In its advertising for the job to be vacated May 19 by Chris Eppley the council has set a May 5 deadline.

“We haven’t received any applications as of yet,” said Mayor John Franiuk. “I expect them to start rolling in pretty quick.”

Eppley has taken a job as city manager in Keizer, Ore. It’s highly unlikely, Franiuk said, that the council could find a suitable replacement for Eppley by the time he leaves. In fact, the mayor said, three to six months could pass before the city hires a new administrator.

“I think we can handle running the office in Chris’ absence,” Franiuk said. “I can pick up some of the administrative duties.”

The mayor said the overriding concern among council members is that they hire a good candidate. And if none of the applicants who respond by the May 5 deadline fit the bill, the council will re-advertise the position, Franiuk said.

“We’re prepared for that,” he said. “We’re formulating a plan for the worst case.”