Tontitown Council To Vote On Slinkard As City Attorney

TONTITOWN -- The city will have a new attorney soon, if the full City Council approves a recommendation from the Committee of the Whole.

The committee approved adding a vote on Howard Slinkard as city attorney to its July 1 agenda. Slinkard would replace Mark Dossett and J.R. Carroll as city attorney. The resignation stated Dossett and his deputy, Carroll, were resigning because of increased business at the law firm where they worked, Kutak Rock LLP.

The resignation took effect June 1, but the attorneys offered to continue until a replacement is named.

The Slinkard Law Office is in Rogers.

Tontitown received five applications for the position, said Mayor Jack Beckford. The deciding factor to ask for a vote on Slinkard was his experience as city attorney for other towns, Beckford said.

Slinkard is listed as the city attorney for Pea Ridge and Avoca, according to the Arkansas Municipal League.

Another factor was Slinkard wasn't the attorney for neighboring cities to Tontitown, Beckford said. Some other applicants also represented cities adjoining Tontitown, he said.

"If we had a lawsuit with a city where he was attorney, Slinkard would have to recuse," Beckford said.

The resolution to go before the council calls for Slinkard to be paid $175 per hour and any out-of-pocket expenses. Slinkard would be able to appoint deputy city attorneys at the same pay.

The appointment may be the last for a city attorney. The council voted to become a city of the first class in state classifications. State law requires an election for city attorney for cities of the first class. A race for Tontitown city attorney should be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 general election.

State law says if nobody runs for the office, the city council can appoint one.