Bastrop still paying hefty legal fees

The city of Bastrop has paid the law firm of Jo-Christy Brown, an Austin lawyer who acts as city attorney for Bastrop, an additional $48,578 since the Austin Monitor began writing about the city’s extensive legal fees in April. At the same time, Bastrop City Council has wrestled with the city manager over the issue of hiring a full-time in-house attorney. That manager, Mike Talbot, has resigned, effective Sept. 1. However, it is clear that the city’s council would like him to leave before that. Brown received nearly $473,000 in legal fees from Jan. 1, 2015, to May 1, 2016. And, according to city records, she submitted two invoices, both of which were paid on May 26, bringing her total for the 17-month period to $521,578. Talbot and Mayor Ken Kesselus are reportedly working on an exit strategy that will satisfy both Talbot and the council.