MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District directors hope to have a new general manager in place by mid-July.

Current general manager Curt Carpenter submitted a resignation letter late last month, citing health concerns and strain on his family. He has served as the district's general manager for seven years.

In his letter he stated that he will be leaving his position in six weeks. He is currently taking previously earned vacation time and MLIRD administrative assistant Julie Smith is performing his duties in his absence, according to a statement on the district's website.

Board directors discussed their plan for finding a replacement for Carpenter during their April meeting Tuesday night. The job opening will be posted and the district will begin accepting applications for the position in the coming weeks.

Director Bill Bailey said the district should not rush in finding a new general manager.

"I would like to see us take our time and make a good selection," he said during the meeting.

He suggested setting a time frame for the selection process that was between 60 and 90 days.

Board chair Jeff Foster suggested setting June 30 as a rough deadline for applications to be turned in.

"That puts us at roughly 75 days," he said. "We'll advertise that we'll accept those applications and résumés with the idea that we'll have somebody on board by perhaps the middle of July."

Foster said if the right candidate came along, however, then the board could hire someone before that date.