Supervisors approve $150K for Butler Snow lobbyists

Supervisors approve $150K for Butler Snow lobbyists

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County supervisors were split on whether or not to re-hire the Butler Snow law firm Monday to the tune of $150,000 a year for lobbying efforts. 

District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin and fellow Democrat, District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks, questioned the need to approve the contract before President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. 

“My thoughts was we hold this to the first or second meeting in January to see do we really need one — a lobbyist,” Griffin said, prior to making a motion to hold off on the contract. 

Griffin said it was also important to wait and see if the Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate following two special elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.

“We definitely gonna need (a lobbyist) if it stays in possession of the Republicans,” Griffin said. “If it goes to the Democrats we might be wasting money on federal lobbyists.”

“That’s true,” Banks responded, joining in support of tabling the contract until January. 

Board President Gerald Steen of District 3 said no matter the outcome of the Senate races the county still needed someone working on their behalf, especially with regard to competing for the federal BUILD grant for the Reunion Interchange project.

“Regardless, we’re gonna need someone (with) their capabilities to get us prepared,” Steen said. 

Steen said two years ago the interchange project was just put into the recommended category and last year Butler Snow helped get them into the highly-recommended category, which is necessary for approval. Of the over 600 applications, 239 were selected for highly-recommended and only 70 were funded. 

Griffin said the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and other department heads would be changing with the new administration.

“I just want Madison County to have the best shot possible when we go lobbying for money,” he said. 

Steen voted with fellow Republicans, District 1 Supervisor Sheila Jones and District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter, to approve the contract. 

The contract calls for the county to pay $12,500 per month to provide advice to the county, represent the county before appropriate legislative and executive bodies, and provide related legislative monitoring services for grants related to infrastructure projects. 

In addition to re-hiring Butler Snow for the year, supervisors unanimously approved a contract with The Clearwater Group in the amount of $60,000 for lobbying. 






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