Traverse City commissioners unanimously hire The Kelly Firm as city attorney

Traverse City commissioners moved quickly to close a legal gap that reaches into nearly every city decision, voting 7-0 on June 15 to hire The Kelly Firm as city attorney. The unanimous vote followed a compressed search and gave the city a named legal partner after weeks of uncertainty in a role that shapes how the commission governs, spends and regulates.

The decision came after commissioners narrowed the field to three finalist firms and held special interview meetings June 11 and June 12. That pace mattered because the city had been operating under the shadow of City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht’s resignation, which left a vacancy in one of the most influential jobs in city government.

The city attorney’s office advises the commission, the city manager, city boards and commissions, and other departments, so the hire affects far more than one contract or one office. In practice, the attorney’s team helps guide ordinances, labor and employment matters, tax appeals, contracts and other legal questions that can shape both routine administration and major policy decisions.

That means the new firm will be pulled into issues that have direct consequences for Traverse City residents, from development disputes and public spending questions to the legal mechanics behind everyday government action. A city attorney also helps determine how the city responds when charter issues, internal disputes or outside challenges land on commissioners’ desks.

The commission’s choice of The Kelly Firm, represented by Dan Kelly, signaled a desire to restore stability after the resignation in March and move the city out of a prolonged vacancy. For a city facing ongoing legal and policy questions, the hire gives commissioners and staff a clearer path for decisions that touch taxes, meetings, contracts and the legal boundaries of municipal power.