After a yearlong transition, the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen could select the city’s first-ever city administrator as soon as next month.

The city received 51 applications for the position by the March 17 deadline, after a month on statewide hiring sites, Ward 1 Alderman Dee Baebler told the Call.

As unanimously approved by the board in a March 22 closed session, City Attorney Robert E. Jones reviewed all the candidates last week to see which meet the qualifications set out in the city’s ordinance that establishes the position of city administrator.

Aldermen are now ranking their preferred candidates to come to a consensus on the top 10. On a motion made by Ward 1 Alderman Richard Gau, the board approved the process to hire the administrator 5-0. Baebler, acting board President Tom Musich and Ward 3 Alderman Keith Kostial were absent, as was Mayor Mark Furrer.

Aldermen will narrow the field from 10 candidates to five when they meet in closed session after the next regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting on April 26.

That meeting will also be the first with the aldermen and new mayor elected in Tuesday’s election, which took place after the Call went to press. At that meeting, the new board will also decide whether to conduct finalist interviews in person, by phone or video or by a consultant.