By Sara StrongThe city of Luverne last week received eight proposals to become its new city attorney. The Luverne City Council first discussed getting a new attorney in October, when timeliness of work and potential conflict of interest with other government clients was brought up. Soon after, the council requested proposals from other law firms.Skewes, Klosterbuer and Vajgrt, LLP, Luverne This firm has provided legal representation to the city of Luverne for 23 years. Their proposal said in part, "As attorneys, and as long standing members of the community, we have worked to accommodate different viewpoints and personalities within City and County government, using the law as a tool to effectuate positive change. Local units of government, as well as the people of our community, have benefited from cooperative networks developed over time. The results can be seen in successful joint endeavors including law enforcement, the pool and fitness center and the community library."The members of this law firm possess the qualifications, experience, and knowledge base to provide the most effective legal representation to the city of Luverne ..."Hourly rates proposed are $105 for 2004 and wouldn’t include civil duties.Vander Kooi Law Offices, P.A., LuverneBenjamin Vander Kooi submitted a proposal to do legal work for the city, except prosecutions.He said, "As you may know, I have occasionally represented the city of Luverne whenever the current city attorney had a conflict of interest. The most recent representation occurred during the contentious dispute over changes in the Luverne City Code relating to land use regulation (zoning) for Dingmann Funeral Home."He would charge his standard hourly rate of $120.Ratwik, Roszak, and Maloney, P.A., Minneapolis This firm proposed the rates of $115 to $140 per hour for various types of attorney responsibilities.The firm limits its practice to government law — cities, counties, school districts and the state of Minnesota.It has 22 full-time attorneys and has expertise in municipal law including: general municipal law; public sector labor and employment law; public contracting; land use planning and zoning; real estate acquisition and eminent domain; policy drafting and analysis; and municipal litigation. Steffan Law Office, PLLC, PipestoneMark Thiel Steffan is the attorney proposing to work for Luverne. Steffan has worked as the Jackson County Attorney, Assistant Pipestone City Attorney and Special Assistant Murray County Attorney.This firm’s proposed rates are $90 an hour for civil matters and $75 an hour for criminal matters.Frank Madden & Associates, Plymouth This firm handles a variety of matters for public sector clients, including municipalities, counties, school districts, municipal hospitals and municipal utilities.Its proposal says the firm is well-versed in many labor and employment law matters. It said, "Our firm is dedicated to being responsive to the needs of our clients, and work is allocated within our firm to ensure that our clients receive quality services in a timely and cost effective manner."Its hourly fee proposed was $100 per hour for advice and consultation; $110 per hour for grievance arbitration cases and other administrative hearings, and $125 for litigation and appellate court cases.Hoff, Barry & Kuderer, P.A., Eden PrairieThis firm’s proposal said it concentrates its practice in the area of municipal law, and attorneys in the firm have experience in municipal representation and litigation.Some of the listed experience included planning and zoning issues, contract matters, special assessment proceedings, eminent domain, personnel matters, joint powers agreements, TIF proposals, development agreements, trial and appellate work, civil litigation, historic preservation claims, labor relations, and real estate.The hourly rate proposed was from $125 to $165 per hour for attorneys.Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, MinneapolisThis proposal said that the primary practice areas are in local government law, development law and employment law with experience in other city attorney’s offices. The firm has 28 lawyers, primarily representing municipalities in the following areas of expertise: local government law, public finance (municipal bonds), litigation, eminent domain, land use, economic development and redevelopment, employment law, bankruptcy law, real estate law, environmental law, government relation and administrative law, telecommunication and public utility law, business law and housing law. The proposed hourly rate for attorneys is $135. Flaherty & Hood, P.A., St. PaulThis firm said, "Flaherty & Hood is a distinctive law firm tailored to serve the particular needs of communities in Greater Minnesota."It proposed to provide labor and employment services to the city as well as general municipal legal services, in addition to special projects such as annexation and land use. This firm assisted with Border Cities Legislation for the cities of Luverne and Moorhead.The proposed rates for the city would be from $100 to $110 per hour for the attorneys. Attendance at meetings would be $90, with a minimum of three hours. Other legal services such as litigation, appellate matters, grievance or interest arbitration would be billed at $110 to $125 an hour.
