LINCOLN -- With two members absent, Lincoln City Council had to vote two times to get a majority to hire a new city attorney last week.
The Council, in a special meeting Dec. 13, voted 5-1 (the second time) to authorize Mayor Rob Hulse to enter into a contractual agreement to hire Steve Zega as the city attorney. Zega is an associate with Cypert, Crouch, Clark & Harwell law firm in Springdale. As city attorney, Zega also will be Lincoln's city prosecuting attorney.
Zega, a graduate of Lincoln High School, served for two years as Washington County attorney and also has served as city prosecutor for both Lincoln and Prairie Grove.
Zega replaces former city attorney Steven Parker, who submitted his resignation by email Dec. 7. The city will pay Zega $175 per hour .
In an email to Hulse, Parker wrote: "Rob: The more I thought about things last night, it became apparent to me that the time has come to end my role as City Attorney for Lincoln. I tender my resignation."
Parker last week said he had been thinking about resigning for a while and decided it was the right time, since it was at the end of the year.
"They didn't ask me to resign. It was just time," Parker said. "I think it was friendly all around."
Parker has served as city attorney for both Lincoln and Prairie Grove since 2006. He said he plans to continue as Prairie Grove's city attorney. Lincoln paid Parker $150 per hour as city attorney.
The Council voted to accept Parker's resignation. Hulse said Parker did not give any reasons for why he was resigning.
After receiving Parker's email, Hulse said he talked to three attorneys interested in the position. He presented information about all three to the Council. Hulse said his hope was the Council would make a decision that night so a city attorney would be present at the next City Council meeting.
The three attorneys interested in the position were Zega, Audra Bailey, who has law offices in Farmington and Prairie Grove, and Larry Snodgrass, who has a private practice in Lincoln.
"I think we have three somewhat very different candidates," Hulse said. "They all bring something to the table."
The Council decided to concentrate on Zega and Snodgrass because Bailey did not have the prosecuting experience the other candidates had.
Snodgrass has had a private law practice for many years and served as Lincoln City Court judge from 1974-84 and again from 2000-2012. He also has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Washington County. He has extensive experience with the court system and in the courtroom, Hulse said.
"I can personally tell you I've watched Larry in the courtroom and he's very professional," Hulse said. "He always has shown respect for everyone he has dealt with."
Zega's law experience includes serving as county attorney and city prosecutor for Lincoln and Prairie Grove from 1994-2003 and again from 2006-2015. Hulse said Zega's experience also includes working with local government taxation, Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, planning, ordinances and policies and imminent domain.
Zega is a member of Arkansas Army National Guard and has military law experience. He served as a member of Washington County Quorum Court from 2001-2010.
In discussing the two candidates, Council members looked at their prosecuting experience and their experience with city issues. They agreed either would be a good city attorney for Lincoln.
Council member Doug Hutchens noted that both men know the community but Zega had more experience with municipal planning.
Hulse agreed that he hopes the city is on the "road to growth and we need to make sure we are prepared." He said Zega has experience with this.
Council member Bobby Stowers said he also considered Zega's experience a plus for the city.
"I'm looking at his municipal experience. He wouldn't have a learning curve," Stowers said.
Stowers then made a motion to hire Zega. The Council voted 4-2 on this motion but that was not a majority. A majority is based on the total number of Council members, not a majority of those present at the meeting. Stowers, Hutchens, Doyle Dixon and Troy Myers voted to hire Zega. Council members Doug Moore and Robin Moore, who are married to each other, voted no. Gary Eoff and Bobby McDonald were absent.
"Larry's from here. That's a big asset," Robin Moore said after the vote.
Hulse suggested taking a 10-minute break and reconvening. After the break, Council members continued to discuss pros and cons of both candidates.
Hutchens then made a second motion to hire Zega as city attorney. This time, only Doug Moore voted no, making it a 5-1 vote.
Hulse expressed his appreciation to Parker for his service as city attorney, saying Parker has been a valued part of the city.
"Steven Parker did a great job for us...I appreciate everything he has done for us in the past."
General News on 12/20/2017