Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The second round of interviewing for the Routt County public safety dispatch and communications director looks good, but county officials say they aren't getting their hopes up yet.

On Wednesday, the hiring committee interviewed an applicant and it plans to interview three more over the phone next week, Routt County Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak said.

"All four of the applicants were communication directors somewhere else," she said.

Though the applicants look qualified, Stahoviak said she is not going to get optimistic about filling the position until someone says they will accept an offer.

County officials had thought they sold the position to a qualified applicant from out of town in late 2000. However, he asked for more money than the county could pay.

"He felt that he needed more to live here," Stahoviak said.

The man's wife, who is a schoolteacher, also couldn't find a job and the deal fell through.

The county will pay the director between $47,000 and $50,000, depending on experience.

Officials have been trying to fill the position since the beginning of September.

"At that time, we thought we'd have someone by October or November," Stahoviak said.

Now, she said it will be at least another month or so to get the position filled if one of the four applicants takes it.

"I'm sure they will ask for at least 30 days," Stahoviak said.

Since the position has been vacant, the responsibilities of running the center has been split up between the existing staff, Routt County Emergency Manager Chuck Vale and Stahoviak.

"I think it's worked fairly well, but it's taking its toll on all of us," Stahoviak said.