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<br />Johnson. Lori <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />. . Page 1 of 1 <br />LC rl/andU2l1 <br />I~f I &'/00 <br />l-ft(Yl___~]~ 3: <br /> <br />From: HawkLaw1@aol.com <br />Sent: Saturday, December 16, 20066:20 PM <br />To: Johnson, Lori <br />Subject: Prosecution services <br /> <br />Dear Ms. Johnson: <br />This weekend I had occasion to review the City Council agenda for the December 18 meeting and the supporting <br />documentation submitted for consideration by the City Council in determining what action should be taken regarding the <br />prosecution services for the City. I was so appalled at the letter written by your current City Prosecutor concerning the <br />qualifications of Mr. Baumgartner and myself that I am responding on Saturday evening from my home. <br /> <br />I do not know Mr. Chris Johnson and have never spoken with him. He made no written or verbal inquiries of Mr. <br />Baumgartner or myself about our current status as lawyers or our criminal prosecution experience. Yet he states in his <br />letter that I am semi-retired and have done little in-court prosecution in the past five years. Those statements are false, <br />self-serving and based upon no direct personal knowledge of Mr Johnson. Perhaps he should have confirmed them with <br />me prior to making them. . <br /> <br />I find it very curious that now Mr. Johnson states if he is chosen as the lead prosecutor, while working for an out~ide law <br />firm, "this means significant cost-savings to the taxpayers", Why was contracting with outside law firms not proposed by <br />Mr. Johnson when the costs of prosecution were over $176,000 in 2005, probably will exceed that 2006 and are budgeted <br />at $204,850 for 20077 I am very familiar with the costs of prosecution for Cities of Anoka, Andover and Lino Lakes who <br />are comparable in size with Elk River. These cities costs of prosecution are substantially less than those of Elk River. <br /> <br />I had expectations that this process could have been completed in a more professional manner, however, it seems <br />inaccurate personal allegations have been introduced into the decision making process. I ask that you share this email <br />with the selection committee and the city council during their deliberations on this matter. Thank you for your time and <br />consideration. <br /> <br />William G. Hawkins <br />