By Maggie LaNoue – Contributing Writer – January 2, 2026
Albion City Council voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 15, to renew its retainer agreement with City Attorney Cullen Harkness, approving a modest increase to the annual contract as the city closes another year marked by leadership transitions and complex municipal challenges.
The renewed agreement increases the annual retainer to $115,000, up from $110,000 under the previous contract, and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026. City officials noted during the meeting that the structure of the agreement remains unchanged and has been in place for many years.
City administration described the contract as a continuation of a long-standing professional relationship rather than a shift in legal services. Council members raised no objections, and the vote was approved without dissent.
Harkness is the managing attorney of Harkness Law PLLC, a Michigan-based firm specializing in municipal law. In addition to serving as Albion’s city attorney, he also serves as city attorney for Eaton Rapids and Olivet, as prosecuting attorney for Meridian Township and the City of St. Johns, and as special counsel for Leoni Township.
According to City Clerk Jill Domingo, the City of Albion first contracted with Bodwin & Associates in August 2011, when Harkness worked with that firm, and later signed a contract with Harkness Law Firm in April 2015. City ordinances from 2011 list Joseph V. Domingo as mayor at that time.
Although Albion once had a city attorney who lived locally, Harkness is based in the Okemos area and travels more than an hour each way to attend Albion meetings, a commitment that amounts to roughly a three-hour round trip regardless of season or weather conditions. While severe weather has occasionally disrupted meetings, council sessions are rarely canceled, and Harkness regularly appears in person.
Over the years, Harkness has worked with multiple city managers, mayors, and council members, providing continuity as Albion navigated leadership changes, infrastructure projects, and personnel matters. In addition to his role at public meetings, he provides legal guidance behind the scenes on a wide range of municipal issues, including sensitive matters discussed in closed session.
Harkness earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University in 2004 and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2007. He was admitted to practice law in Michigan in 2008 and has since been admitted to practice before multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
City attorney agreements are typically structured as retainers to ensure legal availability throughout the year rather than billed on a per-case basis. Council members did not raise questions during the meeting regarding performance or scope of services.
The contract approval was one of several year-end actions taken by council, which also included final adoption of the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget and amendments to the 2025 budget.
