SERVED AS COUNTY COUNSELOR OVER 30 YEARS
Bob Shaw, county counselor for Platte County for well over 30 years, has informed the county that he’ll be retiring soon, and the county commission this week officially began a search for his replacement.
Shaw, a partner in the Platte City-based law firm of McGinness and Shaw, has done legal work for the county since 1987 when he started advising the county on planning and zoning issues. He was formally tagged with the title of county counselor in 1991.
In addition to representing the county, Shaw has represented and assisted countless number of private clients throughout the region.
Daniel Erickson, facilities manager/planning and zoning director/parks director for the county, mentioned Shaw’s pending retirement while presenting the agenda item of a request for qualifications for county counselor services at Monday morning’s county commission meeting.
Erickson said Shaw had recently submitted a letter of his upcoming retirement as county counselor.
Shaw told The Landmark this week that his retirement from county counselor duties will be effective Oct. 1.
“We’re extremely happy for Bob. He’s retiring, going out on his terms. I think he’s ready to sit on a beach somewhere,” Erickson said. “So we’re looking for somebody to fill Bob’s shoes.”
Joe Vanover, second district county commissioner who is also an attorney, said: “Bob has been a big part of the Platte City and Platte County community for decades.” Vanover went on to say that Shaw “has provided excellent legal advice to the county government for decades. His work has taken place in private, but it has kept us out of very public litigation and potentially embarrassing situations.”
For several years Shaw served on the board of education for the Platte County R-3 School District. He graduated from high school in Platte City and attended law school at the University of Texas at Austin.
The commission approved a request for qualifications to be sent to attorneys and law firms interested in serving as the attorney for the county government in civil matters.
The request for qualifications document says in part that Platte County “is seeking an attorney or law firm to provide county counselor services to multiple offices and departments of the county government” and “provide legal consultation and assistance to multiple elected and appointed officials of Platte County government.” The county counselor furnishes opinions, both oral and written to county officials and departments, represents the county in civil litigation, including condemnation and zoning matters, and attends meetings of various departments, committees and offices.
Shaw averaged 450 billable hours per year the past five years, according to the document.
“Qualified firms or individuals must demonstrate capacity, experience and success with assignments of this type,” according to the request for qualifications.
The deadline for attorneys and law firms interested in representing Platte County government to submit their proposals is 2 p.m. on Friday, July 28 to the county clerk’s office.