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ST. GEORGE — St. George's city manager is receiving a $625,000 payout from the city to leave his position, according to reports.
The relationship between the members of the City Council and then-city manager Adam Lenhard soured when they disagreed about allowing a drag show to take place in the Town Square during the summer, St. George News reported.
Earlier this month, Mayor Michele Randall and the City Council announced Lenhard would leave the city "to pursue other opportunities," according to a statement provided to KSL.com.
City leaders thanked him for his service over the past four years and wished him "best in his future endeavors." Lenhard leaves the position on Tuesday, and the recruitment process for his replacement will begin "as soon as possible."
The statement did not mention the terms of the separation agreement or the specific reasons for his departure. KSL.com has requested those records from St. George officials.
Due to the drag show's mature content, the City Council opposed holding the event at the park on Main Street, which has a splash pad, carousel and other amenities for families.
The City Council told Lenhard to cancel a permit that had been issued for the drag show, but Lenhard allowed the show to proceed as he feared canceling it would lead to a discrimination lawsuit.
"I believe they have a First Amendment right to use Town Square and to deny them would be discriminatory," Lenhard told council members in an email obtained by St. George News.
The event was part of HBO's "We're Here" drag show tour that visits smaller cities and towns across the U.S., particularly in the South and Southwest. The episode filmed in St. George on June 3 hasn't yet aired on television.
The show's producers alleged city leaders' opposition to the event came down to bias against LGBTQ people.
"Like any show, we have challenges when it comes to production, but the challenges we have faced in St. George reveal the hidden forces that don't want LGBTQ people to be visible, to gather and to celebrate," co-creator Johnnie Ingram told Entertainment Weekly.
The City Council told Lenhard it intended to end his employment with the city, but Lenhard "believed he had a good faith basis for legal claims against the city," according to St. George News.
Outside attorneys advised the city to settle with Lenhard, rather than go to court, based on the terms of his contract.
According to state records, Lenhard made about $75,000 in wages and benefits in 2018, his first year in the position. His pay jumped in 2019 when he made more than $225,000 in wages and benefits. That amount rose each year through 2022.
"Under his leadership, the city has made significant progress and completed many worthwhile projects to the benefit of its residents. In addition to his service to the community, he also advocated tirelessly for the city's employees. His efforts have helped position the city for a bright future," city leaders said in the statement.
