Mercer County officials are closing in on the completion of what Commissioner Chairman Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman said is the first of a three-step process to replace James R. Thompson.

Bill Boyle, the county's personnel director, told commissioners Wednesday he has received a dozen applications for Thompson's former position of director of public safety at the 911 Center in Mercer. Friday is the last day applications will be accepted.

Thompson resigned, effective Aug. 8, to accept a post as a senior project manager in the Telecommunications and Technology Division of L. Kimball & Associates, which has its home office in Ebensburg.

Since his departure, Boyle said Thompson's top assistants, John Nicklin and Russ Saylor, have been handling his duties for the EMA and 911 sides of the center, respectively. Boyle couldn't comment on whether Nicklin and Saylor were among those who had applied for the director's post.

Brenneman said commissioners, including Kenneth A. Seamans and Olivia M. Lazor, have asked Boyle to get copies of the applications to them by Tuesday. At that point, Brenneman added, commissioners hope to reduce the list to about four or five, set up interviews and then "collectively make a decision" on Thompson's replacement.

As for a timetable, Brenneman said commissioners don't have a date in mind, but they would like to make a decision "as soon as possible."

Part of the problem in setting a date, Brenneman noted, is "we don't know what the availability of the applicants might be for interviews."

"And often when you offer somebody a position, they need to submit a two-week notice," Boyle added. "All that enters into it."

Brenneman said commissioners haven't seen the applications nor do they know who the applicants are.

"We've stayed back from that," he said. "Mr. Boyle receives those and then he'll present them to us."