County attorney to use $130k to hire new lawyer, staff support
Price City has approved a contract with Carbon County that paves the way for the Carbon County attorney’s office to prosecute criminal cases that occur in Price City.
At last week’s City Council meeting the council voted unanimously to approve the contract, made necessary by the resignation of Nick Sampinos, longtime Price City attorney.
The contract is for $130,000 and will involved only criminal cases. Price City will still need to employ an attorney to handle internal affairs and civil cases.
The Carbon County Commission had previously approved the agreement.
Longtime Carbon County Attorney Gene Strate has announced he will retire at the end of this year and will not seek re-election. Deputy County Attorney Jeremy Humes is running unopposed for the position. At a recent County Commission meeting Humes spoke in favor of the agreement between the city and county, saying he believes it is in the best interest of both entities.
Fines and fees collected from defendants in Price cases would continue to go to the city. Price will also still be required to provide a public defender for defendants who can’t afford the services of a private attorney.
The contract is a three-year commitment and calls for a 1.5 percent increase in the contract every year. There is a bail-out clause that allows either entity to break the agreement, with four months notice, if it isn’t working.