The Ellis County Commission plans to undertake a search for a new administrator following the departure of Phillip Smith-Hanes in late November for the same position in Saline County.
Darin Myers, director of Fire and Emergency Management, has been serving as interim county administrator.
Myers reminded commissioners Monday they had earlier said the hiring process discussion would be postponed until after the first of the year and asked how they would like to proceed.
"I think we do need to proceed," responded Butch Schlyer, the new commission chairman.
Schlyer said he had talked with Commissioner Dean Haselhorst, who was absent from Monday's meeting. "Dean said he had some ideas on who he'd like to handle the process to try to bring in applicants."
Myers has also talked with Haselhorst who said he wanted to reach out to the Kansas Association of Counties.
"That process was successful before in getting Phil Smith-Hanes to the county," Myers said.
"Dean will get some information, see if they're willing to do it, how much it will cost, and their process. If the commission is OK with that, he'll bring that information back to the commission next month and you can discuss it then."
Schlyer is anxious to get started. "It could still take us six months or longer to find a proper applicant," he said.
Commissioner Dustin Roths agreed it's important to start looking for applicants.
Roths will attend meetings of the Kansas Legislative Policy Group and KAC this week.
"We can definitely take some time and ask some questions of others who've been through the hiring process," Roths said. "Dean was a part of the hiring process (of Smith-Hanes) so that's a nice asset. I think we'll have some clarity after these meetings this week and can start looking for some applicants."
Roths expects the process will require a consultant.
"It's a good-paying job in a really good county in western Kansas, a growing county," Roths said. "I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't want to have a chance to live out here.
"We need some applicants so we can start making the hard decisions on this and getting you back to what you do the very best," Roths said to Myers, "although you do this job well too."
Both Roths and Schlyer thanked Myers for serving in the interim position.