Republic adds full-time city attorney

Republic hired Ron Dirickson June 16 as city attorney and prosecutor; his position comes with an $80,000 annual salary.

The search for a full-time staff attorney began with an open interview process in April and ended when Dirickson left his job as an assistant city attorney for the city of Springfield and joined Republic’s staff.

Hiring Dirickson is a big step for Republic, according to Mayor Jim Collins.

“There are just too many decisions that need to be made, too much legal counsel needs to be given,” Collins said. “It’s the next step in our growth.”

The city of about 9,000 people has been expanding lately, consolidating with Brookline, a town of around 350 between Springfield and Republic, after an April vote.

And with growth comes legal issues, which Dirickson said would be addressed in a more timely and cost-effective manner with him working full time for the city.

“I think that the advantage to the city is it helps smooth out the process and makes things run better having someone in-house,” Dirickson said.

Dirickson advises the mayor, city administrator and board of aldermen, as well as representing Republic in municipal and circuit court cases.

His hiring puts Republic on par with Ozark and Nixa, which both have full-time city attorneys.

Pat Sweeney has been Nixa’s attorney/ prosecutor for around eight years, and Ozark hired David Collignon full time in August 2004 after he served in a part-time capacity for two years.

Filling in

For smaller cities, contracted, part-time city attorneys fill the need for legal counsel.

The cities of Rogersville, Fordland and Diggins retain Will Worsham and Jim Vaughan’s law practice, Worsham & Vaughan LLC, which has two offices, 800 E. Walnut in Springfield and 127 Johnstown Drive in Rogersville.

“We kind of represent the Highway 60 corridor from Springfield to Seymour,” Worsham said.

Avoiding conflicts

Worsham and Vaughan also own Missouritraffictickets.com, but Worsham said he and Vaughan easily avoid conflicts of interest.

He said their obligations to the municipalities take precedent over other clients’ needs.

“Occasionally, as will happen with any attorney, somebody will ask us for representation in a matter where we’re already representing the other party,” Worsham said. “We just decline that (new) representation.”

Rogersville and Fordland are only eight miles apart, and Worsham said growth might bring the two cities even closer. However, he said he doesn’t foresee a merger in the future, thus avoiding a fight for his services.

“So far the lines don’t touch and don’t cross, and it doesn’t appear that there will ever be a conflict,” Worsham said.

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