MARIETTA — County Manager David Hankerson said Friday he expects to make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on whom to hire as the next public safety director before the end of this year.

There were 206 total applicants for the job, which was advertised in national trade magazines. Of those, 66 applicants were considered “eligible.”

A committee appointed by Hankerson that includes former Cobb HR director Sheila Buckner, Kennesaw Police Chief Bill Westenberger, Smyrna Fire Chief Jason Lanyon, county HR director Tony Hagler, Cobb Schools Safety Director James Arrowood, Deputy Sheriff Lynda Coker, transportation director Faye DiMassimo and county lawyer Deborah Dance has begun interviewing the applicants.

The position became vacant when Mickey Lloyd resigned in July 2010 amid claims he had embellished his military career. The county’s fire chief, Sam Heaton, stepped in to serve as the interim director. He has applied for the permanent job, as has one other county employee: 911 director Tony Wheeler, Hankerson said.

The salary range for the job is $101,587 to $165,651.

Hankerson said the two other open department-head posts — public services and support services — will likely be filled sooner than the public safety job.

The public services director oversees five departments: elections; parks and recreation; libraries; senior services; and extension services. The county received a total of 135 applications, with 41 of those considered eligible for the job, which has a salary range of $96,805 to $157,809. Bob Ash was the last public services director.

The support services director supervises the operational departments of economic development; government service center/mail services; fleet management; information services; property management and purchasing; records management; and tax assessor, and is the liaison to other government agencies and officials.

The county received 150 applications, with 54 of those considered eligible. The salary range is $96,805 to $157,809. Virgil Moon retired as support services director in September.

In other business, commissioners will consider improvements to two east Cobb parks as part of their Tuesday meeting: Sewell Park off Lower Roswell Road and Fullers Park off Robison Road.

Commissioners are expected to hire Pope/Partners Architects, Inc. for $61,250 to design improvements to the pool and bathhouse area at Sewell Park. The outdoor, 25-meter adult pool, which is more than 50 years old, will be renovated, while the children’s wading pool will be replaced with an outdoor water park. The aging bathhouse will be rebuilt, with improvements scheduled to be complete summer of 2014, said Eddie Canon, the county’s parks director.

Improvements will be paid for out of a $2.1 million SPLOST earmark, which includes renovations to the park’s six athletic fields.

“A lot of families have grown up swimming at this pool,” Canon said. “Mothers and dads have learned to swim here. Now their kids are learning to swim here, so generations have used this pool over the years, and to get a new face lift will be really nice for the community.”

Commissioners are also expected to approve paying Vertical Earth $333,365 to replace crosstie walls and add 38 parking spaces at Fullers Park off Robinson Road.

The project is expected to be finished by Feb. 1