KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- Kalamazoo City Manager Ken Collard is set to retire sometime this year and the city commission is close to deciding on which executive headhunting firm they will hire to help find his successor.

Commissioners held a special meeting this week to narrow their choices down to three, and those firms will be interviewed on February 4th, just before a regular meeting.

They also prefer that the interviews be in person, but will accept teleconferencing if they have to.Among the finalists: Bob Murray & Associates of California, Colin Baenziger & Associates of Florida, and Strategic Government Resources of Texas.