East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele said Friday that his city is sticking with attorney John Anderson, saying, "He's a great attorney. He's probably one of the premier attorneys in this area."

But County Commissioner Curtis Adams said he had been advised earlier that attorney Anderson would be stepping aside. Commissioner Adams said he agreed to stop pressing to get copies of the Anderson legal bills to East Ridge based on that assertion.

Commissioner Adams said, "In my 21 years as commissioner for District 8, I have always gotten along with City Hall in East Ridge. I would hope that the city would comply with my requests on the legal bills so this matter does not end up in court."

Mayor Steele said he was not part of any agreement that attorney Anderson discontinue serving as East Ridge city attorney. "I feel he has the support of the City Council and he has my support," Mayor Steele said.

He added, "Interim City Manager Eddie Phillips is very pleased with him."

Mayor Steele said attorney Anderson "is very responsive. He usually gets back to you within a few minutes."

Attorney Anderson also represents the county Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority, and WWTA board member Wayne Hamill said he wants him to step aside there, saying his billings are too high.

County Commissioner John Brooks earlier this week said billings by attorney Anderson to the WWTA were "outlandish."

Attorney Anderson on Friday declined to comment other than to say he is still the attorney for both groups.

Commissioner Adams said when he served a brief tenure last year as city manager of East Ridge "the first bill that came across my desk was an $11,000 bill from John Anderson. I sat down and wrote a memorandum to the mayor and City Council warning that if the bills kept on at that rate it would be over $150,000 a year."

He said that was the only bill he ever saw from attorney Anderson. He said they started to go to Mr. Phillips instead.

Commissioner Adams said he recommended at the time that attorney Anderson not come to agenda sessions in order to save on the legal bill.

Commissioner Adams said the Anderson bill with East Ridge had reached $111,000 by the end of October and was on track to top $150,000 for a year.

He said the one Anderson bill he saw "had no details to it at all. It was just like the bills he gave the WWTA."

Mayor Steele said the Anderson billings are in line with prior East Ridge city attorneys.

He said longtime City Attorney Cris Helton was paid $60,000, but got health insurance. He said the "total package" was above $100,000.

He said the next attorney, Michael Stewart, billed the city $116,000 for seven months of work.

Commissioner Adams said he was asked by a citizen group led by Chuck Mehan to try to get copies of the Anderson legal bills to East Ridge.

He said he dealt with City Councilman Larry Sewell and was advised that if he backed off from the request that attorney Anderson would resign.

Commissioner Adams said he then got "a nice, friendly letter" from Mayor Steele thanking him for backing off.