Town working with public relations professional

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

Timnath is using a public relations professional to polish its image and better represent its positions to the public.

The town board in a 4-1 vote in October agreed to retain the services of Karen Rose. She will be paid $60 an hour, up to a maximum $6,000 to provide public-relations services, according to a memorandum of agreement. Her tasks would be directed by the mayor, the town administrator or the town board.

"I agreed I'd help the town as I could because they were getting some bad press and getting picked on," Rose said in a telephone interview.

In an e-mail she elaborated that she will "assist with developing and presenting the town's perspective of its growth and evolution to residents within its boundaries and to others in the area."

"She's going to help us pull things together," said Timnath mayor Donna Benson.

Trustee Tim Gaines, who opposed the contract with Rose, said it was his understanding that Rose would develop a media relations kit and disseminate "so-called facts" about the community separator and urban renewal authority.

The town has clashed with Fort Collins over the city's continuing purchase of separator properties within Timnath's growth management area, and Larimer County has sued the town in an effort to block its creation of an urban renewal authority.

"She did not impress me as what we needed at this time or any time," said Gaines.

He said that he also objected to "being associated with all the anti-Fort Collins factions."

Rose is serving as an adviser to Citizens Against Forced Annexation. The group of county residents is fiercely opposed to Fort Collins' effort to annex their properties as part the so-called southwest annexation. Rose also maintains a home and a private office in that area.

A Cheyenne resident, Rose does public relations work in Wyoming and Colorado.