Town election channels Timnath in new direction

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

Timnath voters turned out in record numbers to elect trustees, allow the town to take greater control of its future through home rule, and authorize it to provide high-speed wireless Internet service.

More than 44 percent, or 62 of Timnath's 140 registered voters, cast ballots in the April 4 election, a figure that mayor Donna Benson characterized as a "great turnout."

They chose from among five candidates seeking four positions on the town board. Incumbent Charlie Snider and planning commission member Rose Moon were elected to four-year terms with 49 and 42 votes, respectively. Meg Corwin and Kim Speaker were elected to two-year terms with 38 and 37 votes, respectively. Both already were serving on the board after being appointed to fill vacancies. Runner-up Tracy Kellums received 33 votes.

Creation of a commission to draft a home rule charter was supported by an 11-1 margin with 55 yes votes. There was no competition to serve on the nine-member commission. It will include Benson, Corwin, Snider and Speaker along with Diane Fusaro, Del Miller, Susie Saunders, Dick Weiderspon and Ray Wright.

The commission has 120 days from the date of the election to draft a home rule charter for voter consideration in the Nov. 7 election. Town administrator Becky Davidson said the commission will meet six times to develop a charter. "It's a cool process," she said.

Davidson said $20,000 has been budgeted for charter expenses. They will include the services of a facilitator familiar with developing charters and of a Denver attorney specializing in municipal government law to assure the charter provisions are legal.

Conversion to home rule gives municipalities greater flexibility in designing a system of governance meeting their special needs. Benson described the charter as a sort of constitution anticipating the town's needs well into the future. According to the Colorado Municipal League, 91 of the state's 271 cities and towns are home rule--most of them with larger populations.

In a related issue, electors voted 47-14 to authorize the town to tax grocery sales at up to 3 percent. That is the maximum tax allowed for cities such as Timnath, which is now subject to state statutes. Trustees earlier, however, indicated that the grocery tax instead likely would be set at 2.25 percent in the proposed home rule charter.

Although there currently are no grocery stores in Timnath, advocates contended the tax should be in place to generate revenues when they eventually do locate there, as is expected.

Finally, by a 4-1 margin with 48 yes votes, residents authorized the town to provide high-speed wireless Internet service to residents. It's anticipated that the service would be provided through routers placed atop street light poles. The equipment cost has not yet been determined, although it's expected that the service would be provided at no cost to residents.

There is a growing trend of major metropolitan areas providing wireless Internet service much like another utility. Some 30 Colorado cities offer such service to residents, although Timnath with its estimated 223 residents apparently would be the smallest.