Clear Creek County Commissioners Colton Rohloff (left), Chair Rebecca Lloyd (center), and Jodie Hartman-Ball (right), listen during a joint meeting with the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on February 17, 2026, in Georgetown. Gilpin commissioners participated virtually due to winter weather.

Photo by Mindy Leary

GEORGETOWN — Members of the Clear Creek County Board of Commissioners and the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met jointly on February 17, 2026, at the Clear Creek County Courthouse, 405 Argentine Street in Georgetown.

Winter weather prevented Gilpin commissioners from attending in person, but they joined via Zoom for a discussion focused on shared regional issues. 

Topics included the future of Charlie’s Place Animal Shelter, updates on the Clear Creek sport shooting range, and traffic concerns related to the proposed Bellevue Mountain Resort project.

Charlie’s Place costs under review

“We’re coming to the end of the contract for our support with Gilpin County for Charlie’s Place. And I think we're trying to have a conversation between the boards of that change,” said Clear Creek County Manager Colton Rohloff as the boards began their discussion.

The current intergovernmental agreement between the counties runs through the end of 2027. Officials said the joint meeting was required under the agreement to review shelter operations and future options.

Gilpin County Manager Ray Rears reported that Gilpin’s projected contribution for 2026 is $77,808, representing an increase of roughly 55 percent over the past three years. According to shelter representatives, rising staffing and benefit costs are the primary drivers behind the increase.

Volunteers continue to support the shelter but cannot replace paid staff. Officials noted that the facility currently operates with fewer than four full-time equivalent positions, despite safety concerns about having only one staff member present at times. 

Commissioners from both counties emphasized their commitment to maintaining Charlie’s Place as a no-kill shelter, while acknowledging that financial sustainability must be addressed.

Gilpin Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth said the broader question is whether Charlie’s Place remains the most cost-effective option for Gilpin County, noting an estimated cost of about $3,383 per impounded animal.

“It goes back to the cost effectiveness considering our budget considerations,” Hollingsworth said.

Gilpin Commissioner Susan Berumen added that commissioners are interested in exploring new revenue streams or operational changes that could improve long-term sustainability.

Both counties agreed to collaborate on developing better operational metrics, including tracking length-of-stay data and cost-per-day figures, and to evaluate possible alternatives before the agreement expires.

Shooting range nearing completion

Clear Creek Special Projects Manager Lisa Leben provided an update on the Clear Creek sport shooting range located at 3204 Stanley Road.

Officials said the project is nearing completion after several years of planning, with a tentative grand opening scheduled for April 30 and public access expected to begin May 1. Membership details are still being finalized.

Clear Creek has invested nearly $1 million into the project, while Gilpin County contributed approximately $400,000.

Hollingsworth asked about outreach efforts and signage to ensure residents understand where recreational shooting is permitted once the facility opens. Staff said communications planning is underway.

The range will be ADA compliant, open to walk-in visitors, and operated through a partnership with the Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District. Commissioners also discussed the possibility of reduced rates for Gilpin residents.

Bellevue project raises traffic concerns

Gilpin officials also raised concerns about the proposed Bellevue Mountain Resort development, particularly potential traffic impacts.

The resort is a proposed recreation and event development in Clear Creek County near the Gilpin County boundary.

Rears requested that Gilpin County be included in ongoing discussions, noting that portions of the proposed access route may cross into Gilpin County, which came as a surprise to the Clear Creek board.

 Preliminary estimates suggest a large volume of traffic could pass through Russell Gulch.

Clear Creek commissioners did not comment on the project details because it remains part of an active quasi-judicial process.

Gilpin Commissioner Jeff Aiken said increased traffic could lead to more dust mitigation and road maintenance needs along Russell Gulch Road.

Hollingsworth added that safety is a concern because many of the affected routes are narrow dirt roads.

“Should there be increased traffic, the effects would fall on Gilpin’s law enforcement,” she said.

Officials agreed to continue sharing information as the proposal moves forward.

Looking ahead

Both boards expressed appreciation for continued collaboration between the counties and agreed to revisit the Charlie’s Place discussion later this year after additional data analysis.

The joint meeting adjourned at 3:27 p.m.