JOHN DAY — Blue Mountain Hospital District is getting closer to hiring a new chief executive.

The district board voted at its March meeting to invite finalists for the position to John Day for in-person interviews.

During the meeting, interim CEO Margie Molitor reported that she and human resources manager Maisie Taylor had conducted preliminary interviews with 13 of the 74 applicants for the public health care district’s top position. A subcommittee of the board has reviewed the applications of all the leading candidates.

None of the candidates for the position has been publicly identified. The hospital board during its meeting on Wednesday, March 26, went into executive session to consider the employment of a public officer before returning to open session and voting to bring in the finalists for formal interviews.

Molitor has been at the helm of the Grant County public health district since Dec. 2. She took over for Cam Marlowe, who stepped down Dec. 1 after about two and a half years as CEO, citing health concerns.

The Blue Mountain Hospital District is a public health district serving Grant County and is partially supported by about $1.5 million a year in property taxes. In addition to the 25-bed Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day, the district also operates the Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic, Blue Mountain Care Center and Blue Mountain Hospice.  The district employs around 250 people and has an annual budget of $34.4 million.