’m not going to promise to do it every time.”

He recommended to the commissioners that new language be put into the agreement stating that the prosecutor will provide legal services unless he decides not to.

Tracy also asked the commissioners about who should pay for the legal services. He recommended the commissioners ask Whitcom to pay for its own legal services.

“They are moving toward being a separate entity,” said Commissioner Dean Kinzer, who represents the county on the Whitcom board. “They should take care of their own resources and take care of things in-house.”

The other two commissioners, Michael Largent and Art Swannack, said they supported Tracy’s recommendation that the agency pay for legal services above and beyond routine legal support.