The Gilpin County Commissioners called their regular meeting to order at 9 a.m. on August 22, 2023. In attendance were Commissioner Marie A. Mornis, Commissioner Susan Berumen, Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, County Manager Ray Rears, and County Attorney Brad Benning. Deputy Clerk to the Board Margaret Keller was absent, Sharon Cate substituted.

Many of the residents had attended the Town Hall the previous night and revisited the topic of the Parks and Recreation Mill Levy ballot proposal to make the current 2.57 mill levy a permanent tax, introducing it as a new ballot measure rather than an extension, with language to deal with inflation.

During public comment, some residents asked the commissioners to either take the Parks and Recreation mill levy off the agenda or make it not permanent. Other residents supported the measure and asked to let voters decide. The language that is to be determined will be on the ballot next November.

Hollingsworth read the Proclamation declaring September 2023 as Opioid Awareness Month and August 31, 2023, as International Overdose Awareness Day.

Resolution 23-63, Resolution in Support of the Parks and Recreation Mill Levy solidifies the County position. Hollingsworth moved to approve and Berumen seconded. Mornis voted nay and the motion passed 2-1.

Hollingsworth said they considered letting the mill levy sunset, but would want the funding to be stable and sustainable.

Resolution 23-64, Resolution to Refer the Parks and Recreation Mill Levy to the Ballot, was read by Hollingsworth.

The approval of Ballot Issue 1A would provide for and increase funding in perpetuity with a mill levy tax dedicated to the Gilpin County Parks & Recreation Department. The estimated tax to be collected in 2024 of $1,308,146 would come from the following property taxes: 59 percent commercial property, 23 percent residential property, and 18 percent other property.

County governments are not statutorily required to fund parks & recreation departments from their general fund. What this means for the Gilpin County Parks and Recreation Department is that it lacks certainty in its funding.

This uncertainty hampers programming, services, budgeting, and employee hiring and retention. The lack of confirmed funding and resources also creates risks that important capital improvements needed for operations and to ensure safety of employees and guests are not able to be completed.

Resolution No. 23-64 involves a new ballot issue that, if approved, will be based on a fixed mill levy of 2.570 mills dedicated to the Gilpin County’s Parks and Recreation Department.

This is a new ballot issue, not an extension of the prior ballot issue approved in 2020. It provides for annual increases, if any, based on inflation and local growth as defined in Art. X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, to restore and maintain services and for capital improvements of facilities.

This ballot issue will also allow Gilpin County “to collect, retain, reserve, and/or spend this revenue for the Parks and Recreation Department as a voter-approved revenue and spending change in each year, notwithstanding any revenue or spending limitations, including without limitation those contained in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (‘TABOR’), the 5.5 percent property tax revenue limitation of C.R.S. §29-1-301, or any other law. The ballot issue will not have a sunset but will instead be perpetual in duration.

“Expenditures will include without limitation funding all operations for the Parks & Recreation Department and contributing to capital improvement projects at all Parks & Recreation facilities. A “Yes” vote on Ballot Issue 1A would result in securing the current and new services provided by the Gilpin County Parks & Recreation Department.”

Berumen moved to approve Resolution 23-64 with additional language surrounding the Gilpin County Fair. Hollingsworth seconded. Mornis voted nay. Motion passed 2-1.

A public hearing was held at 10:00 a.m. concerning Resolution TUP-23-5, Temporary Use Permit for Bischoping Wedding which would occur on private property at 314 Norton Drive. All were in favor. Public hearing was closed at 10:05 a.m.

Community Development Director Rob Gutierrez presented Resolution BLA-22-1, Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) for Capshaw and Thomas, Lots 73 and 74 in the Hilltop Lots Subdivision. Kimberly Lord, attorney representing the applicants, said there would be no increase in density and the additional home would have direct access from Mica Road.

Gutierrez said a flag lot may be seen as an irregularity, is unprecedented, and that this boundary line adjustment would not conform with the subdivision. These platted lots are within a subdivision and changing them is unorthodox.

He said an access agreement would make Lot 74 developable and does not see that a Boundary Line Adjustment is justifiable. The applicant responded that the existing dirt road has a steep grade and is requesting access off Mica Road instead.

Gutierrez said they would need a topographic survey. To grant the exemption they need to prove the lot is unbuildable and he believes that the application is only to relieve economic hardship of the property owner.

Hollingsworth said she felt conflicted between the application and the staff recommendation and would have liked more visuals on the topography.

Berumen moved to deny the Resolution, Mornis seconded, and Hollingsworth voted nay. The BLA was denied, 2-1.

McCormick presented Resolution 23-68, Intergovernmental Agreements for Coordinated Election for Gilpin County School District RE-1, Boulder Valley School District RE-2, and the City of Central.

Hollingsworth moved to approve, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

Ryan Keenan, Facilities Director, presented Resolution 23-72, Award and Contracting to Expand the Card Reader Lock System to Paladin Technologies. Keenan said Paladin made a better offer than Corvinus and came in under budget. Berumen moved to approve, Hollingsworth seconded, and motion passed unanimously.

Gutierrez presented Resolution 23-66, Dedication of Public Right of Way for Wedgewood and Randall Ridge Roads on Lot 8 in the La Chula Vista Ranch Subdivision.

Gutierrez said dedicating the right-of-way would allow for a 30’ setback and make the lot more buildable. He said they would not be changing the parcel itself and the approval might incentivize property owners to dedicate rights-of-way.

Hollingsworth moved to approve, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

Chanda Johnson, Human Resources Director, presented Resolution 23-73, Approving a Contract with Kronos Software. A Request for Proposal (RFP) received four responses. Johnson recommended Kronos because it would reduce redundancies and offer more functionality.

Hollingsworth moved to approve, Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

Jamie Boyle, Grant Manager and Writer, briefed the board on Resolution 23-69, Amending Master Policy & Procedure Manual, P-7, Grant Management Policy & Handbook.

Mornis expressed concerns and suggested a trial period. Hollingsworth said it will be a change but necessary.

Boyle said she would like to move forward since there have already been two work sessions and revisions have been made. Rears said there is flexibility in the document to ensure how grants are handled. There are 30 active grants, a lot to manage.

Benning thanked Boyle for her work. The federal government has a blueprint for accepting grants and the handbook would give guidance for the process. This guiding document would streamline the management, tracking, and analyzing of grant funds.

Berumen moved to approve, Hollingsworth seconded, and all were in favor.

Benning and Rears delivered the County Attorney’s report and County Manager’s report, respectively.

The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 12:34 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for September 12 at 9 a.m. and is held in person at 203 Eureka Street in Central City and online via Zoom.