GILPIN COUNTY – Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting on December 17, 2024, was marked by a mixture of reflection and celebration as Commissioner Marie Mornis participated in her final session.
Fellow commissioners and...
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GILPIN COUNTY – Tuesday’s Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) meeting on December 17, 2024, was marked by a mixture of reflection and celebration as Commissioner Marie Mornis participated in her final session.
Fellow commissioners and County staff honored her years of service with heartfelt thanks, a plaque, and a gift. Cherry cheesecake was served during a brief, congratulatory intermission toward the end of the meeting.
The pause came as the board awaited District Attorney Alexis King, who was delayed as she attended her child’s play. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth commended King’s priorities, noting the importance of making time for family.
Board Chair Susan Berumen, joined by Hollingsworth and Mornis, opened the meeting at 9 a.m. The session addressed a variety of resolutions and discussions. Each agenda item was thoroughly reviewed and unanimously approved by the Board.
A resolution to reallocate unused American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds was passed. These funds were originally designated for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Since the CWPP received state funding, this reallocation marks the County’s final opportunity to use these federal funds before the year’s end.
Finance Director Joe Allaire introduced a resolution to ensure the County’s compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement 54, standardizing fund balance reporting. He explained the fund categories and their uses, which the Commissioners approved.
Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson outlined state-mandated minimum wage increases for 2025, with non-exempt wages rising to $14.81 per hour and exempt salaries adjusted to $56,485 annually. Additionally, a previously approved 2.5% pay scale inflation adjustment was rescheduled to align with annual performance reviews for efficiency.
Sheriff Kevin Armstrong and Undersheriff Greg Demo presented an updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), featuring key amendments, such as Colorado Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA) data, and improved communication protocols during disasters. The revisions will support grant applications and ongoing emergency preparedness.
Planning Commission appointments were another area of discussion. There was some dismay in that no communication had been established by Community Development Director Gutierrez between the BoCC and the Planning Commission regarding the tentative re-appointment of its members.
Rears said that historically the Planning Commission had always interviewed applicants. Three positions need to be filled by 2025, and the Commission needs one more applicant to fill its board.
Gutierrez asked for guidance from the commissioners on the process going forward. Mornis inquired about advertising the positions, to which Rears responded that they gain visibility by advertising in The Mountain-Ear, posting on the community boards, the newsletter, social media, and by word of mouth.
Mornis said she has heard people in the community say that membership in these commissions seems closed. Hollingsworth agreed, and explained that the commissions should be easily open to the public.
The Board then determined that the process should be revised, and term limits possibly instituted. Terms of three members expire on December 31, 2024, so there is a timeframe in which accommodation must be made to maintain the quorum of five (out of nine) members.
Ultimately, the BoCC decided to extend the current terms while revising appointment procedures for all County commissions and scheduling a work session to discuss improvements in practices, including term limits.
After honoring Mornis for her service, King arrived and proposed increasing her salary from $235,000 to $265,000 for 2025, aligning with Metro area standards. However, it was clarified that Gilpin County is not responsible for the entire salary.
Gilpin County’s statutory obligation for 2025 is $250, which represents 1% of the remaining balance after the state contributes 80% of the statutory minimum salary of $130,000. Jefferson County covers the majority of the remaining cost due to its much larger population and caseload.
King highlighted her office’s achievements, including recognition as one of the most transparent prosecutorial teams in the country.
Commissioners praised her leadership and use of technology to enhance accessibility. County Attorney Jack Reutzel confirmed that the resolution complies with legal mandates.
As the meeting drew to a close, Hollingsworth offered her condolences to the family of retired Clear Creek County Sheriff Rick Albers, who recently died after a long illness. Albers served the Sheriff's Office for 43 years.
The Board then adjourned to an executive session to discuss legal and property matters.
Thanks go to Mornis for her service to the County. Mornis had filled the chair of former Commissioner Web Sill, who died on November 29, 2022, while serving as commissioner for District 1.
The next work session is scheduled for January 21, 2025, at 9 a.m., where the Commissioners will review updates to the employee handbook and discuss commission appointments.
The next regular meeting of the BoCC will take place on January 14, 2025, at 9 a.m., in the Gilpin County Courthouse. It can also be accessed online via Zoom.