The search for Casey’s next utility superintendent is moving into its final stages, with the city narrowing a pool of 25 applicants down to five finalists. The candidates are vying to replace longtime superintendent Shelby Biggs, who is retiring.

Mayor Mike Nichols announced at Monday’s council meeting that a consulting group hired to lead the search had presented the top applicants. Interviews with the five candidates are scheduled for August 14th and 15th.

“We had four tier-one good matches, really good matches, and a couple of tier-two matches that weren’t far off,” Nichols reported.

However, the search presented a significant challenge: none of the applicants hold state certifications in both water and sewer operations. Nichols acknowledged this was expected, as dually-certified professionals can often find higher-paying positions in larger municipalities.

The city is now exploring its options to ensure proper state-mandated oversight continues after Biggs’s departure. Nichols said he is working with City Clerk Jeremy Mumford to determine if Biggs can remain available on a limited basis to sign off on required documents. This arrangement is contingent on rules set by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) to ensure it does not jeopardize Biggs’s retirement benefits.

“We got to walk through those and see what we can do to not put Shelby in a position, if he helps us out, that he jeopardizes retirement,” Nichols said.

The city’s goal is to have the new superintendent hired and on the job by October 1st.