CENTRAL CITY — Wildfire doesn't stop at county lines, and Clear Creek County Commissioner George Marlin thinks the effort to reduce the risk shouldn't either.

That idea brought Marlin to the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, July 28, where he asked the board to join early discussions on creating a Forest Improvement District for the Clear Creek watershed. 

Commissioners agreed, making wildfire mitigation one of the topics during a meeting that also included a possible TABOR ballot question, updates from local nonprofit organizations, and routine County business.

Looking at a regional approach to wildfire

Marlin said mountain communities have struggled for years to find enough money to keep up with forest health projects, even though more than a million people downstream depend on the Clear Creek watershed for drinking water.

He described a Forest Improvement District as a special district focused solely on forest health and wildfire mitigation. Although Colorado law has allowed the districts since about 2007, none has ever been created.

The first phase would bring together Gilpin, Clear Creek, Jefferson, and Adams Counties, along with the City of Golden, the Trust for Public Land, and The Nature Conservancy, to explore whether a district would work, what it could look like, and whether changes to state law may be needed.

Marlin said the timing is good because lawmakers are already discussing updates that could make Forest Improvement Districts easier to establish.

Commissioners asked several questions about how the district would be funded, whether it could help unlock more work on federal lands, and how it would interact with existing community wildfire protection plans.

By the end of the discussion, all three commissioners agreed Gilpin County should participate in the planning process. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth was selected to represent the county during the first phase of discussions.

TABOR measure still under discussion

Commissioners also continued talking about whether to ask voters this November to allow Gilpin County to keep revenue that would otherwise have to be refunded under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

The proposal would not increase taxes or raise the County's mill levy. Instead, it would allow the County to retain and spend revenue collected from existing sources when County revenues exceed TABOR limits.

County Manager Ray Rears said Gilpin County has returned more than $1.5 million to taxpayers through property tax credits over the past three years because of TABOR limits. Staff estimate future refunds could range between about $100,000 and $200,000 each year, depending on County revenues and economic conditions.

The board discussed whether any ballot question should allow the County to use retained revenue for any lawful county purpose or limit it to specific priorities, such as wildfire mitigation, public safety, roads, or capital improvements. No final decision was made Tuesday, and the discussion is expected to continue before the board decides whether to refer the question to voters.

Hickenlooper update

Trina Griego, West Metro regional director for U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, provided a legislative update about Colorado's active wildfire season and how he recently introduced hazard pay legislation for wildland firefighters and smokejumpers. She also spoke of bipartisan water legislation, voting rights proposals, and uncertainty surrounding federal grant funding as Congress continues budget negotiations.

Nonprofits share how county funding helps

The board received mid-year reports from nonprofit organizations that receive County funding.

Many described how County dollars help stretch grants, attract additional funding, and provide services that might otherwise not be available in Gilpin County.

• The Peak to Peak Chorale said County support has allowed the choir to expand beyond its traditional concerts by purchasing music for informal performances throughout the community. Director Wendy Wheaton said the group has recently performed at the Gilpin County Fair, Winter Arts Festival, the Gilpin County Senior Center, and other community events, with the goal of becoming more visible throughout the county.

• Canyon Cares marked an important milestone this year as the nonprofit celebrates its 20th anniversary. Executive Director Karen Seabrook said the organization has now provided more than $1 million in emergency assistance to local families since it was founded. Treasurer Chuck Bergens reported that Canyon Cares helped 67 Gilpin County households in 2025, providing more than $76,000 in assistance for housing, utilities, transportation, medical expenses, and other emergencies. The organization operates entirely through volunteers, allowing nearly all of its funding to go directly toward helping residents in need.

• PorchLight Family Justice Center reported serving four people connected to Gilpin County during the first half of 2026. Gilpin County law enforcement also used the organization's specialized interview rooms four times during that period for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes.

Other business

Commissioners approved a new Caseworker III Prevention Specialist job description within Human Services. Officials said the change does not add another employee but creates more flexibility to recruit experienced candidates while keeping the department's current staffing level.

The board approved continued public health funding agreements with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment totaling about $312,000. The money supports tobacco prevention, emergency preparedness, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, radon awareness, child fatality prevention, and other public health programs.

Commissioners renewed a liquor license, approved a boundary line elimination at K & K Ranch, received the Gilpin Advertising Panel's annual report, and heard a year-end legislative recap from the County's lobbying team.

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners meets at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Historic Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, in Central City. Meetings are open to the public and may also be viewed online through the county.