STURGIS - An update on 2024 sales tax numbers and consideration of a contract for legal services are among the items on the agenda for the Sturgis City Council meeting Monday, Feb. 3.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 1040 Harley-Davidson Way. Those attending the meeting should use the Sherman Street entrance. 

Sales tax figures for the City of Sturgis show that taxes collected in 2024 were up $38,818.12 over 2023. Although the increase is only about .4% it is still a positive gain for the city.

In 2024, the city sales tax collection totaled $2,425,800.09 as compared with $2,416,114.89 in 2023. 

Also, at the meeting on Monday, the city will consider a contract for legal services from Nelson Law of Sturgis. 

The city council did not set aside $110,000 for a city attorney or staff attorney in its 2025 budget after both individuals in those positions in 2024 left employment with the city. Instead, the city budgeted money for contracted legal services. The council issued a Request for Proposals and Nelson law was among three who submitted proposals. 

Eric T. Davis, an associate attorney with Nelson Law, would serve as the appointed City Attorney under the agreement. 

He would advise the city council, mayor, committees, boards, authorities or agencies; city staff and other city officials on all legal matters pertaining to city business.

Nelson Law proposes a two-part fee structure consisting of a monthly retainer and an hourly fee for additional services as authorized by the city council. 

Expenses related to additional hourly services, as authorized by the city council, would be excluded from the retainer and billed separately. 

The monthly retainer would be $7,200 (plus any applicable sales tax). This monthly retainer would provide the equivalent of 36 “office hours" per month at a rate of $200 per hour.

So, what does the city get for its monthly retainer? Here is a breakdown:

• Preparing for and attending all city council, committee, and planning commission meetings
• Communicating and meeting with elected officials and municipal officers 
• Delivering general legal services for shorter tasks (requiring several hours or less), such as focused legal research, drafting memos and opinions, and preparing or reviewing resolutions, ordinances, and agreements. 

Also, Nelson Law is asking for suitable office space at Sturgis City Hall, allowing the majority of their monthly hours to be served on-site, ideally no more than two days per workweek.

A second legal contract also will be considered at the meeting Monday.

Nelson Law’s firm may at times represent criminal defendants in matters involving City Officers and the Sturgis Police Department. This has the potential to create conflicts of interest in representing both sides of a case. 

To address that conflict of interest, DeMersseman, Jensen, Tellinghuisen & Huffman, LLP have agreed to represent City Officers and Sturgis Police Officers in those cases where the Nelson Law firm is representing defendants against those City officials.

Their rate is $250 per hour for attorney time and $130 per hour for all work done on these matters by paralegals or legal assistants on their behalf.