Yuma County was close to having a new county administrator.

But not close enough. Art Chaudry, former chief administrative officer of Jackson County, Mo., was in the final stages of contract negotiations for the job. But on Thursday he contacted the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and backed out.

"Long story short, he decided not to take the job," said Kevin Tunell, county public and legislative affairs director.

Tunell said he did not know exactly why Chaudry backed out, but the decision was sudden. His employment agreement was one of the items up for approval at Monday's board of supervisors meeting.

That vote would have been the final step in hiring a new county administrator if Chaudry had accepted the position.

"The board is going to have to reconvene and decide what course of action to take," Tunell said. "There may be another search (for candidates)."

The county administrator position has been vacant since May, when David Garcia left the post to take a job as the city administrator of Chula Vista, Calif., a suburb of San Diego.

The county will take some direction on this matter at its meeting at 9 a.m. Monday in the Board of Supervisors Auditorium, 198 S. Main St.

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Sarah Reynolds can be reached at

sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.