Hodge Departing from Lamar’s URA and Main Street Program

Shawna Hodge has submitted her resignation as Lamar’s Main Street Community Coordinator, effective September 30. In her letter, submitted to the City of Lamar on Tuesday September 8, Hodge said she will relocate to the Denver area to pursue a career in similar fields. Hodge is also the Executive Director of Lamar Partnership Incorporated and several months ago was hired by the City to act as the full time Urban Redevelopment Authority director. Hodge began working for the City almost eight years ago, taking the position of Main Street Coordinator, a program initiated by former City Administrator, Ron Stock.

Current City of Lamar Administrator, John Sutherland, said, “We’re sorry to lose Shawna, but we understand her position of seeking new opportunities for career advancement in a field she has done so well for us in our community.” He added that Hodge has been the key in initiating many diverse programs that has benefitted Lamar residents over the past several years. “We are in a very strong position for continued advancement because of her commitment to our community,” he added.

Sutherland stated that he will meet with the Lamar City Council to develop an outline for her replacement. He said he wants to visit with a number of groups such as PCDI, Prowers County Development Incorporated, Prowers County officials and the council before they launch a search for another individual. “We have to take into consideration the role she played in each of the three positions she held,” he explained, adding, “We all want to feel comfortable as a group with our decisions, especially because there was an overlap among the city, the county and economic development departments.”

Sutherland said financing for such programs in light of current municipal and county budget discussions will come into play, even as far as a location of an office or if certain duties may be combined and the level of contributions that may develop to maintain a director for those key positions. Sutherland said he and Hodge met today with officials from DOLA and a representative from the legislative Joint Budget Committee to view the impact the Main Street program has had on rural communities. “We think they were very impressed by what had been accomplished,” he said.

By Russ Baldwin

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