After Burke County’s new commissioners joined the board on Monday, the board chose the next N.C. Speaker of the House as the county’s attorney.
Hall
The newest members of the Burke County Board of Commissioners, Mike Stroud and Brian Barrier, along with incumbent Jeff Brittain, were sworn in on Monday afternoon in a special meeting.
The five-member board voted to keep Brittain as chairman of the board. Brittain and Commissioners Randy Burns and Phil Smith voted for Smith to become vice chairman of the board. Stroud nominated Barrier to become vice chairman, but the motion failed 2-3, with Brittain, Burns and Smith opposing.
Burke County Commissioner Jeff Brittain, right, takes the oath of office from Judge Dan Kuehnert, left, Monday as his wife, Cynthia, holds the Bible.
The group also was split on who should be the county attorney.
Barrier nominated Michelle Lippert, an attorney in Â鶹´«Ã½ and a former assistant district attorney, for the post. That nomination failed 2-3, with Brittain, Burns and Smith opposing.
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Brittain nominated Destin Hall for the job, which was approved 3-2, with Stroud and Barrier opposing.
Burke County Commissioner Brian Barrier, center, takes the oath of office from Judge Dan Kuehnert, left, Monday as Barrier’s wife, Michelle, holds the Bible and their son, Luke, looks on.
Hall is a partner in the Lenoir law firm of Wilson, Lackey, Rohr & Hall, P.C.
Hall is a Republican who represents District 87, which encompasses Caldwell and part of Watauga counties, in the N.C. House of Representatives. Hall is poised to become the new Speaker of the House in January. He will take over from Speaker Tim Moore, who won his election bid to represent District 14 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hall said he can serve as Burke County attorney and Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives.
“We’re not in Raleigh every day, right?,†Hall said. “And, typically, always on Mondays I’m home.â€
Hall said the law firm has multiple attorneys as well, so the whole firm handles a client like Burke County.
Burke County Commissioner Mike Stroud, right, takes the oath of office from Judge Dan Kuehnert, left, Monday as his wife, Samantha, holds the Bible.
“We do quite a bit of local government work in Caldwell County, so we sort of spread it out,†Hall said.
Hall said he expects he will be at most of the county’s meetings but the contract will be with the law firm, similar to the county’s tax attorney. Burke County commissioners also unanimously approved continuing the county’s contract with The Kania Law Firm, P.A., in Asheville, as the county’s tax attorney.
Hall said local governments like Burke County are typically one of the largest employers and need a firm to represent it. He said his firm will always have a lawyer available for all local government clients, and not just for meetings.
After the swearing in on Monday, the board held a pre-agenda meeting to decide what items it will take up at its regular meeting this month. One of the items that will be on the board’s consent agenda is to change its meeting day from Tuesday to Monday.
Hall attended the board’s pre-agenda meeting on Monday.
