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Congressman visits with Gilpin County leaders

John Scarffe
Posted 3/2/23

United States Congressman Joe Neguse visited Gilpin County on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Meeting at the Gilpin County Library with County leaders, he stated he wanted to hear their

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Congressman visits with Gilpin County leaders

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United States Congressman Joe Neguse visited Gilpin County on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Meeting at the Gilpin County Library with County leaders, he stated he wanted to hear their concerns.

About 20 people attended, including two County Commissioners, the County Manager, Clerk and Recorder, Public Health Coordinator, County Attorney, Sheriff, and fire district representatives.

Congressman Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first black member of Congress in Colorado history.

In a recent report by GovTrack.us, Neguse was named the member of the House of Representatives with the most bills signed into law during the 117th Congress. Neguse has introduced 13 bills that became law.

Neguse told the Gilpin County officials that he wasn’t going to speak. He had come here to listen and find out what is percolating in Gilpin County. He said he is nervous about redistricting. The district could take on more area, and it is already bigger than nine states.

This year’s 117th congress has been one of the most productive since the 1960s, Neguse said. A bevy of laws were passed that will benefit the country, he added, but the key is in the implementation.

He worked with the Gilpin County Sheriff to secure funding for the Office of Emergency Management. He has to monitor whether the agencies are getting the funds they should receive. Neguse said funds for the Roosevelt and Arapahoe National Forests will be transforming.

Neguse then asked for questions from the crowd.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick said she has managed four elections in a row. She is concerned about the postal service. In some areas residents haven’t received mail for four to six weeks. Ballots mailed in might not be received.

Neguse agreed. He said the counties of Eagle, Rout, Summit, and Grand in particular have had problems. His office is spending a huge proportion of time on this. Address challenges will come up in one community and then another.

His staff also are concerned about pay schedules for postal workers as well as affordable housing. Postal workers have been in from out of state, but they only last for a few weeks. He said the postal service hears from us every day. He suggested that McCormick connect with the clerks and recorders from the other counties.

County Manager Ray Rears said broadband connection in rural areas is a critical need. Neguse said grant opportunities are available. The County should check with the State’s broadband office, and his office will be glad to facilitate that.

Neguse said he has spent 20 years in this district, and this has become a much more populated area with proximity to dense neighborhoods such as Golden.

Public Health Coordinator Alisa Witt said the County has limited grant opportunities because Gilpin County gets lumped into the Denver Metropolitan area. Gilpin County has no hospitals, no transportation, and no grocery stores.

Neguse said his office can dig into that.

Whitney Donahue with the Timberline Fire District said they have just purchased the building that housed the old Fritz Observatory building. They need $1.5 million for the facility to be useable.

Neguse said he just secured $800,000 in funding for an emergency egress in Nederland. TFPD should work with his staff member Emma Marion on securing a grant for the project.

Neguse pointed out that President Biden signed a bill for $1.7 trillion dollars for community projects. Various grants support specific projects, but he will follow up today. He noted that it is important that everyone is on the same page regarding their priorities. Funds are available for nonprofits and local governments.

County Commission Chair Marie Mornis asked about the percentage of non-county residents who are in the jail. Sheriff Kevin Armstrong said a large percentage of inmates are incarcerated because of gaming-related offenses, and the jail needs more money. Armstrong mentioned that he has 30 years of data showing the negative impact of gaming on the County.

Neguse said there might be opportunities for a State supplemental to support that, and they should visit with State legislators. It’s worth investigation, he added.

Sheriff Armstrong thanked Neguse for the Emergency Operation funding. He said they need to build emergency exists in subdivisions. Some areas don’t have an emergency exit in case of fire.

Neguse recommended using resources such as the Nederland egress project on easements. The County should develop a scope of work for the project.

Jennifer Cook with the CSU Extension office said there is a local site where people can drop off slash for free. They have created two mountains of chips that have become a fire hazard.

Neguse said he has great contacts for that, and they agreed to call Colorado State University to see if they have landscaping needs elsewhere that could use the chips.

Neguse said to reach out any time to his office for questions or needs. Send him an email from his website: https:// neguse.house.gov/contact. If you need immediate assistance with your issue or concern, please call either of his district offices at (303) 335-1045 or (970) 372-3971.