Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. ​On October 22, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and responded to community concerns about FAA diverting their routes over Gilpin County, a variance request and the CSU Extension Services Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Commissioner Ron Engels was absent, but Madam Chair Commissioner Linda Isenhart and Commissioner Gail Watson were present.

A resident, Bob Morgan, came to the table to discuss issues about the FAA planning routes over personal properties in Gilpin County. He requested lists of priorities, plans, correspondence and scheduling from the board in relation to fears about additional noise and air pollution from the proposed new flight plans.

​Watson responded that, “The FAA is reluctant to engage with individuals outside the EA (Environmental Assessment) process for legal reasons.” She continued, “We are totally in agreement with the group.”

​The commissioners then held a public hearing as the Board of Adjustments for an application for a variance and as the Board of Adjustments heard the request as presented by Community Director Stephen Strohminger. The applicant requested an approval of a fifteen-foot variance to site a residential structure, 1,854 feet in size, citing topography and the location of two public roads bisecting the one-acre property located at La Chula Vista Ranch.

​For the Board of Adjustments to grant a variance, certain conditions must be met, like exceptional narrowness, slope or topography. Zoning code setbacks are intended to maximize improvement location flexibility while minimizing impacts on adjacent properties.

​Isengard opened the floor for public comment and a resident of Wedgwood Road, Dave Lewis, introduced himself and his concerns about the variance request. He said, “I believe granting this variance would cause substantial detriment to the public good,” quoting dense and sloping terrain which requires the minimum 30-foot setback for proper defensible space against fires.

​The applicant claims hardship from the bisecting road of Wedgwood, but his property was purchased when Wedgwood Road was already in place. Lewis stated that if approved, the request could set a potentially harmful precedent to the nature of the variance requests.

Watson asked, “Are there any applicants here today?” To which no one responded. She went on to say, “I’m not inclined to grant this variance, because the house doesn’t fit the lot and the road was in place.” Isenhart seconded and all were in favor to deny.

Next on the agenda, JoAnn Powell, the CSU Extension Regional Director, presented a revised MOU that updates the previous one entered in 2006. The MOU adds some history and some clarity on who provides reimbursements for certain positions, such as the county being the provider for the offices and operating materials and budget.

CSU employs a part-time county director and agent here in Gilpin County which is reconstituted in this MOU to be full-time. The other new parts consist primarily of the fact that CSU will apply their policies and procedures related to their personnel and programs, whilst Gilpin County attends to theirs.

The introduction of the CBI staff to the Gilpin Board of Commissioners was mainly informational and consisted of three representatives: CBI Staff Director John Camper, Director Chris Schaefer and Agent in Charge Jeff Schierkolk.  

“We’re a by-request agency but we’ve got original jurisdictions on a few things - gaming as it relates to organized crime, trying to prevent organized crime is one of those jurisdiction mandates,” said Camper. 

CBI’s major function is to assist in investigations, forensic services, background checks, etc. Their intent is to provide as much support as they can to local law enforcement agencies like Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office. 

“We see organized crime, particularly auto-theft rings, or methamphetamine rings, as you know the gaming communities are places where people spend excess money. These communities are basically a playground for crooks,” said Schaefer.

The board thanked the CBI representatives for their continued support. 

(Originally published in the October 31, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)