Poplar Bluff makes Robert Smith its new city attorney

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Lawyer Robert Smith is no longer serving the city in an interim capacity.

Smith's permanent appointment as city attorney was announced during last week's city council meeting. Smith's annual salary is $48,000.

Mark Massingham, the city finance director who was appointed by the council as interim city manager after the May 5 firing of Doug Bagby, named Smith as the interim city attorney in mid-May.

Smith has been a lawyer since 1981. He served four years in the early 1990s as an assistant Butler County prosecutor and was the 36th Judicial Circuit presiding judge for about 18 months in 2009 and 2010. He has represented the cities of Greenville and Van Buren, Missouri, for short periods, along with water districts.

Smith replaces Wally Duncan, who was the city attorney for 27 years. Duncan resigned May 9, shortly after Bagby's firing.

City manager Heath Kaplan's announcement about Smith came while the council was considering a resolution authorizing Mayor Angela Pearson to execute a contract for services with the Jackson Lewis law firm in St. Louis. That firm is expected to supplement Smith's efforts.

"Mr. Smith has served very well. He has represented the city on legal issues that became challenging," Kaplan said as he noted the need for hiring co-counsel.