GILPIN COUNTY - The Gilpin County Commissioners met on October 22, 2024, with Commissioners Marie Mornis and Sandy Hollingsworth present; Susan Berumen was absent. County Manager Ray Rears, Attorney Todd Messenger, and Clerk Kimberly Kaufman were also in attendance.

One notable moment in the meeting was the introduction of Kelby Woodard, who manages wildfire mitigation and forest restoration efforts for the Clear Creek Watershed and Forest Health Partnership. Woodard, who started in May, works with local landowners, fire districts, and government agencies to reduce wildfire risk in Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties. He shared what has been done so far and his plans for future projects.

Woodard has been working with the Mitigation Coordinator from Timberline Fire Protection District, and he also helped with the Community Risk Assessment. He plans on showing the films “Fire in Paradise” and “Fire Forest” during the winter season, in an effort to educate and engage with the public. 

Several resolutions and public hearings were discussed:

Resolution 24-112: This resolution was continued from a public hearing in August and addressed moving the building envelope on Lot 6 of the Roosevelt Ridge Subdivision. Though the move had been approved in 2021, some necessary documents were missing, and this resolution and public hearing aimed to resolve the confusion.

“At no point did the property owner or the contractor do anything in violation of County regulation. If anything, it’s more on Community Development of just, hey look, this platted building envelope was moved and we don’t necessarily have the documentation supporting that,” said Community Development Director Rob Guttierez.

He said that they were not required to have a public hearing, but Planning and Development opted for it, in order that everyone’s concerns are heard. 

Some members of the public opposed the change, saying Roosevelt Ridge is attempting to circumvent the conservation easement, and additionally, if approved, will devalue their nearby property. 

Hollingsworth had reservations and questioned whether the amendment respected the easement. She also inquired about the current stage of construction. 

She noted that the new building envelope is at a lower elevation than the original plan, reducing its visibility to the adjacent property owner, and pointed out that the lower placement would minimize the need for additional excavation. She expressed a desire to see the current state of the construction and prefaced her approval with these observations. The resolution passed with a 2-0 vote.

Resolution 24-139: The Board approved an agreement with the City of Black Hawk to provide dispatch services due to a staffing shortage in Gilpin County. Black Hawk will cover 24 hours of dispatch work each Wednesday at a rate of $50 an hour, with the option for emergency relief as needed. The agreement runs until the end of 2024, with the option to renew for another year.

Ordinance 24-01: The County passed a noxious weed management plan, requiring landowners to remove harmful weeds. While Hollingsworth and Mornis wanted to reduce the minimum $500 fine for first-time violations, they were told that the fine is mandated by state law. However, they removed additional fines for repeat offenses.

Resolution 24-143: This resolution reclassified two County positions – the Emergency Communications Dispatch Supervisor and Administrative Analyst – from salaried to hourly status, allowing these employees to earn overtime. 

While this change is expected to help with recruitment and retention, Mornis wanted more details on the expense this would bring to the County and was concerned about the financial impact. 

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong argued the move would make the Dispatch Supervisor position more attractive to potential applicants; that there is interest in the position internally, but as it is written now, would equal a pay cut for current employees. After a discussion, Mornis agreed to approve the resolution with reservations, and the resolution passed 2-0.

The commissioners also passed Resolution 24-141, which amends the County’s Digital Content Policy to ensure compliance with laws concerning equal access for individuals with disabilities. In order to clarify details, the issue will be revisited during a work session on November 5.

Resolution 24-142 updated the County’s Emergency Assistance Policy to help residents with limited financial means and was unanimously approved.

The Board formalized Resolution 24-140, designating Berumen and Baciak as representatives for the Moffat Tunnel discussions.

The commissioners approved a letter of support for Maverix Broadband’s grant application, aiming to expand broadband coverage in Gilpin County.

The County Manager’s report outlined upcoming meetings and work sessions:

October 29: A budget work session to continue discussions on the 2025 budget. Rears believes this will be the final work session, with other dates only tentatively planned.

November 5: A work session at the Gilpin County Community Center will address issues like the District Attorney’s 2025 budget, a comprehensive fee schedule, and zoning code updates.

Toward the end of the meeting, Rears announced that Gilpin County has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for the Rollinsville Plan Infrastructure, which will help bring utilities, mainly water and sewer, to Rollinsville. This grant comes with a 50% match from the County. 

Additionally, during public comment, a resident asked about the estimated cost of the new food pantry annex building. Rears responded, explaining that the current estimate is really unknown. He said the County has already secured $650,000 from DOLA for the project but is still working to hire a contractor, meaning a more accurate estimate likely won't be available until 2025.

The meeting ended with a reminder that Election Day is November 5, and that ballot drop-off locations are available at the Courthouse, the Recreation Center, and Rollinsville. 

The session adjourned at 12:21 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for November 12, 2024, at 9 a.m. and will be held in person at the Historic Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City, and online via Zoom.