GILPIN COUNTY - The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse on April 1, 2025, for a work session to review four topics. All members of the Board were present along with Gilpin County Manager Ray Rears.

The commissioners met for two and a half hours, reviewing updates regarding the state childcare program, proposed changes to employee compensation guidelines, organizational chart changes for the Finance Director position, and proceeding with physical improvements at the Justice Center to facilitate easier access to the Emergency Management Center.

The first topic to be reviewed was the funding from the state for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP). CCCAP helps low-income families find affordable childcare services.

The County manages the program with the state and administers the eligibility requirements and enrollment in the program. The presentation was an information only update.

Human Services Director Janey Barker and Case Benefits Supervisor David Josselyn presented spreadsheets showing that, because Federal guidelines are changing going forward, costs will increase from $7,692 in FY 2025/2026 to $351,785 in FY 2026/2027 based on increased cost per child.

The Board reviewed the forecasts and reasons and gave guidance to the Human Services Director to keep them informed if there are any other program changes anticipated before budgeting for the next fiscal year begins.

Interim Finance Director Jamie Boyle and Division Chief Sean Wheeler asked for guidance from the Commissioners on the second topic of the work session. Boyle was looking for a resolution to proceed with spending money from a 2022 Federal grant for improvements at the Justice Center to improve security and allow for easier access to the Emergency Management Office.

The improvements include installing security cameras on blind spots in the parking lot, and easier access to the Emergency Management Office without going through the jail.

Because there is uncertainty as to whether these Federal funds would be released, the Board asked that Sheriff Armstrong be consulted before proceeding with signing the contract and starting the work.

Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson gave the third presentation, seeking guidance on proposed changes to the Employee Compensation Plan. These include changes to how vacancies are posted and what discretion hiring managers have with salary ranges for new hires or internal promotions. The Board asked the County Manager to develop a resolution for the next Board meeting to adopt the new guidelines.

The fourth and last topic that the Commissioners tackled involved a review of the job description of the County Finance Director and whether it should be expanded to include helping the County Manager.

Johnson and Boyle presented alternative proposals, to leave the job the same, or change it to include management of some staff that are currently reporting to the Manager. A third option was to hire a deputy manager, but it was rejected by the Board.

Different assignments of staff between the Finance Department and the County Manager’s Office were discussed, along with the best span of control for an individual manager. At the end of the discussion, the Board asked the County Manager to develop a resolution that expands the Finance Director position, to be presented at the next regular Board meeting.

Another work session is scheduled for April 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Gilpin County Courthouse. There is more information about Commissioner meetings at the Gilpin County website (gilpincounty.colorado.org/public-meetings).