Safety first: Residents and business owners from Rollinsville gather at a Gilpin County Commissioners’ work session to address the potential development of their small town. Among the topics discussed are the challenges surrounding sewage management and ensuring adequate water supply for firefighting purposes.[/caption]

The Gilpin County Commissioners opened their work session at 6 p.m. on April 15 at Fritz Peak Observatory Timberline Station 3, located at 19126 Highway 119.

Commissioners Susan Berumen (Chair) and Marie A. Mornis were present, as well as County Manager Ray Rears. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth was absent due to a death in the family.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the development of Rollinsville.

Rears said the improvement of Rollinsville is one of the recommended actions of a recently awarded economic diversification grant. Rears invited several key staff, as well Timberline’s fire chief, to deliver factual information to the Board and the public. He said the purpose of the work session was to start the dialogue.

Timberline Fire Chief Paul Ondr addressed the group first, stressing the need for water in the case of a fire.

“We basically have a commercial area with no water available for fire fighting. Commercial areas are supposed to have fire hydrants.”

Ondr informed the Board and the audience of the dire need for water cisterns closer to the town of Rollinsville, with ideally one on each side of the highway. Currently, the nearest sources of water are by Eldora Road in Nederland, or a mile and a half away in another direction, though that source has only 9,000 gallons available.

He said a preplanned, installed system is much better than any other water source for fire truck access. He estimated that two 30,000-gallon cisterns and 1,000 feet of hose would suffice. He noted that the cost of the cisterns could range from $150,000- $250,000 each.

Ondr pressed that continuing to develop Rollinsville without addressing the water issue is not sound; he stressed that the risk is too great to the nearby homes.

Rob Gutierrez, Director of Community Development, explained various land use issues and grant opportunities.

Gutierrez said his department has been working on the land use code through DOLA’s Strong Communities Grant and may create a specific zoning district for Rollinsville that would change some parameters and bring flexibility of uses.

Rollinsville has several historic and non-conforming structures; if a building has a change of use, it must be brought up to code.

The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) program is designed to help rural communities comprehensively diversify their local economy. Gutierrez’s department submitted a grant request for an indepth study about bringing water and sewer to Rollinsville, maybe via Nederland.

If the grant is awarded, Gutierrez intends to pose the water issue, and to look at the potential costs of a railway station associated with Routt County’s passenger rail plan.

Gutierrez said they will find out more about the REDI grant this week, and there will be some public engagement sessions in the next few months.

Public Health Director Alisa Witt addressed septic/sewage issues that may occur if more businesses open.

Public Works Director John Combs addressed roads and snow removal issues in Rollinsville, especially if gutters and sidewalks are built.

At the end of the meeting, one resident raised concerns about the lack of a fire lane in front of the Stage Stop, and how it is hazardous to reach her residence with the profusion of cars on the weekends.

Others commented on various water sources and the possibility of surveying the road.

Can Rollinsville be developed? It appears that progress will be handicapped until viable solutions are explored and implemented.

The County officials and staff want to hear from the community; they plan to hold more meetings on the subject in the future.

The work session concluded at 7:05 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for April 30 at the historic Courthouse located at 203 Eureka Street in Central City.