La Plata County Manager Joe Kerby has decided to take a job offer in Oregon, five years after accepting his post in Southwest Colorado.
On Thursday, Kerby confirmed his decision to The Durango Herald, saying his final day as La Plata County manager has not yet been established.
“The most important thing for me is to provide a seamless transition for the organization,” Kerby said.
In May, the Benton County Board of Commissioners in Oregon voted unanimously to offer Kerby the job out of a pool of nearly 50 applicants. He will be county manager for Benton County.
“We had a really strong pool of candidates, and Mr. Kerby clearly rose to the top,” said Benton County Counsel Vance Croney, according to a May 2 story in the Corvallis Gazette-Times.
Kerby said he and his family considered several factors about the job, but Oregon’s location stood out.
“I think that from the beginning, the location is one that I have an affinity for ... and an interest in,” Kerby said. “When this opportunity came up, I wanted to consider that.”
Kerby said he will talk with La Plata County Commissioners in the coming days to plan the best transition. He said his job in Benton County allows leeway in the transition.
According to the Gazette-Times, the salary range for Kerby’s new position is $107,592 to $172,144 a year. His salary in La Plata County is $167,627, not including benefits.
This is the second major post at the La Plata County government to undergo change recently.
Planning Director Damian Peduto left May 31 for a job in Eagle County.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
