The Nipomo Community Services District has rehired one of its former general managers to fill in until the district can find someone to take the job on a permanent basis.

Michael S. LeBrun was hired Wednesday by NCSD directors to temporarily replace Bruce Buel, who resigned two weeks ago because of serious health problems.

LeBrun was first hired by NCSD in September 2004 to replace Doug Jones, and was serving as general manager when Buel was hired as an assistant to oversee the supplemental water pipeline project in 2006.

LeBrun served NCSD for almost two years before leaving for some self-described “soul searching” after finding the role of general manager wasn’t his cup of tea.

“When I left the district before, I knew I didn’t have the experience to guide the district into a number of capital improvement projects that Bruce has overseen,” LeBrun said.

“To come back to see what a man with 30 years of experience has done is a great opportunity and learning experience,” he added.

Buel was named general manager following LeBrun’s departure.

LeBrun said he’s happy he can now fill in and help out.

“Obviously, it’s under some very sad circumstances,” he added.

LeBrun has a degree and more than 12 years of experience in engineering.

After serving as an electrician and diver aboard submarines with the U.S. Navy, he earned a degree in environmental engineering from Cal Poly in 1993.

He then worked for the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board in San Luis Obispo, received his professional civil-engineering license in 1995, and left in 2004 as a senior engineer to join NCSD.

He later began volunteering with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, worked full time for a year and a half as a project manager, and currently is serving as a part-time project manager.

He said he also has a number of clients as a private consultant.

LeBrun said he does not intend to seek the general manager’s job again on a permanent basis. Instead, he plans to return to his work with the Land Conservancy once the interim job ends.

NCSD board President Jim Harrison said the board will begin recruiting statewide — and possibly nationwide — for a permanent general manager soon.

On Wednesday, directors authorized the staff to negotiate a contract with the Roseville consulting firm of Bob Murray & Associates to begin searching for candidates.

The agreement sets a goal of seating a permanent gener-al manager by April 1, and caps the consultant fees at $22,000.