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East Portal Work Cabins gain Landmark Designation

Mindy Leary
Posted 6/15/23

The Gilpin County Commissioners called their regular meeting to order at 9 a.m. on June 13, 2023. In attendance were Commissioner Marie A. Mornis from District 1, Commissioner Susan Berumen from

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East Portal Work Cabins gain Landmark Designation

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The Gilpin County Commissioners called their regular meeting to order at 9 a.m. on June 13, 2023. In attendance were Commissioner Marie A. Mornis from District 1, Commissioner Susan Berumen from District 2, Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth from District 3, County Manager Ray Rears, County Attorney Brad Benning, and Deputy Clerk to the Board Margaret Keller.

During public comment, many residents discussed the mill levy tax increases and County revenue in relation to the Gilpin Recreation Center. They also presented complaints as to how the County is allocating and spending funds.

Sean Wheeler, Division Chief, presented Resolution 23-42, adopting the Cooperative Law Enforcement Operating and Financial Plan. Approval would allow the Sheriff’s Office to receive funding in the amount of $64,100 over a period from 2023 to 2026. Wheeler said funds would be used to repair wear and tear on Forest Service vehicles and support patrolling of forest service lands. All were in favor and the motion passed 3-0.

Senior Services and Transportation Supervisor Mary Ellen Makosky presented Resolution 23-41, approving service agreements with Volunteers of America (VOA) for Gilpin County, saying that VOA is awarding an increase in funds for the Meals on Wheels program. She requested signatures approving the agreement with VOA. Hollingsworth moved to approved Resolution 23-41 and motion passed 3-0.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick presented Resolution 23-43, approving a voting service and polling center (VSPC) location for the Gilpin County 2023 Coordinated Election. She asked to use the Old Courthouse for polling and counting votes.

Mornis presented concerns that the polling machines were visible to the public. McCormick responded that the polling booths cannot face the wall because that would preclude wheelchair access and that she relied on the voter to block the machine. McCormick suggested the voter could stand to block the machine. Motion carried 3-0.

The Board of Commissioners recessed and reconvened as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority. A public hearing was held for the Liquor License Application for the Gilpin County Fair, presented by McCormick.

The Fair will be held July 14, 15, and 16. McCormick reported that no comments have been received since the public hearing was posted. Public Comment was opened and closed at 10:25 a.m. No comments were made. Hollingsworth moved to approve the license, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

The Board then adjourned as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority and reconvened as the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners.

James Shrout, Historic Preservation Liaison, presented background for a public hearing for the Landmark designation for the East Portal Work Cabins.

The cabins have stood for over 100 years and have been a part of local history. They have been involved with the people who built the Moffat Tunnel and lived there long afterwards. The cabins have been listed as one of the most endangered historic places in Colorado.

Public comment was opened and one resident pointed to the cabins’ dilapidated condition and damage by vandalism. County Planner Tami Archer responded that rehabilitation of the cabins would be funded by grants, not County funds. There were pleadings to the Board to vote in favor of the designation.

Public comment was closed at 10:45 a.m. The commissioners discussed the fact that the Forest Service owns the land and Union Pacific owns the cabins.

Benning clarified that a previous board had voted on the issue but had lacked funding. He said that the Forest Service agreed to remediate the structures while the County would be responsible for the roofs. Part of the contract requirements from 2020 is that the County would have to assess whether the structures are salvageable.

Hollingsworth moved to approve the resolution, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor. Hearing was closed at 11:01 a.m.

Rob Gutierrez, Community Development Director, presented background on Resolution 23-24, amending the Gilpin County Building Code to adopt the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC). A public hearing was opened, but no comments were made and the public comment was closed at 11:18 a.m. Berumen moved to approve the resolution and motion passed 3-0.

Gutierrez then presented Resolution 23-30, approving the updated Gilpin County Planning Commission Bylaws. He said they would like to clarify the bylaws stating nine voting members are required, with a quorum of five. Berumen moved to approve, Hollingsworth seconded. Motion passed two to one.

Sam Bower, Administrative Analyst, presented Resolution 23-36, approving the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Subrecipient Agreements for Funds awarded to Nonprofits through Resolution 23-25, Nonprofit Contracts. Hollingsworth moved to approve the resolution, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

Joe Allaire, Finance Director, presented Resolution 23-37, the summary of ARPA allocations. Bower explained that the contracts and signatures are straightforward and the resolution authorizes the County Manager to execute the agreements involving the ARPA funds. Motion passed 3-0.

Laura Solomon, Human Services Director, Gabrielle Chisholm, Parks and Recreation Director, and Ryan Keenan, Facilities Director, presented Resolution 23-38, to approve plan development for a new Gilpin County Food Pantry Facility.

Keenan said they believe they would be most successful if they build on the current site and are seeking an RFP for an architect to design and engineer construction drawings.

After much discussion, Hollingsworth moved to approve building a new facility adjacent to the Community Center. Berumen seconded. Motion passed 2-1.

Chisholm presented Resolution 23-40 to approve a vendor to replace the high-rate sand pool filters at the Gilpin County Community Center. Two vendors submitted proposals and staff reviewed them. The expense is already a line item in the budget. Berumen moved to approve, Hollingsworth seconded, all were in favor.

The mill levy discussion led to the recognition by the Board members that the mill levy is 2.57, though Mornis said she was opposed to the mill levy.

Alisa Witt, Public Health Coordinator, introduced the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) contract and task order report and discussion. Witt explained that there are some new task orders concerning public health emergency preparedness in response to the Covid pandemic.

The Office of Emergency Management handles crises while the Department of Public Health deals more with the aftermath. Gilpin’s plans have been intertwined with Jefferson County’s in the past and CDPHE is asking each county to stand on their own with the state as a lead.

Witt is asking for a new full-time employee with the new funding available through 2027. Specific plans have to be in place for disasters and the aftermath of disasters. The funding is intended to retain a strong public health workforce. There’s no cost to the County and any submitted budgets can be amended. The motion passed 3-0.

Ray Rears, County Manager, submitted Resolution 23-29, approving a teen youth program and staffing. Gilpin County’s Colorado State University Extension Office provides a 4-H leadership out-of-school program at the Community Center for youth from 6th to 12th grade and funding is set to end by July 2023. Staff prepared options and were requesting direction and a decision from the Board.

They decided to move forward with the option of establishing a county teen youth program by offering several employee positions including a fulltime recreation generalist.

Berumen moved to accept the resolution, but replacing the youth program coordinator position, grade 16, with a full-time recreation generalist, grade 14, taking into account the County’s associated staffing costs. Hollingsworth seconded and all were in favor.

Benning and Rears delivered the County Attorney’s report and County Manager’s report, respectively.

On June 19, the County offices will be closed for Juneteenth.

The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 4:54 p.m.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for June 27 at 9 a.m. and is held in-person at 203 Eureka Street in Central City and online via Zoom.