GILLETTE -- Applicants for a vacant seat on the Campbell County Cemetery Board will be interviewed in open meetings within the week.

The board initially planned to interview applicants in executive session but reversed its decision Monday during a special meeting. Beginning at 11 a.m. Friday and Nov. 2, the board will interview applicants in 10- to 15-minute segments. The public is invited to attend.

The board is working to replace Christina Maycock, who is facing criminal charges.

"We would feel more at ease and able to visit with these people (in executive session)," board chairwoman Dorothy Slattery said, adding that she had visited with the cemetery's lawyer, Greg Goddard, about interviewing the applicants in executive session.

But board member Nikki Johnson said she was concerned about the need to keep the interview process public. Two of the applicants who were in attendance, Jim Hastings and Duffy Jenniges, agreed.

"It certainly wouldn't bother me to be interviewed in a public forum," Hastings said. "I think any time you have something that can be done in open meeting, it should be done that way."

Jenniges urged the board to hold public interviews.

"It would behoove you to be open to the public," he said.

The cemetery board has been under scrutiny the past few months.

An investigation by Campbell County District Attorney Jeanne Stone led to charges of state open meetings act violations by current board members Slattery, Eda Reno and Shirley Schafer, as well as former board members Maycock and George Hunter. They are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 12.

Maycock also is charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretenses and faces misdemeanor charges of wrongful appropriation of public property, misuse of office and two counts of open meetings act violations. Maycock is scheduled to appear in court at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7.

Despite the charges facing current and former board members, Slattery said she is pleased with the number of people who applied to the board position, as well as the qualifications of the six applicants.

"We've got some really positive applicants," Slattery said.

Applicants for the open position are Rockpile Museum board member Tommie Butler, RENEW's newly hired operations manager Hastings, retired railroad worker Jenniges, Peregrine Leadership Institute co-owner Cliff Knesel, retired rancher and Wright resident Dale Osborn, and retired Highway Patrol officer Clif Ritchie.

Hastings said his original interest in the cemetery and its operations centered on the fact he is a property owner next to the new Mount Nebo Cemetery. But after attending a budget meeting, Hastings said he was concerned about the money being spent and the procedures being followed by the board.

"What I was seeing there was a lack of strategic planning and budgeting," Hastings said. "I believe I can add some stability and talent to the board."