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Milton absorbs ‘notable rate increase’ in legal fees By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Inflation, market conditions and out-of-town recruiters have pushed Jarrard & Davis LLP, the law firm that represents Milton, to ask for a “notable rate increase” for the first time in five years. The Milton City Council approved a resolution Jan. 19 appointing Jarrard & Davis as the city’s attorney and a modified rate structure which includes a fee of $275 an hour for founding partners Ken Jarrard and Angela Davis. The new rates will take effect Feb. 1. The firm has represented the city since 2007. At the time, it charged a flat fee of $150 an hour for all attorney services and $75 an hour for paralegal services. Then, in 2017, it increased its rate to $175 an hour for attorney services while maintaining the same rate for paralegal services. Under the new rate structure, partners and associates will make between $240 an hour and $250 an hour depending on their level of experience. Paralegals will charge $150 an hour. City Manager Steven Krokoff said the change is expected to cost the city an additional $89,500 per year. Milton paid an average of $21,414.88 a month, or a total of nearly $300,000, during fiscal year 2021. City Attorney Ken Jarrard said while he had some trepidations about increasing the firm’s rates, 2021 was “very challenging” and, similar to other city functions, inflation was also manifesting itself in the salaries he has to pay his attorneys.
Jarrard & Davis LLP, a Cumming law firm specializing in local government, has represented the City of Milton since 2007. “I believe our law office is considered a model around the state, and, unfortunately, that is both a blessing and a curse,” Jarrard said. “It is a blessing because we are able to provide governmental units like yourself, I believe, really good, prompt and accurate legal information and guidance to hopefully reduce claims and reduce risk.” “Curse,” he said, “because we are a recruiter magnet. My attorneys are being recruited every day with cold calls from recruiters asking them to come away and luring them with metro prices, and I am having to pay them more.” Councilwoman Carol Cookerly said
she thinks the new rates were still a “big bargain for taxpayers,” adding that Jarrard and his legal team have been spot on regarding litigation for as long as she’s been on the City Council. Mayor Peyton Jamison agreed. “What can be the most costly part of a city is having a bad attorney,” Jamison said. “That can cost a city a lot of money in the future, and I think [Jarrard & Davis has] done a great job over the years.” In other business at the meeting, the City Council unanimously extended a 120-day moratorium on new alcohol
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MARTA director Jeffrey Parker dies in apparent suicide By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com
FILE PHOTO
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See INFLATION, Page 16
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FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker died by suicide Jan. 14. Parker was struck by a train at the East Lake Transit Station. MARTA’s official Twitter account tweeted at 11:45 p.m. Jan. 14 about an emergency situation at the station disrupting service. “Jeff cared deeply about MARTA and his leadership gave us a strong foundation from which to carry forward,” the agency said in a statement. Parker worked in transportation for more than 35 years and had served as MARTA’s CEO since 2018. He began his career as an intern with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in 1985. He later served as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Parker in 2020 as one of the most influential Atlantans. The Atlanta chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar also recognized him in 2019 as its Man of the Year for his record of hiring and promoting women in transportation.
See PARKER, Page 16