Ouray County’s new attorney received an offer letter, accepted the job and signed an employment contract before the Board of County Commissioners voted in public to hire him, according to emails obtained by the Plaindealer through an open records request.

Commissioners voted Sept. 14 to hire Leo Caselli after a nearly nine-month search to replace Carol Viner, who announced her resignation in January.

“Let us review and discuss the possibilities that are in front of us for the first time at thi...