CITY ATTORNEY WELLS TO TAKE NORTHEAST POST

Cape Girardeau's city attorney, Warren Wells, will leave his job Aug. 14 to become general counsel for Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville.

Wells, 47, has served as city attorney since January 1987.

Wells will be leaving a $54,700-a-year job for a $71,000 position.

Northeast Missouri State University has about 6,000 students. The state's public, liberal arts school will change its name to Truman State University in July 1996.

The university's Board of Governors chose Wells from among 70 candidates and three finalists. The board made its decision June 16.

Wells announced his resignation Friday during a special noon council meeting. He will begin his new job Aug. 15.

Mayor Al Spradling III said Wells' departure would be a loss for the city.

Wells said the general counsel's job was a good opportunity, "too good to pass up."

Wells said he is looking forward to returning to the Northeast Missouri area.

He is from Hannibal. Both his mother and his wife's parents live at Hannibal.

Wells' wife, Mary, received her graduate degree from Northeast. A drug and alcohol counselor, she wants to go back to school.

As general counsel, Wells will do legal work for the university in areas such as employment and property acquisition.

Wells also may teach some criminal justice courses.

Tom Shrout of St. Louis is president of the Board of Governors.

Shrout said the board chose Wells partly because of his experience in dealing with two bosses.

As city attorney, Wells must work with both the city manager and the City Council. As general counsel, he will work with both the Board of Governors and the university president.

"Also, we were impressed with his temperament," Shrout said. "We think he would fit in well with the university community."

Wells has been practicing law since 1972. He was Hannibal's city attorney from 1977 to 1980. He served as prosecuting attorney of Marion County for six years and also maintained a private law practice before being appointed to the Cape Girardeau post.

Spradling said the city would begin a search for a new city attorney. Under the city's charter, the city manager does the hiring with the consent of the council.