The Gilpin County Commissioners approved a landmark designation for the Fritz Observatory during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on October 18, 2022, at the courthouse in Central City and virtually. The Board also approved a boundary line elimination in Rollinsville and a letter to Congress regarding health care for jail inmates.

Robert Gutierrez, Director of Community Development, introduced the Landmark Designation for Fritz Peak Observatory, 19126 Highway 119, Black Hawk. Susan Wahl of Black Hawk is the applicant.

The Fritz Peak Observatory was built as the original Severance Lodge, owned by Dorothy and Horace Severance around 1948. The ground floor of the lodge contained the kitchen, gift shop, bar, and ballroom, which contains a large brick fireplace.

Beginning in 1955, the property was rented by the Environmental Science Service Administration (ESSA), predecessor to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The property was taken by the Bureau of Standards, now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in 1965 via a Declaration of Taking.

Five parcels of land were involved: Little Dutch Peak where the lookout tower is located; land south of the Little Dutch Peak; Fritz Peak Observatory/ Laboratory; and two tracts of land that contain the sewage system. Most of the research conducted at Fritz Peak Observatory was to better understand the Earth’s atmosphere, ozone, auroral activity, and pollution.

Research ceased in 1999. Dr. Clyde Burnett was granted permission as an independent visitor to continue his research at the facility until 2019. Dr. Burnett’s research was funded by the National Science Foundation, and he conducted the world’s longest continuous research on hydroxyl in the atmosphere, using his specially designed optical measurement Pepsios spectroscope.

Dr. Andrew Langford of NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratories in the Chemical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder was the last Aeronomy Laboratory employee to work at Fritz Peak. Dr. Langford studied the decay of aerosol particles injected into the stratosphere after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the summer of 1991. Operations were terminated by NOAA management in 1999.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) is in the process of disposing of the Fritz Peak Observatory site in Rollinsville. A survey and evaluation of the Fritz Peak Observatory site was conducted in June 2020.

The evaluation has determined that Fritz Peak Observatory does not retain sufficient integrity to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gilpin County Staff is in support of a favorable recommendation at this time, despite the designation eligibility criteria, based on documents and discussions with Poppie Gullet of History Colorado and Deon Wolfenbarger, the consultant for the Gilpin County Historic Preservation Commission.

The Timberline Fire Protection District would like to use the building as part of their emergency response system. Applicant Susan Wahl said she went as far back in the history as she could. Since the building is going to be repurposed, it has deteriorated. The landmark designation would allow for state and grant funding for repairs.

Timberline Fire District Chief Paul Ondr said the community knows this is an important building and they want to preserve the history. The TFPD understsnds that they have an obligation to use the building only for emergency services.

Last week, The Timberline Fire District Board did approve supporting this resolution with two changes: one designates the main building and the metal building at the top of the peak, and the other permits an addition of approximately 40 by 60 feet.

Chief Ondr said that whether it is designated as a landmark or not, TFPD has to go through the same process to add to the building. Without the designation, the organization would not have access to the grant funds for repairs. “We’re as comfortable as we can be with it.”

He would like to ensure that the designation includes the main building, platform, stairs, and the metal building at the top of the peak. The Board approved the landmark designation for those areas.

James Shrout, Planner I, introduced a Boundary Line Elimination at 155 Main Street, Rollinsville. Six parcels of land will be combined upon approval of this boundary line elimination plat.

The largest of the six is zoned for commercial use (C4) and the five vacant lots were recently rezoned to C4 commercial via an approval by the Board on October 4, 2022. The applicants seek to eliminate the lot lines to allow for future use of the newly rezoned land.

Staff recommended approval because it allows for a bigger lot, and the Board approved.

Board Chair Sandy Hollingsworth said they have been working on letters to Congress requesting amendments to the Medicaid inmate exclusion policy. “We’ve been working with Colorado Counties, Inc. on this issue,” she said.

Congress is looking at an amendment that precludes inmates in pre-trial hearings in jail from receiving medical assistance, including mental health. The letter in opposition will be helpful to the jail, Hollingsworth said.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, currently 35 or 40 percent of the daily population at this time can be covered if the amendment is repealed. The letter states “We respectfully request your urgent support for the inclusion of legislation that amends the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) that is being considered at the end of the year.”

This harmful federal policy, outlined under Section 1905(a)(A) of the Social Security Act, makes no distinction between individuals housed in jails versus prisons, and thus unfairly denies or revokes federal health benefits for those being housed in local jails prior to conviction.

The MIEP causes disruptions in primary and behavioral health care access for justice-involved populations that are enrolled in federal programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).

“In Gilpin County, approximately 35 or 45 percent of our pre-sentenced inmate daily average population require treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. Uninterrupted health care helps our inmates break the cycle of recidivism exacerbated by mental illnesses and substance use disorders, as well as the ability to obtain physical health care. This disruption in needed medical coverage also greatly increases otherwise unfunded County costs for holding inmates, of which 90 percent reside outside of Gilpin County.

“This need isn’t exclusive to Gilpin County; our nation’s jails provide critical care to individuals with mental and physical illness, who – without adequate community resources and continuous health care coverage – rely on the jail as de facto behavioral health care while in detention and are at risk of leaving detention uninsured. Congress has the opportunity to advance bipartisan legislation that would greatly improve care for individuals suffering from mental health and substance use disorders by allowing continued access to federal benefits such as Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP for eligible pre-trial detainees in local jails which counties are required to have.”

The Board approved the letter.

The Gilpin County Commissioners will be conducting budget work sessions throughout October. The schedule can be found on the website. The next regular meeting will be on November 1, 2022. For more information, go to https://gilpincounty.colorado.gov/ public- meetings/ board- of- countycommissioners bocc-meetings.