County hires three new attorneys

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 2/14/03

With two more assistant county attorneys leaving Mille Lacs County this month and high profile cases bringing media attention to the county, case loads are piling up and the new county attorney is finding herself with a full plate.

Former Mille Lacs County Attorney Janelle Kendall, who is now the attorney for Stearns County, snagged Matthew Quinn from Mille Lacs County and has lured two more away - Marcus Miller and Lotte Hansen.

Mille Lacs County Attorney Jan Kolb hired Barbara Berg Monday, Jan. 27 to replace Quinn.

Kolb said of Berg, "Berg is a great asset. She worked for the Indian Legal Assistance Program for a year, so she knows the players here - the attorneys and judges."

Berg will be working in the civil area.

Replacing Miller and Hansen are newly hired attorneys Tom Lopez and John Klippen.

Klippen started work on Monday.

"Klippen has quite a bit of prior experience in a lot of areas," Kolb said of the newest hire.

Lopez is scheduled to begin working for the county on Monday, Feb. 24.

"Lopez is fairly new, but weíre putting him in an area that will have the most safety nets," Kolb said.

A legal secretary has also resigned (Stacie Libby) and applications are being accepted to replace her. Interviews for that position are expected to take place in early March.

"Iím amazed that everyone has been chipping in so well during the transition and backing each other up," Kolb said.

The county attorney also said sheís happy theyíve filled the vacant positions so quickly.

"I think we have our team pulled together," Kolb added.