subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 18 2008 

Published: May 23, 2006 11:02 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Lawyer not allowed without support from second commissioner

By Evan Belanger

Associate Commissioner Stanley Yarbrough is saying very little this week about a recent announcement that he is hiring his own attorney and charging the legal costs to the county.

Yarbrough, who made the announcement after an apparent disagreement with Chairman Wiley Kitchens, declined to comment to The Times last week and again on Tuesday.

Despite his silence, Kitchens and Associate Commissioner Doug Williams are giving a different version of the story.

According to Williams, the disagreement between the commissioners has been settled without the need of lawyer Steve Griffith, who Yarbrough claimed to have hired.

Griffith did not return calls seeking a comment.

In addition, Williams said he thought Yarbrough had backed away from claims that he would refuse to move his office to the first floor of the courthouse with the other commissioners. That move has been scheduled for sometime this summer.

Kitchens gave a similar account, saying he wasn't sure "what got him so mad."

"I don't know what happened, but I think it's all worked out now," Kitchens said.

Both Kitchens and Williams said Yarbrough cannot charge Griffith's services to the county without the support of at least one other commissioner.

That statement was backed by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.

In a phone interview Monday, Executive Director Buddy Sharpless said, according to state law, Yarbrough could not make any financial commitment for the county without the approval of the commission.

He added that a local ordinance could allow it, but he doubted such a rule exists in Cullman County.

While Griffith was noticeably absent from Monday's regular commission meeting, Yarbrough's intentions in the matter remain unclear.

"I can tell you this right now, the county will not be paying for his lawyer," Kitchens told The Times after the meeting.

Yarbrough made his original statement to The Times last Wednesday. During the interview, he indicated at least some of the trouble started when Kitchens moved the county's Safety Department to the old Economic Development building outside the courthouse.

Prior to the move, Yarbrough shared an office space with the Safety Department, apparently making use of office employees and equipment.

He complained then, that Kitchens had not notified or consulted him before making the move. He called the move a waste of money, saying it meant he had to buy new office equipment and hire his own secretary.

"When he (Kitchens) makes a move like this without first telling the west side commissioner, he's really telling the west side that he doesn't recognize their representation," Yarbrough said at the time.

According to Yarbrough, he is just trying to make sure both sides of the county are treated fairly.

Other claims made during his original announcement include changing the locks on his office door to keep anyone from entering.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.



monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

;

Premium Jobs

Engineering
Design and testing of fan blades. Elec. or mech. engr. background. Proficient in Autocad. Job is located in Cullman, AL...>MORE

Park and Rec Manager and PT Librarians
Park and
Recreation Manager
Resumes are now being accepted for a Park and Recreation Manager for three city p
...>MORE

Occasional Baby-sitter
for 9 yr old special needs girl. Mostly Friday or Saturday nights, non-smoker & ref req. 636-2033....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

Do you Want to Sell your automobile?
Would you like to run your automobile for sale in this space? If so call The Cullman Times Classified Department today ...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes/Rentals

Want to sell your home?
If you would like to run your home for sale in this Premium space, call The Cullman Times Classified Department to find ...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

25 1/2 acres
Ebenezer Road - West Point - 585 ft. road front., minimal restrictions. $125,000. Can divide 4 acres, $39,000; 21 1/2...>MORE

Honeybaked Ham
Be in Business for yourself... and still have time to enjoy life! HoneyBaked is looking for our Franchisee in Cullman...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index