The recent legal battle over access to public records at Augusta's purchasing department has cost taxpayers more than $50,000 in attorney fees.

And it's not over yet.

The Association for Fair Government, later joined by The Augusta Chronicle , petitioned the Richmond County Superior Court, asking for an order to open the public records maintained in the Augusta procurement department. The association also challenged the accuracy of commission record documents posted on the city's Web page.

At a hearing last week, attorneys on both sides said they were working to settle the issues.

One controversy that remains open is a countersuit filed on behalf of the city's commission clerk against the Association for Fair Government. And the association's motion to strike private attorney Benjamin Allen from the case also is a matter of contention.

At Judge Carl C. Brown Jr.'s request, the attorneys brought their bills to last week's hearing.

The total so far is $50,535 in legal fees over the issue of public inspection of public documents.

On behalf of the association, attorney Robert Mullins has fees of $26,883; on behalf of the city, Steve Shepard's firm has fees of $15,787; and on behalf of Lena Bonner, Mr. Allen has fees of $7,865.

The Chronicle will pay its own attorney fees.

Though Mr. Allen has already submitted his bill in the court case, the commissioners today are expected to vote to hire Mr. Allen to represent Ms. Bonner.

According to city documents, the law allows a government employee to hire private counsel if the employee's interest may be different from the government's.

According to court documents filed in the lawsuit, the papers filed by Mr. Allen mirror those filed by the city's attorneys.