The Gilpin County Commissioners met on the morning of February 1, 2022. New staff members were introduced: Sam Bower has been hired as an administrative analyst, while Julie Hunt has joined the Assessor’s Office in a remote position. Alisa Witt has joined the County as the Public Health Coordinator. Witt had previously worked at the Gilpin County School.

OEM (Office of Emergency Management) manager Nathan Whittington gave a public health update. As of February 1, he said, the one-week positivity rate for COVID is 15.8%. There are 22 new positive cases, which is down significantly.

Whittington also updated the community about pile burning this week. He reported that there will be a great deal of smoke and fire activity this week. If community members see large plumes of smoke, he said, that is likely the cause. The piles are in Lump Gulch and the Cold Springs campground. They are right off the road and will be very visible. As a reminder, if you see something and think it is an issue and may not be related, please report it.

The board then recessed as the Board of County Commissioners and convened as the Board of Public Health. Dr. Dawn Comstock shared information about the current mask mandate, Public Health Order #22-01. The Omicron surge is subsiding as quickly as it spiked. Comstock shared her recommendations to the Board of Health.

Commissioner Linda Isenhart moved to rescind Public Health Order #22-01, but to leave the choice of requiring masks to employers, to keep the mask mandate in place at County facilities through February 15, to keep the mask mandate in place at the Gilpin County RE-1 School through February 15, to no longer require unvaccinated County employees to be tested, to continue to make County employee testing available at the Justice Center, and to highly encourage all employees and residents to continue to use vaccination and testing opportunities. Commissioner Hollingsworth seconded the motion, which passed by a vote of 2 to 1.

The board then adjourned as the Board of Public Health and reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners.

Sheriff Armstrong gave his monthly report, followed by the report of County Treasurer Mary R. Lorenz.

The Board adjourned as the Board of County Commissioners and convened as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority. In October of 2021, the Board had approved a temporary license for Mary Kate McKenna, owner of MKM Hospitality, dba Mid County Liquors. She is now asking for an extension while the state completes their process for approval. She has supplied all forms and applications to the state and the County, and is asking for a 60-day extension. The motion passed unanimously.

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

County Attorney Brad Benning presented his legal status report. Highlights include an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Boulder County regarding collaboration of both counties and the United States Forest Service on the Toll Trail property. He also presented an update regarding the legal process to gain access to clean up the property located at 29 Pitts Place, which is in violation of the trash ordinance.

The meeting adjourned shortly afterward in order to go into executive session. The next meeting of the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners will be on Tuesday, February 15, at 9 a.m.