Lawyers, water, and money (September 2, 2015)

Start with the basics: The water company mercenary law firm of Best Best & Krieger is ripping us off. The Apple Valley Town Council’s transparency presentation shows we’ve paid that law firm three quarters of a million just on the Apple Valley Ranchos takeover scheme. A total of $3 million has been budgeted for the hostile bid. That’s on top of the basic city attorney services we overpay them to provide.

Why don’t we do what most other California cities do and just hire a full-time city attorney, pay the person a competitive salary and save millions along the way. After all, it’s the profiteering law firm that upsold the town on this whole endeavor.

— Michael Wubker, Apple Valley

Source: Daily Press