Mills County To Contract With Pottawattamie County For Interim County Attorney

Mills County is contracting with the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office to provide interim county attorney services until the county can hire a permanent replacement.

The county has been without its full-time county attorney since April when Tricia McSorley resigned her post. James Burger, the assistant Mills County Attorney had assumed many of McSorley’s duties but he too submitted his resignation earlier this month. Burger’s last day is Friday.

Mills County Auditor Carol Robertson said she and the Mills County Supervisors reached an agreement with Pottawattamie County to supply legal services to the county until the county position is filled. She was unaware at press time if Pottawattamie County would be providing a dedicated attorney or using a by-committee approach.

Robertson said the interim agreement may not be for long. The Mills County Board of Supervisors has interviewed eight applicants for the county attorney position and she expects an offer to go out this week. Six of the eight applicants, she said, are from or practice in the Glenwood area. Geographic familiarity isn’t a requirement for applying but the appointment will be required to live in Mills County.

“Whoever is the best candidate for the position and who can take office and be living in the county, they don’t have to live here now but when they’re appointed they’ll have to live here so that’s the key,” she said.