Alabaster should have a new Parks and Recreation Department director by Dec. 11, Mayor David Frings announced during a Dec. 3 City Council meeting.

The city completed preliminary interviews with the top five candidates chosen out of the original 45 applicants in late November, and city officials will schedule interviews the top two candidates beginning Dec. 7, the mayor said.

“We have conducted the preliminary interviews, and we have narrowed it down to the top two ,” Frings said. “We should have a decision by the end of next week.”

The new recreation director will be the first full-time head of the Parks and Recreation Department since former director Larry Vann resigned from the position June 2. Since Vann’s resignation, Athletic Manager Ricky Nance has served as interim director.

In other news, the council also voted unanimously to establish a 12-month, $1.2 million line of credit with Central State Bank.

The line of credit will serve as a financial backup for the city if the fiscal year 2010 budget falls short near the end of the year, explained Ward 2 Councilman Bob Hicks.

“It’s mainly just because of the way the budget cycle is. At the end of the year, the money can start to dwindle,” Hicks said. “The line of credit will just be here for a stopgap, if needed.”