Keokuk, IA – The field vying to be Lee County's next Economic Development Director has been narrowed to five.
The Lee County Economic Development Group's Board of Directors spent about two hours narrowing the field of candidates down from 27.
Chairman Mike Holtkamp says the applications came in from as far away as Arizona, West Virginia, and Georgia.
He says the experience for the candidates ranged from recent college grads to retirees.
Holtkamp would not reveal who the five are or where they are from.
He says LCEDG is in the process of contacting the five to let them know they are moving on to the next round of phone interviews.
Holtkamp says those could get underway next week.
Meanwhile, Lee County will provide some money to help with the search for a new Economic Development Director.
The Board of Supervisors will give the Lee County Economic Development Group $25,000 to pay for advertising and interview expenses.
LCEDG had requested the balance of the money the supervisors set aside in case the county ran the search process, $40,000.
The remaining $15,000 will go back into the general fund July 1.
You can hear more with Mike Holtkamp by clicking the audio link above.
Additional Information
* Lowell Junkins announced he was stepping down in late 2005.
* LCEDG signed a 3-year funding agreement with the county.
* Junkins will leave his role as interim Economic Development Director in 10 days.