City Council hires Korpela as city attorney

By TOM STANKARD

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Bessemer - After much debate, the Bessemer City Council approved in a 3-2 vote of hiring Michael Korpela as the city's attorney Monday evening.

According to information provided in the agenda, there were three applicants for the position, including Dean and Pope, P.C., Raymond J. O'Dea and Korpela. Dean and Pope, P.C. consists of Timothy M. Dean and Michael K. Pope and is based in Ironwood.

In a letter to city clerk Jim Trudgeon, Korpela said he will charge $70 per hour, which is below the $85 rate he said "other attorneys are charging to municipal clients." In their letters, Dean and Pope, P.C. said it charged $115 per-hour, and so did O'Dea.

Council member Al Gaiss pointed out that the city's attorney's term is a full-term, like the council member's two-year term.

Looking at the applicants cover letters and resumes, Nelson said "you get what you pay for."

Council member John Frello said he is familiar with the applicants.

" I know O'Dea is a very good lawyer," he said. "Michael Pope is also a good lawyer. I spoke to somebody in the court house who's familiar with Dean, and he spoke very highly of him."

Frello said the city has priorly budget $7,000 for legal expenses. He said he assumes the budget was based on Korpela's rate, and that it would cost an extra $4,500 if the city sides with O'Dea or Dean and Pope, P.C over Korpela.

"I haven't agreed with every decision of Korpela," Frello said. "But he's a Bessemer business. He has a history of the city and he has a good price. It's hard to beat."

Mayor Kathy Whitburn said the city "needs to watch every dollar that we have."

In response, council member Robert Coleman said the city wants change.

"We need to turn the page and look at somebody else," he said. "There's a lot of people unhappy with the direction that we've gone. He was part of it."

Council member Linda Nelson said she agrees, saying that she knows several residents who are unhappy with Korpela.

"I don't think Korpela has done his due-diligence," she said. "He's come here many times and flat-out lied about different things, with marijuana being a huge one." I don't think he's served the town well."

Ultimately, the city council voted in a 3-2 decision to hire Korpela as the city attorney, with Nelson and Coleman being the "nay" votes.

Several area residents Said they were disappointed with the city council decision and want change.