Stephens Co. Chooses Legal Services Bid
Stephens County will continue to use the law firm of Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling of Toccoa for its legal services.
On Tuesday, county commissioners unanimously voted to accept the bid of Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling and re-appoint them as county attorney.
According to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, the county received two bids for legal services.
However, Ayers said the other bid from the Samuels Law Firm did not meet all of the bid requirements, whereas the Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling bid did.
County Commission Chair Debbie Whitlock said the county is pleased to continue using the local firm.
“They have done a great job,” said Whitlock. “They have been doing this for a long time for the county. They are very familiar with the history of this county, so they have a huge database available to them and Brian Ranck does a great job. Everything is right at his fingertips.”
Ayers said that the bid from Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling included a reduction of $10 per hour in costs, from $150 per hour to $140 per hour.
Speaking for the firm, County Attorney Brian Ranck said that on behalf of the lawyers and staff with the firm, they appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve as county attorneys.
Ranck said the firm feels that it provides sound legal advice to Stephens County and has worked very hard over the years to keep the county in good standing from a legal standpoint.
He said the firm looks forward to continuing its relationship with Stephens County and doing its part in helping this Board of Commissioners and future Boards be successful in implementing their goals and policies for their governance of Stephens County.
In another bid from Tuesday, Stephens County Commissioners unanimously voted to accept a bid for a brush truck for the Big Smith Volunteer Fire Department from Mike Jones Ford of Toccoa in the amount of $34,610.
SPLOST V monies will pay for the truck, which is a smaller truck that the department can use to fight brush, grass, and woods fires.