Government has always been priority for Tim Onderko

Editor's note: The following story is the first in Gold Country Media's new "Our Town" community profile series that will regularly spotlight our community's unique residents and public figures over the months to come. As his term of office winds down, Loomis Town Councilman Tim Onderko looks back on many highlights. And one stands out particularly — Loomis' first-ever state-of-the-town address last year. "(I delivered the address) to a packed house," Onderko said. "It was a great honor and I hope it remains a tradition." Government has been a long-time passion for Onderko. He grew up in Roseville and graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in governmental studies. After college, Onderko worked as a legislative aide for then state Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, then went on to work for Speaker Fabian Nunez. He left the legislature to work in private industry for a real estate company specializing in lending private money. The move to Loomis was 10 years ago. Onderko and his wife, Janelle, have family nearby and wanted to be where their children could get a good education, he said. Janelle Onderko is a licensed marriage and family therapist. The couple has three children, ages 10, 8 and 4. An appointment to the Loomis Planning Commission put Onderko back into public service. Then, four years ago, he ran successfully for a seat on the Town Council "I ran in part because I wanted Loomis to be more business-friendly," Onderko said. Onderko and Councilman Brian Baker spearheaded a facade grant program that provided matching funds to spruce up downtown storefronts. "(The grants) paid dollar for dollar as (owners) improved their businesses," Baker said "We capped it at a certain point. It really helped our businesses as we worked through the Downtown Master Plan. (Onderko and I) are very business-oriented so both of us made a very big push when it came to that." Onderko voted to bring Costco to town — "it will be a great income producer for Loomis," he said — but his focus has been attracting small family-run businesses. "If you look downtown now, you see a lot of success stories, (such as) Loomis Basin Brewing GastroPub, Reds' Bistro and Gander Taphouse," Onderko said. For Onderko, the success of the facade grants and Master Plan street improvements to burnish downtown has been very satisfying. "They make it look attractive," he said. "It tells businesses we want them here. We made a huge public investment in downtown streets and landscaping. Businesses come here and see that we are serious. We've already made those improvements and updated the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues. We're wanting to send a signal to potential businesses that they have a spot here." Among other council accomplishments during his term, Onderko cites the new library system (after voters approved a tax increase in 2016 to bring the Loomis library under the town's jurisdiction) as well as searching for a new city manager and selecting Sean Rabe for the job. "He's been a really valuable and important asset for the recent successes of the town," Onderko said. He also points out cleanup of the old mill in downtown and strengthening code enforcement. Onderko's responsibilities on the council include serving on the board of SACOG (Sacramento Area Council of Governments) and as liaison between schools and the town. "One of the big things that will be huge for Loomis is the Del Oro High School bond approved by voters two years, which will provide a great learning environment for future generations," he said. Onderko opted not to run for a second term and will focus on family and career when his term ends this year. But he's not stepping away entirely. "We're going through the General Plan update and I plan on being involved in serving on the Citizen Recommendation Committee," he said. "Tim has a passion for Loomis," Baker said. "He has a passion for our local businesses and he spends a lot of time preparing for meetings and getting ready for meetings. When he shows up, he is ready to work, and that passion I think — we'll see who the new council members are — will be really missed. Our businesses will miss that, too." In his free time, Onderko enjoys golf and plans to do some traveling with the family after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. "It's the small town atmosphere — a one high school town," Onderko said about living in Loomis. "I love closing Taylor Road for parades and the Eggplant Festival. The Placer County Sheriff's Office is the best in the business. I love the safety of our town and the schools are exceptional. I'm impressed every day by the culture of giving and volunteers who come together to make Loomis what it is. It's a great place to raise a family and I feel blessed every day to live here."