The Board of Island County Commissioners Tuesday agreed to pay as much as $35,000 to Edmonds attorney Robert Gould to represent a lawyer the county hired to help write its 2016 comprehensive plan.

The board said it will pay those fees on behalf of Susan Drummond, who has been sued by county prosecuting attorney Greg Banks.

The county hired Drummond in April to help update the new comprehensive plan, which lays out changes and anticipated changes in land use, housing, population growth, water, sewage, parks, schools, parks and recreation, transportation and shorelines.

Banks, on Aug. 12, filed a lawsuit in Island County Superior Court alleging that Drummond is taking over one of the elected prosecutor’s duties without his consent, which is prohibited by the state constitution.

The board has agreed to indemnify Drummond, meaning it will pay the costs of her defense. Drummond chose Gould as her attorney.

Separately, the board earlier this month hired the Seattle law firm of Short, Cressman & Burgess to provide it with legal counsel, advice and litigation services.