Bibb County could pick its new animal shelter director this week.
County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards says due to background checks and other procedures, they probably won't name that person publicly until late next week.
A citizens committee met behind closed doors Monday to discuss the three finalists. Edwards says the commission chairman has to complete the final interviews this week before making a nomination.
Edwards could not say how many of the candidates are from Central Georgia, but he said they've narrowed the list down from 20 applicants.
"I can assure the community," says Edwards, "that the persons who were interviewed were highly qualified, and the person who will ultimately be selected will be someone all of us can rally around, who's had a great deal of expeience, well-trained, and will be able to make a contribution to our community right off the bat. It's not an opportunity to learn on-the-job but rather somebody who's had a lot of experience."
The committee also met to map out the site for the new shelter. Edwards says to save money, they tried to find space already owned by the county, but he called those options "slim pickings."
He says, "We're going to have to have probably a little but more land than maybe some of us originally thought. Whether we can get that land in a site or location that is centrally located, accessible, and visible, I'm just not sure yet."
Edwards says he is optimistic they will have the shelter complete within twelve months, which is sooner than expected.
The committee meets again next Monday. Edwards says during that meeting they will submit their scores for the architect candidates. He says they plan to have the architect team assembed within two to three weeks.