During the next 10 days or so, city officials and community leaders will interview three candidates for the Tonganoxie city administrator’s job, according to Mayor John Franiuk.

“I think we’ve selected some people who have some real experience,” he said. “I think we have selected some people who’ve done a lot of the same projects that we’ve done in the past. I think they’re going to be innovative and guide us into projects into the future.”

It’s important, Franiuk said, for the city’s momentum to continue.

“We’re on a good roll right now,” he said. “This city is known. That’s pretty obvious from all of the sightseers we had after the tornado. It’s important that we keep the fire hot. This is probably going to be one of the most critical decisions I’ll make in my term as mayor.”

Presently, background checks are under way on the three male candidates.

This group of finalists was among 20 people who submitted applications for the job. That group was narrowed to 10. Then three dropped out of the running. So city council members conducted telephone interviews with seven applicants.

Franiuk said the three finalists have, on average, about 10 years of experience in city government. One is an assistant city administrator, and the other two are city managers. One is from Kansas, the second from Missouri and the third from Massachusetts, although he has ties to the area, Franiuk said.

“I think we’ll be done with our first round of interviews by June 16,” the mayor said.

He plans to ask some local residents and business people to also participate in the process.

“I would really like people from the community to visit with them and size them up,” Franiuk said.

The city administrator vacancy was created by the resignation of Chris Eppley, who served the city for 2 1/2 years. Eppley was hired by the city of Keizer, Ore., as its manager, and his last day on the job in Tonganoxie was May 19.

It’s possible that by the end of this month, the council could authorize the mayor to make an offer, Franiuk said. It’s likely the new administrator would be offered a salary in the low $40,000s, he said.

“Even if this pool of candidates isn’t what we expect them to be and we can’t come to an agreement, and we had to start over again, we’re A-OK in the interim,” the mayor said.