GATESVILLE – The county is one step closer to replacing its manager.

At a special called meeting here Friday morning, the Gates County Board of Commissioners met to interview three possible candidates to serve as interim county manager while they continue to search for an individual to fill the full-time position.

According to Commission Chairman Graham Twine, the board voted to select one of those three candidates as the interim manager. However, as of later in the afternoon, the board had yet to extend a formal job offer to that individual nor discuss any terms of a possible contract.

“We’re hoping to clear up those things soon and hopefully make an official announcement of the hiring of our interim county manager in advance of our next regular board meeting (Wednesday, Nov. 7),” Twine said.

Twine added that if everything falls into place, the board wants the interim manager to report for work on Monday, Oct. 29.

“That time table will allow the interim to work with (current manager) Toby (Chappell) prior to his final day on Nov. 9,” Twine said.

In the meantime, Twine said county officials were accepting applications for the full-time county manager’s position through Oct. 29.

Chappell, who has served Gates County for four years, resigned Sept. 26 during an emergency meeting of the commissioners, one day after accepting the county manager’s job in Greenwood County, SC. At that meeting, the commissioners voted to hold Chappell to the 45-day resignation notice clause in his contract, meaning his last day would be Nov. 9.