John Scarffe, Gilpin County.   The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting passage of the Timberline Fire Protection District Ballot Issue during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. The board also approved a bid for a washing machine in the jail and a contract for hot water recirculation work in the Justice Center.

Board Chair Ron Engels introduced a resolution supporting passage of Timberline Fire Protection District Ballot Issue A, to be submitted at the November 6, 2018 special election. Because of the Gallagher Amendment to the Colorado Constitution, district revenues may be decreased as a result of the change in the percentage used in calculating assessed value of district residential properties, rather than the district receiving tax revenue at the level previously authorized by district electors, according to the resolution.

“Taxpayer approval is required to maintain district tax revenue at previously authorized levels,” states the resolution. “It is in the interest of county residents served by the district that the district maintain its current level of service and continue efforts to improve the service.”

Engels said this is one of the negative impacts of Gallagher. This is a ballot issue, which is a request to modify the mill levy rate to be consistent with the increased percentage used in calculating assessed value of properties.

“This resolution is saying we think it’s a good thing and are in favor of supporting it,” Engels said. The board approved the resolution, and Engels said this is a local fix to a statewide problem and should be fixed.

Captain Tonia Kapke presented bids and a budget request for a new washing machine in the detention center. Kapke asked for a supplement to the 2018 budget to replace a broken industrial washer in the jail. The county can save money if maintenance can remove the old machine from the laundry room and dispose of it. The vendor will take the machine for $500.

Both hard mount and soft mount machines are available, and the jail has a soft mount, so she is recommending the soft mount for $12,000, because they don’t want to go through the concrete floor, Kapke said. A hard mount is bolted to the base.

Commissioner Isenhart said a heavy machine like that isn’t going to bounce around. Engels is recommending the second alternative. Public Works Director Gordon Thompson said Public Works could help remove it.
The board approved a motion for a free-standing washer and will work with facilities to remove the old one for $12,519.78.

Thompson introduced a contract with JCOR Mechanical, Inc., for replacement of the hot water recirculation system at the Justice Center for $88,110. A proposal for this project was presented and approved at the August 21, 2018 board meeting.

Recurring pinhole leaks in the copper piping of the system led to an analysis of the entire system, which was completed in July 2018, according to the request. It showed an alarming number of eventual pinhole perforations in the copper piping. The study also showed the water flow velocities of the current system are somewhat high.

“Recommendations were made at that time to replace the copper piping with PEX (cross-linked polythene) piping and replace the circulation pump. Thompson told the board this is a contract for the same amount as previously approved to replace the hot water recirculation system. It’s the most economical solution.

This is the final contract after legal revisions, so he is just waiting for approval, and the board approved.

(Originally published in the October 4, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)