The Tonganoxie City Council agreed Monday to fill a void in City Hall with an agreement to keep Mike Yanez on as city administrator until his replacement starts this spring.

The council voted 3-2 in August not to extend Yanez’s contract as city administrator when it expired at the end of 2011. However, late last month Kathy Bard, who was to be interim city administrator after the start of the year, informed the council that illness would prevent her from carrying out her duties, and she was taking extended medical leave.

The council voted unanimously Monday to enter into a month-by-month contractual agreement with Yanez for interim city administrator. Yanez will be paid $6,500 per month for a minimum work week of 30 hours. As a contractor, Yanez will receive no benefits.

The council had previously agreed to an $11,000 contract with Art Davis Group Inc., of Lee’s Summit, Mo., to guide the city administrator search. On Monday, the council voted to cap the firm’s expenses at $4,000. The firm presented a revised schedule for the search, which would have the new city administrator on the job April 30.