69����

“The recruiter has received 32 applications,” spokesperson Sarah Lock said. “There are 16 applicants that meet minimum qualifications. The city council will review those 16 applications and then work with the recruiters to determine who will be brought in for the first round of interviews and schedule those interviews.”

The 32 applicants were interviewed by answering questions online while being recorded. The 16 applicants that meet the minimum qualifications were then presented to the Beloit City Council.

Candidates will give presentations to the city council during future interviews, Baker Tilly Director Patty Heminover said.

Lock said a second round of interviews might take place in the future.

“We are still in the preliminary screening process and we do not yet have finalists for the position,” Lock said.

The applications were submitted in response to a job listing posted by Baker Tilly. The posted salary ranged from $170,000 to $185,000 a year.

Lori Curtis Luther, the previous Beloit city manager, was paid a salary of $184,188.13 after her last evaluation.

The 16 applicants met the minimum requirement of at least achieving a bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, planning or related field, and minimum of seven or more years of progressive management experience in a similarly complex community.

Beloit plans to have a city manager in place by January or February, Heminover said.

Janesville is also conducting a search for a new city manager after Mark Freitag departed in October. That city’s consulting firm, Government Professional Solutions, said it hopes Janesville’s next city manager can be in office by April.

An official from the company told the city council earlier this month it should consider increasing the amount it pays the next city manager. Freitag most recently earned $176,000 as manager.