CENTRAL CITY – The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) met for a work session on February 18, 2025, at the Historic Courthouse in Central City. 

While no public comments were permitted, the session covered a range of topics, from historic preservation to fire safety and employee benefits.

A discussion on 2025 historic preservation projects began with Grants Manager Jamie Boyle, County Manager Ray Rears, Paralegal Sara Baciak, and Planner Rachel Vigil leading the conversation. 

With $135,000 earmarked for historic preservation through lodging tax revenue, the Board considered how to allocate funds between the East Portal Cabins and the Thorn Lake School.

Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth voiced support for the spending, noting that the funding source was separate from the County’s general budget. “I think there are ways to accomplish this without the County paying for the bulk of it,” she added.

Aiken stressed the importance of financial caution given the Trump Administration’s freeze on federal aid. Hollingsworth echoed the need for careful budgeting.

Rears pointed out that these projects have been on the County’s radar for years and said there would be potential long-term savings considering rising costs. 

Boyle clarified that assistance from the National Register of Historic Places is usually limited to certain phases of a project. While there is the possibility of support for the East Portal Cabins, the Thorn Lake School, having been relocated four times, presents a more challenging case.

“It’s a mobile home,” Hollingsworth joked.

The Board appears to be leaning toward prioritizing the East Portal Cabins for potential acquisition, but final decisions are still in the works.

Commissioners discussed an update provided by Community Development Director Rob Gutierrez and Kyle Parag of Charles Abbott Associates on the Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI) State Building Code. As wildfire risks remain a top concern for the region, the County is reviewing the implications of adopting state-level standards to strengthen fire mitigation efforts.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong and Undersheriff Greg Demo shared news of a potential drone donation from High Country Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to supporting Gilpin’s first responders. 

The donation would help enhance search-and-rescue capabilities for law enforcement and emergency personnel. No formal action was taken, but the Board acknowledged the technology's benefits for public safety.

The updates to the Planning Commission bylaws and the process for filling any vacancies, provided by Gutierrez, will ensure a streamlined approach for filling open seats. The Board will review the proposed changes before making formal amendments.

The Commissioners then discussed proposed changes to the County’s vacation and personal time policies. Aiken suggested adding a new paid time off (PTO) tier for employees who have served 16 years or more, extending beyond the current 11-year tier.

“So many moving parts,” Hollingsworth noted, as discussions unfolded. Rears assured the board that an outline of the changes should be ready by next week. Once finalized, the adjustments will take effect upon adoption.

“Overall, I think the staff will be happy,” Rears said, with Hollingsworth adding, “They’re ultimately getting more time off.”

To allow for feedback, the Board opted to give supervisors time to review the changes before revisiting the matter at their regular meeting on March 11, 2025.

With no additional items on the agenda, the work session wrapped up at 1:17 p.m. The next steps on these topics will unfold in the coming weeks as the County refines its approach to historic preservation, fire safety, and employee benefits.