The Stuart City Council approved appointing a new City Attorney at Monday’s meeting.

Council member Kristina Renslow proposed to the Council that they hire Dustin Miller of Nyemaster Goode P.C., based in Des Moines, to provide general legal services at a fee not exceeding $13,000 a year. Renslow mentioned that this is the amount budgeted for their current City Attorney Beverly Wild, of Wild, Baxter & Sand P.C. of Guthrie Center, and she said they are $10,000 over budget. Renslow affirmed that she works as a legal assistant for Nyemaster Goode P.C., but she told the Council it is not a conflict of interest and that she would not be benefitting personally from this proposal. Wild commented during the meeting that she hasn’t done much out of the ordinary as a city attorney, and that she hasn’t ever charged the City for work she hasn’t done. Mayor Dick Cook also mentioned that this year isn’t the first in which legal fees exceeded their budget.

Financial Advisor Chip Schultz of Northland Securities spoke in Wild’s defense, stating that the development agreement with Casey’s General Store wouldn’t have gone through if not for her work. Schultz also recommended that the Council seek proposals from other law firms before making a decision. Wild remarked on how the details of hiring a new firm were not included in the Council packet, which Renslow said was because it was “attorney-client confidential.” After a half hour of discussion, the Council approved Renslow’s motion to hire Nyemaster Goode effective July 1st on a 3-2 vote. Though Wild still has duties to perform until the end of the fiscal year, Council members Mick Askren and Theresa Glass, Cook, and City Administrator Ashraf Ashour thanked Wild for her service.