The Bismarck Park Board narrowed the list of applicants to replace board member Kris Todd to four at Thursday's meeting.

Next week, board members will meet to conduct interviews of Bismarck residents Michael Schwartz, Carl Young, Jon Meilke and John Sagsveen. No dates or time have yet been set, but the interviews will be open to the public.

Nine people applied to replace Todd who will give up her seat on the board on Oct. 26 because she is moving outside city limits. At her request, Todd was removed from the appointment process. The remaining board members, president Mark Zimmerman, Paul Quist, Mike Gilbertson and Jennifer DeForest received copies of the letters of interest, application and resume which each of the applicants submitted.

The board dismissed a plan to form a three-member committee comprised of Zimmerman, Quist and a citizen at large, and instead will do the interviews themselves. Zimmerman said he had contacted several possible citizen candidates, but they were unable to fit the interviews into their schedule, so Zimmerman suggested the board to the interviews.

DeForest and Gilbertson did have suggestions for a possible citizen, but in deference to the short amount of time remaining to make the decision they agreed to do it as a board.

Following the interview session a special meeting of the park board will be held Oct. 6 to make a selection who will be appointed to replace Todd. The new member will take the seat at the Oct. 26 regular meeting of the board and fill out the remainder of Todd's term which ends in 2008.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)