Hodge resigns from Emo council

Emo Coun. Doug Hodge is resigning his position for an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I just got a great offer you couldn’t turn down,” he said of his new position as business manager for a GM dealership in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Hodge spent 10 years in Fort McMurray previously and recently was contacted by the dealership there to return.
His last duty in Emo will be to serve as master of ceremonies for the Emo Fair queen pageant tomorrow (Aug. 15) at 7 p.m. before heading off to start his new job Aug. 26.
Coun. Hodge said he hopes one project Emo council is working on comes to fruition. “Don’t let go of the biomass,” he stressed.
Hodge has been an active volunteer in the community, especially during his two years on council, and will be missed.
“He called me Friday night at home,” said Emo Reeve Russ Fortier. “It made my weekend miserable. He’s a great guy and I wish him well.”
And Hodge feels the same way about his home community.
“I’m really going to miss everybody. We grew up here,” he said, adding he plans to retire in Emo.
Emo council has not decided yet if it will hold a byelection, choose one of the runners-up from the last municipal election to serve, or send a letter out to residents requesting volunteers apply for the position.
A final decision will be made at council’s next regular meeting Aug. 29.