Ketchum's mayor on Thursday said it is not yet clear whether or not Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc will soon depart for Durango, Colo., or not.
"We're all kind of in a holding pattern to see what Ron's going to do," said Mayor Randy Hall. "Ron has not spoken to me."
LeBlanc did not return telephone calls Thursday inquiring about his intentions, but comments he made to The Durango Herald newspaper indicate strong interest in the city manager job there.
"Honestly, I'm flattered," he is quoted as saying in the Herald. "(Durango) is one of the premier places to live in the country. I've always considered Colorado home, and we planned to retire in Colorado in the Four Corners. ... The city impressed me, and I'm looking forward to working there."
LeBlanc told the Herald that, given his choice, he would prefer to wait until after the December holidays to start work in January.
"I just got this message when I got home (Tuesday)," he said. "I haven't had the chance to think about the logistics yet."
The Durango City Council emerged from an executive session around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and unanimously selected LeBlanc to be the next city manager. He was one of three finalists who interviewed for the job last week.
Durango hired an executive search firm, Peckham & McKenney, to narrow the candidate pool from 58 to the final three. Phil McKenney of the search firm will work with Durango City Attorney David Smith to work out details of employment contracts if LeBlanc accepts the city's offer.
The Herald reported that the 2008 Durango city budget includes $136,114 for the city manager's salary, although no salary offer was announced.
Hall maintained that as soon as it is clear what LeBlanc has decided he would make it public knowledge.
"It's probably going to look somewhat chaotic for the next couple of days until Ron decides what he wants to do," Hall said.
Ron LeBlanc
