Kane County could have a new animal control administrator within the next 60 days.

County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen explained the process and remaining timeline for hiring a new administrator during the Tuesday-morning County Board meeting. Lauzen said the hiring process began in May and could be concluded in the next 45 to 60 days.

Kane County posted the open position on May 8, a day after former Interim Administrator Robert Sauceda resigned. Sauceda had been placed on administrative leave on May 3 due to review of a personnel matter. Because the issue was a personnel matter, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said the county would make no additional comment.

Lauzen said between eight and 12 people applied for the Animal Control administrator position, which has a salary range of $65,000 to $80,000 annually, plus health and pension benefits. The applicant pool was narrowed by a subcommittee made of up Health Department Executive Director Barb Jeffers, whose department oversees the Animal Control shelter, Human Resources Executive Director Sheila McCraven, Public Health Committee Chair Dr. Monica Silva and Lauzen.

The next step will be to expand the hiring subcommittee to include County Board Vice Chair Drew Frasz and Public Health Committee Vice Chair Susan Starrett. That group will interview the applicant finalists.

“Those interviews are coming up soon,” Lauzen said after Tuesday’s board meeting.

The Animal Control administrator’s duties are to aid in the enforcement of the Humane Care for Animals Act and have the ability to impound animals and apply for security posting for violation of that act along with the management and operations of the animal control shelter.

According to the job description, the Animal Control administrator “could be an Illinois Licensed Veterinarian or a qualified non-veterinarian administrator.”

Jeffers is responsible for overseeing the Animal Control operations until a full-time administrator is hired.

Lauzen acknowledged that the hiring process will take time, but he wanted to make sure the county is “scrupulously following (county) ordinance, not only in the letter but the spirit.”

He credited Jeffers and McCraven for ensuring the hiring process is formal, transparent and rigorous.

“Everybody worked together and came to a better method, and it is an improvement,” Lauzen said.