The Oak Creek Town Board will announce a town clerk Tuesday after interviews with the potential candidates Monday.

Mayor Kathy “Cargo” Rodeman said she received 17 applications, and the three best candidates were chosen to move forward in the hiring process.

Longtime Town Clerk Nancy Crawford died in November. The position was left unfilled out of respect for Nancy’s work and her family, Rodeman said.

“The thought of replacing Nancy has been very difficult,” she said. “We knew we would not replace her position until after the holidays.”

Rodeman said she received applications from men and women throughout the county and that 50 percent of the applications came from Steamboat Springs.

“One of our considerations was location,” she said. “We preferred local residents. All three of the final applicants live in Oak Creek.”

Rodeman said she would not name the three candidates until the Town Board announces which one is selected.

“I think any one of the three would do good in this job. I think we are lucky to have three very good candidates,” she said.

Rodeman said she considered applying for the job but that she decided against it because she wanted to oversee completion of two major projects during the next few years, including replacing the town’s sewer lines and beautifying Main Street.

Town Board members were eager to fill the position because Rodeman has been handling the town clerk’s job duties for a little more than a month, she said.

“I’m overwhelmed at times,” she said.

“I don’t think people realize how much the town clerk does. It’s amazing the amount of responsibility on their shoulders.”

A town clerk is responsible for maintaining accurate records of Town Board minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements; maintaining personnel records; assisting the Town Board, public works director and police department; assisting in the preparation of the annual budget and yearly audit; and responding to citizen concerns, among other duties, Rodeman said.

Rodeman said she anticipated the new town clerk spending some time getting comfortable with the municipal codes as well as with Crawford’s office and way of organization.

“This job does require a lot of training. No matter who gets in there, it’s going to take some time getting to know (Crawford’s) office,” she said.

Rodeman is expecting the new town clerk to begin work about Jan. 24.