Name: Lindsay Radcliff-Coombes
City of residence: Severance
Occupation: Deputy town manager for the Town of Severance
What brought you to Severance?
I moved to Northern Colorado in the late ’90s and made Severance my home in 2020. What initially drew me here was the peaceful, rural character and small-town charm. I grew up in Nebraska in a rural community of about 800 residents, about 10 miles outside of a larger town. It was the kind of place where people knew their neighbors, looked out for one another and took pride in their community. Severance immediately gave me that same sense of home and connection. Although Severance is growing, it still holds onto many of the qualities I value about a rural community: open spaces, strong community connections and a distinct identity.
My career in local government also brought me here. I’m in my eighth year of local government service, and having the opportunity to serve as deputy town manager in the same community I call home is incredibly meaningful. Living where I work gives me a personal connection to the community and an even greater passion for preserving what makes Severance special as we thoughtfully plan for its future.
What do you do for work?
In my role as the deputy town manager, I oversee public works, the police department, finance department, administrative services, the town clerk’s office, our planning department and daily operations of the town. I also get to oversee something close to my heart, which is the growing and building of our community and bringing it together with events. Building community is very special to me. Naturally, I’ve always been drawn to help bring people together. It is all very rewarding.
In what other ways are you involved in the community?
Helping out at the local food bank is something I’ve done for years. Whether it’s Larimer County or Weld County, there’s such a need in our community for the food banks. There are a lot of families in need out there. Sometimes they don’t want to ask for help, so volunteering is a way to help others when they need it without directly giving it to them. With our staff, we have a day where we close the town hall and go over there and volunteer. It’s been exciting to watch that grow year after year.
I love volunteering because it feels so rewarding when you’re giving back to organizations. I feel like I get to wake up every day and go work my passion of serving others. I do feel like one of the most rewarding things is to live and work in the community that I’m in, and to serve others and be a part of the growing community.
Tell us about your involvement in water education and regional collaboration, and how that experience has shaped your understanding of Northern Colorado’s water challenges and future needs.
I recently participated in the Water Literate Leaders of Northern Colorado program, which gave me a much broader understanding of just how important and complex water is in our region. In Northern Colorado, water truly is like liquid gold. It is a limited resource that touches nearly every part of our lives, from brushing our teeth in the morning and watering our yards to supporting agriculture, businesses, economic development and the growth of communities.
My biggest takeaways from the program were how much there is to learn about where our water comes from, how it is treated and delivered and how we can all use it more efficiently. Conservation isn’t simply about using less water; it’s about understanding the value of the resource and making thoughtful decisions so that it remains available for future generations.
The program also reinforced the importance of approaching water issues regionally. Every community and water user has different needs and perspectives. Municipalities need reliable water to serve residents and support growth, agriculture depends on water for its livelihood and food production and businesses have their own operational needs. None of those perspectives exist in isolation.
As Northern Colorado continues to grow and we face increasing pressures on our water supply, I believe collaboration will become even more important. We need municipalities, agricultural producers, businesses, water providers and other regional partners at the table, learning from one another and understanding the challenges each sector faces. The more we work together, the better positioned we will be to conserve our resources, plan responsibly and ensure Northern Colorado has a sustainable and reliable water future.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love gardening, as we have a large vegetable, flower and water garden. I love to walk, jog, run and just be outdoors as much as possible when I am not working. Having a running group, miles.Beyond, with races has been a great addition to our community. I participate alongside Severance residents in running, gardening and other events out here that help our community grow.
What types of things do you and your family like doing together?
I have a blended family, and we love to be outdoors. We love hiking and boating. I have three awesome dogs, so we spend a lot of time outdoors and in the mountains with them. I love spending time with my grandkids and, of course, our four children. We try to hang out as much as we can, whether we go hiking with them or have family dinners.
If there are concerts at the Severance Community Park, they’ll come over for Severance Days or one of our summer concerts. They love to come to our house and hang out outside because it’s a little oasis for the grandkids. We usually all hang out in the backyard and relax and barbecue and just have family time together.
Do you have a large family?
My husband Gordon and I have four kids. We have Kelsie; she and her family live in Fort Collins. Dakota is in Denver with his wife, Sydney. My son, Easton, and his wife, Katy, just had a new baby, Sutton. They’re moving to Nebraska, but Easton is a CSU grad. My son, Hudson, lives in Timnath, and he’s a CSU grad too.
What do you love most about Severance?
Everyone is really kind here. It’s a safe community. You don’t have to lock your doors here. I’m sure people do for safety, but neighbors really support each other. If you need anything, your neighbors will come and help you out. I like to say that is all of Northern Colorado, but I really feel like it’s a very small town here. We have that small-town character.
Another thing I love about living out here is that you can go outside at night and have no light pollution. You can see all the stars. It’s very beautiful and so quiet and peaceful.
If you had a friend or a family member visiting for the weekend, what are some things you would take them to go do?
We usually always take them to Bruce’s Bar. We’ll go to Tecate Grill, and we’ll take them to Severance Community Park. We like to go on the Great Western Trail. We have an awesome trail system here that goes from Eaton through Severance and into Windsor, and you can bike it and walk it.
How has Severance grown in your time working with the town?
When I started working for the Town of Severance, we were about half the size we are now, and the staff was about half the size it is now. Getting to be a part of something that’s growing—not just the organization, but the community—is something I find really rewarding. That is why I’m here.
What do you love about being a woman in local government?
I believe everyone has a voice; sometimes it simply takes the courage and confidence to use it. One of the most meaningful aspects of my role is having a seat at the table where I can contribute to conversations and help make decisions that directly affect our community. There is a tremendous sense of responsibility in that, but also a real sense of purpose.
As a woman in leadership, I recognize the significance of representation and the importance of women seeing themselves in positions where decisions are made. At the same time, I have always approached leadership from the perspective that my voice has value because of the experience, preparation and perspective I bring to the table. I want to be respected as a leader and decision-maker, and I have been fortunate to feel that sense of equality among my colleagues.
I also believe leadership begins with having the courage to participate. You do not have to be the loudest person in the room to have influence, but you do have to be willing to speak up, contribute your perspective and stand behind what you believe is important. When you are driven by a genuine purpose and are willing to put in the work, there are tremendous opportunities to make a difference.
For me, that purpose has always been serving others. Public service gives me the opportunity to turn that purpose into action and listen, advocate, solve problems and help make decisions that strengthen the community. That is what makes having a seat at the table so meaningful to me. It isn’t simply about having a voice; it’s about using that voice responsibly to serve others.
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