Kalispell doesn't have a new city manager yet, but it may not be long.

"At this point Jane [Howington] is excited about the opportunity to come to Kalispell," Mayor Pam Kennedy said Wednesday afternoon. "We're still working on the contract issues."

Howington was offered the city's top appointed job by e-mail Monday night, and talked with Interim City Manager Myrt Webb by phone on Tuesday.

"She is interested," Webb said later that afternoon. "We're dealing with a professional so we will either come to an agreement relatively soon or we won't. It won't get strung out."

Webb had expected an answer from her by midday Wednesday.

Howington is assistant city manager for operations in Dayton, Ohio, where she is part of a four-person leadership team headed by City Manager Rashad Young. She reportedly wanted to talk one more time with Young before giving her final answer on the Kalispell job, but Young was out of the office on Wednesday.

She did not return calls placed on Tuesday while she was making her decision.

Kennedy said Howington's salary offer is within the $90,000 to $125,000 range initially advertised. She reportedly earns $119,600 in Dayton.

"We will probably call a special meeting of the City Council on Monday to approve a contract," Kennedy said. "But we've not had an opportunity to get everybody's feedback yet."

The seven council members who had been contacted by Wednesday afternoon "are enthusiastic about the contract," she added.

If Howington agrees on a contract with Kalispell, she will take over after Webb finishes his interim service on July 6.

"All I can say is, we're getting close," Webb said. "More to follow."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at [email protected]