Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met online at 9 a.m. for a regular meeting. Commissioners Linda Isenhart, Web Sill and Sandy Hollinsworth were in attendance. County Attorney Brad Benning and County Manager Abel Montoya were also present. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, a health order and a resolution.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington and Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht presented the Covid-19 update. The county has vaccinated 404 people in the county with about a dozen tests scheduled for today. The county’s numbers are at “Level Yellow” though the county is “Level Orange” (25% capacity) and if maintained for at least two weeks, will allow the county to enter “Level Yellow” (50% capacity).

High winds have led Public Health and Emergency Management into procuring a facility for testing and vaccine administration. The new site might be closer to Central City/Black Hawk.

The Annual Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $733,158 is a sizable and helpful grant for the county. The grant was accepted with all in favor.

The board convened as the Board of Public Health. County Manager Montoya presented the Board of Health’s 5-Star Program which would serve to prove certain businesses are taking additional safeguards against the spread of Covid-19. The county is proposing a fee of $100 per business. 

Gilpin County Public Health Order 21-01 authorizes application for State 5-Star Certification Program in and for Gilpin County. All were in favor. The board adjourned as the Board of Health and reconvened as the Board of Commissioners.

Resolution 21-03 C-PACE concerns the new energy improvement district. Montoya asked the board to approve this resolution so as to indicate to the State that Gilpin wants to part of the program. All were in favor.

Renewing the County Attorney’s contract for 2021 and adding language to existing contracts making them consistent with the Gilpin County Employee Handbook was next on the agenda. The new provision states that the County Attorney is subject to the Handbook. For example, County Attorney cannot run for commissioner. The directors of all the departments and the County Manager’s contracts were included and voted on. All were in favor.  

Gilpin County may receive around $8,000 from the Opioid Substance Settlement that would go towards opioid substance abuse counseling.     

NOCO 2050 is a collaboration between five surrounding counties and public land entities with the intent of addressing overuse impacts. Hollingsworth will be the board’s representative.

Isenhart has served on the Gilpin Ambulance Authority Board and on the Jefferson County of Mental Health for the past six years and will continue to do so.

Benning presented the Legal Status Report which included an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Library District to capture costs not captured in the past. He will report back next week for finalization. 

Next on the agenda, People, Culture and Finances Director Lori Schrayer presented the Family First Corona Relief Act which is designed to allow employers with less than 500 employees to give a number of hours to employees suffering from a Covid-related illness so they don’t have to use their sick/vacation days. 

A motion was made to replace the Relief Act with the County’s own internal program that would allow people with up to 80 hours paid sick leave retroactive to January 1. Motion was passed 2-1. 

The Board of County Commissioners Status Report presented the notice of public meetings, including the virtual town hall on Wednesday, January 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting minutes for January 12 were approved with all in favor.

No public or press comments were made and the meeting was adjourned.

 The next regular meeting for the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. virtually and can be accessed by following the instructions on the current agenda on the Gilpin County Commissioners website at http://www.gilpincounty.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=9285259&pageId=11072364

(Originally published in the January 21, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)