And then there were three.
Mayor Jerry Toomey has narrowed the 59 candidates for the open Corn Palace director position to three candidates after three days of interviews this week.
The position of Corn Palace director has been vacant since September after former director Dan Sabers resigned, leaving Assistant Corn Palace Manager Jeri Mickelson in command until a new director is hired. After the 59 applications were narrowed down to 15 following the Oct. 12 deadline, Toomey, City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein and Human Resources Director Billie Kelly cut the field to eight. Those eight came to Mitchell this week to make their case to be the director of one of Mitchell's main attractions.
Toomey told The Daily Republic on Thursday he will meet with each of the final candidates individually at the end of December before making his final decision. Toomey said two of the candidates are from out-of-state, while the other is from the Mitchell area.
Toomey expects to announce his decision in January, but he said there is no hurry to fill the position as Mickelson is doing a "spectacular" job overseeing operations.
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The new director will take the helm following a $4.7 million renovation of the building and significant turnover in the Corn Palace director position.
The new director will be the third to serve in the position since March 2014, not including Steven Koch, who was allegedly offered the position before his name was withdrawn from consideration.
Shortly after Sabers' resignation, Kelly said the position of Corn Palace director salary falls between $59,657 and $74,433.
