SUMMERDALE, Ala. - The Summerdale Town Council and Mayor David Wilson will begin interviewing applicants next week for the vacant police chief position.

Wilson and the council discussed the next step in the hiring procedure at Tuesday's council work session, and the council reviewed seven resumés that Wilson thought should be considered for the position.

"There are four that I thought would be top candidates and three that would be maybes," Wilson said at the meeting, noting the town received a total of 52 applications.

The council will interview the four top candidates beginning next week; and if the position is not filled from those interviews, the other three applicants will be interviewed.

Wilson said he hopes a decision is made this month on the position.

"I would like to (decide) within 30 days," he said, noting the interviews and background checks of those being considered need to be completed.

Summerdale does not have an interim police chief; but Lt. Tony Nolfe of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office is helping oversee the town's police department, Wilson said. Nolfe also picked out a few of the applicants he thought would be best for the job, and his picks matched up with some of the mayor's picks, Wilson said.

For more on this story, read the May 11 edition of The Foley Onlooker.