Council hires city attorney

By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com

Ward County State's Attorney John Van Grinsven will fill Minot's new city attorney position starting in January.

The Minot City Council voted Monday to accept the recommendation of David Waind, city manager, to hire Van Grinsven. The Ward County Commission will have to appoint a new state's attorney to complete the remaining two years in Van Grinsven's term.

Van Grinsven said he is eager to be part of overseeing Minot's growth in the years ahead.

"We are on the verge of some really exciting and interesting times. I am looking very much forward to being involved in that process through the council," he said.

Van Grinsven was first elected state's attorney in November 2002. He had joined the office as an assistant state's attorney in 1980 and previously had worked for Legal Assistance of North Dakota from 1977 to 1979. A Minot native and graduate of Minot State University, he holds a law degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He is a member of the North Dakota State Bar Association, North Dakota State's Attorney's Association, National District Attorney's Association, Minot Exchange Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, MSU Beaver Booster Club and a former member of the board of Legal Assistance of North Dakota.

Van Grinsven, the only applicant for the position, will be paid around $100,000 a year. Alderman Dean Frantsvog, chairman of the selection committee, said the committee was overwhelmingly in favor of hiring Van Grinsven because of his background in criminal and civil law.

"I think this is going to be a great fit for the city," Frantsvog said.

This past summer, the city and Ward County were unable to negotiate a contract that would have provided for the Ward County State's Attorney's Office to continue prosecuting the city's criminal cases. Disagreement over the price led to the council decision to hire its own attorney to handle both civil and criminal cases. With the change, the city will be canceling its contract with Minot attorney Bill Bergman, who has been handling the civil cases and providing legal advice.