The Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday approved a two-month contract extension for retiring County Administrator Mike Pence while a search for his successor is underway.

Pence, 72, who has managed the operations of the county government since 2005, now is scheduled to work his last day on May 31. He had planned to retire at the end of March, but the commissioners have yet to choose someone to fill his position. A recruiting firm hired by the county was expected to finish accepting applications on Friday, and officials hope to select a new administrator by mid-May.

Pence's contract extension includes a $1,500-per-month housing allowance. On Wednesday, he said the house he rents is being sold and he will need to find a place to live for the brief duration of his contract, after which he plans to move out of state.

"We just need to help him with that because he was gracious enough to stay," Commissioner Pam Holmquist said. "He could have said, 'No, I'm out of here at the end of March,' and we'd have been scrambling to get these applicants through."

The commissioners in early January hired California-based CPS HR Consulting to recruit Pence's successor. The firm's contract is worth up to $25,000.

Holmquist said the county had received 52 applications as of Wednesday, and a surge of last-minute applications was expected by the end of the week. Later, the commissioners, the consultants and the county's human resources department will narrow down the list of applicants.

Human Resources Director Tammy Skramovsky said they'll probably conduct some interviews remotely before bringing in a small number of finalists, likely fewer than 10.

"We kind of have to go through it to see what we get, but there is no number set in stone," she said.

A brochure for the job describes the county administrator as "the lynchpin between the commissioners and 20 departments representing both elected and appointed offices" who "provides overall leadership, direction, coordination and support of the activities of the county’s workforce."

The new administrator's salary will be negotiable up to $128,000. The job also provides medical, dental and vision insurance; a county vehicle and phone; 10 paid holidays; 15 paid vacation days; compensatory time off for work exceeding 40 hours a week; up to $7,000 in moving reimbursements and guaranteed annual pay increases after the first five years.

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4434 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com