Timnath Town Council election: Q&A with candidate Jeramie Holt
Jeramie Holt was appointed to serve on the Timnath Planning Commission in 2022 and has weighed in on some of the town's most notable projects, including the proposed 240-acre Ladera annexation and subdivision and the formerly proposed Topgolf.
The Coloradoan sent all Timnath candidates questions to learn more about their priorities and why they're running for office.
Three candidates are vying for two seats on the five-member council that includes four council members and the mayor. The two top vote-getters will win the seats. The other candidates are Bill Jenkins and Lisa Laake. The election is April 2.
More: With 2 council seats up for grabs in Timnath, here's what candidates said about key issues
Current council member Robert Axmacher is running unopposed for the mayor's seat being vacated by Mark Soukup.
Below are Holt's answers, which have been edited for AP style, length and clarity. As of Friday, March 8, Holt did not have a campaign site.
Question: What makes you qualified to hold a town council seat in Timnath?
Answer: I’m an 11-year resident of Timnath and since April 2022, I have served as part of the Timnath Planning Commission. I am also a graduate of the 2021 class of the Timnath Citizen’s Academy. I am a business leader in Larimer County and have served our community since 2010 in multiple roles with nonprofits benefiting at-risk and in-need youth.
Q: What are your top three priorities if elected and why?
A:
Giving the community a voice when it comes to the growth and future of Timnath. I want to become a true liaison in taking the residents’ ideas, thoughts and feedback to the leaders of our town. As a long-time resident, I see a great opportunity to improve the communication between the residents and decision-makers.
I want to work with Poudre School District to enhance and expand our Timnath schools to better prepare for the growing population of our town. As a father of two, with one child currently at Timnath Middle-High School, we have experienced overcrowded facilities since he entered kindergarten.
I want to find ways to improve and expand the town’s current infrastructure to include adequate roads and trails while keeping appropriate safety measures front of mind. As we see the population of Timnath continue to increase, the number of cars on our roads also increases. We need increased safety measures like push-button pedestrian crosswalks, stop signs, etc., at major intersections within our neighborhoods, near our schools and parks.
Q: What are the top three challenges facing Timnath and how would you address them?
A:
I believe that the biggest challenge Timnath has right now is our fast-paced growth. Of course, we need growth, but it needs to be the right growth in the right areas of town. Timnath needs to continue to monitor new development, to stay true to our comprehensive plan. I am in favor of following our comprehensive plan to bring new commercial and residential proposals to our residents.
Traffic and roadways. As mentioned in my top priorities, I want to work with town engineers on proper timelines for future expansion of roadways to alleviate current traffic issues.
Community involvement. I think it’s obvious that our town hosts outstanding community events every year, however, I see an opportunity to improve the promotion of programs like Citizen’s Academy and public meetings where residents' input is vital. If attendance increased for town programs like this, our voices have more impact for change.
Q: Traffic is constantly raised as an issue in Timnath. In addition to the Weitzel Road expansion, what should Timnath be doing to deal with traffic?
A: Timnath has done a great job with our roads thus far, but as we continue to grow so should our roadways. The town plan has Harmony Road expanding to six lanes — this project should be expedited. We also need to create additional roadways to access Timnath Ranch to avoid backups due to trains. In addition, I will advocate for speed bumps, blinking light crosswalks and appropriate signage near schools and within new neighborhoods over the next one to three years.
Q: Town residents have successfully placed two initiatives on the ballot last year (TopGolf) and again this year (annexation). What do you think that says about a disconnect between the town council and the electorate?
A: I agree that our town has a disconnect. Our residents have varying thoughts and ideas on the future of Timnath. Increased resident involvement in town meetings, Citizen’s Academy and development proposal reviews will allow for a better understanding of our town plan and what our goals are.I’d like to see additional Citizen’s Academies, more direct communication with residents regarding dates of meetings, etc., and additional Q&A sessions with town staff at varying times of day to allow for residents to attend.Input is vital from all residents of Timnath while keeping in line with our comprehensive plan.
Q: Old Town residents often express they don’t feel heard or listened to. What steps would you take to engage with Old Town residents?
A: My entire candidacy is centered on bringing the concerns and thoughts of ALL residents to the leaders of Timnath. Old Town is no different. Maintaining Old Town’s historic beauty while bringing new amenities and business to this area will be a focal point of my time on town council.
Q: Other items you’d like to discuss that weren’t mentioned in the questionnaire?
As a growing community, we need to make smart decisions for the long term. Let's grow together with a common purpose to make and keep Timnath the best community to live in in Northern Colorado.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Timnath Town Council election: Q&A with candidate Jeramie Holt
