Escalon’s search for a new Chief of Police has been slightly delayed, while the members of the city council consider various options.

Acting City Manager Tammy Alcantor said the city received five applications for the post by the Nov. 15 deadline and had decided to “move forward with four interviews.”

When contacted, however, one of the four ‘finalist’ applicants backed out and declined to pursue the position. That left just three candidates, said Alcantor.

“So the council is deciding now whether we will interview three or go back out for more (applicants), they are trying to decide that right now, which direction to go,” explained Alcantor.

Of the three candidates they now have, two are in California and one is out of state and all are currently working in the law enforcement field.

Alcantor said a decision on how to move forward could come as early as this week or at the next regularly scheduled council session.

In the interim, acting chief Milt Medeiros remains at the helm of the department. Alcantor said the city is also moving forward on other projects, with construction of the Dollar General store at McHenry and Countrywood progressing rapidly and due for completion soon, most likely by the end of the year.

An apartment complex planned on Lillian remains with the Planning Commission, action on that continued until January.

Also coming in January, new building codes will be enacted for the city as part of the California Building Standards Commission recent adoption and approval of the 2013 California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24. The effective date for the new codes, approved at the start of the fiscal year in July, goes into effect on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014.

The changes include amendments to a variety of codes from residential to electrical, plumbing to fire codes and updates for energy, green building standards and historical building codes, among others. Information on the changes are available at City Hall, 2060 McHenry.

City offices will be closed both Thursday and Friday this week, Nov. 28 and 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The next Escalon City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.