The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners approved a boundary line adjustment and address change during a regular virtual meeting at 9.a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. The Commissioners also approved a new pay schedule for employees, a contract with Jefferson County Health, and continued a public hearing regarding outdoor lighting.

The liquor licensing board approved the new liquor license for Mid County Liquor. The license had been temporarily approved in a previous meeting, but was solidified at this meeting.

County Planner Tami Archer introduced the boundary line adjustment for the applicants, William Martin and Christine Herdegen, LLC. The applicants proposed realignment of two existing parcels, and this proposed BLA meets the County’s criteria. Staff recommended conditional approval, with the onsite wastewater treatment system’s (OWTS) absorption bed for the cabin on Parcel 2 being on Parcel 15.

They will also comply with short-term rental regulations. The address of the new parcel will be changed to 21 Breezewood Lane, and directional signage will be included. In 1967, the private drive to the cabin in the Missouri Lakes subdivision was developed with the address of 108 Spruce Road. In 2004, the address was changed to 108 Spruce Way, which had created a problem for people trying to find the short-term rental.

Archer said that there have been no complaints about the change. The Commissioners said it makes sense and approved the BLA and the address change to 21 Breezewood Lane.

Interim Human Resources Director Susie Allen introduced the 2022 Employee Pay Plan, which has been updated after the Graves Compensation study. Graves Consulting wants to get positions aligned with the pay structure for 2022. The new plan will include a step plan for law enforcement personnel to advance, because recruiting is very challenging.

At the next meeting, on November 23, Allen will submit a list of job titles that match the pay plan. The Commissioners approved the pay plan, and Commission Chair Linda Isenhart said this is really exciting.

Allen requested a pay upgrade for the accounts payable specialist, who works 80 percent of the time in accounts payable and 20 percent filling in the duties of the vacant Human Resources specialist. She has an employee who could jump in and take over the duties, so she would like to allow this person to temporarily fill the position and be paid for that position.

Human Resources won’t advertise for the position until the end of the year. It would cost about $420 until the end of the year.

The Board approved an amendment for staff paid holidays. A holiday that falls on Saturday is observed on the preceding Friday. A holiday that falls on Sunday is observed on the following Monday. When Christmas Day falls on Saturday and the holiday is observed on Friday, the “Day before Christmas Day” holiday is observed on Thursday.

Approved days designated as paid holidays for Gilpin County employees:

1. New Year’s Day - January 1

2. Martin Luther King Day – 3rd Monday in January

3. Presidents Day – 3rd Thursday in February

4. Memorial Day - Last Monday in May

5. Juneteenth - June 19

6. Independence Day - July 4

7. Labor Day – 1st Monday in September

8. Frances Xavier Cabrini Day – 2nd Monday in October

9. Veterans Day - November 11

10. Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

11. Friday after Thanksgiving Day

12. Day before Christmas Day

13. Christmas Day - December 25

The Board approved a contract with Jefferson County Health to provide core public health services to Gilpin County until December 31, 2022 for $335,000

Tami Archer introduced a resolution regarding outdoor lighting in the County. She said that current regulations are not enforceable and are complicated and confusing.

The Planning Commission has addressed outdoor lighting regulations at several meetings and a work session in late July. The Planning Commission heard from several members of the public regarding Dark Skies, keeping the night free of lights.

The Planning Commission addressed these items with the goal of simplifying the existing regulations to make them easily understood and enforceable, and ultimately re-wrote the entire section. At their meeting on September 14, 2021, the Planning Commission moved to recommend approval of the Outdoor Lighting Regulations to the Board of County Commissioners.

According to the proposed regulations, all outdoor lighting with lumens greater than 100 should be installed with an on and off switch or motion sensor. Motion sensor lighting cannot be on for longer than 20 minutes.

Motion sensors shall not be activated by movement beyond the property line or on public roadways. Security lighting shall not exceed 3,000 lumens and cannot be on for longer than 20 minutes at a time. Lighting not on a motion sensor and greater than 1,000 lumens is not allowed from dusk until dawn in RS and RR Zones.

Commissioner Sill asked if there is still agricultural zoning, and Archer said that is now residential zoning. Sill said that’s insane for someone with lots of acres not to have a light. “I don’t think this is well thought out. This needs a lot more work.”

During public comment, four members of the public spoke in favor of the proposal, citing insects attracted to the lights. Other comments included “People should light just what they need,” and “Neighbors want to light up the county. That’s very frustrating.”

Sill said that if you have a horse giving birth, the motion lights will be on all the time. It’s different when you are out in the country, he added. “What about shoveling snow at 5:30 in the morning?....There is no way I am going to approve this today.”

The Board agreed to continue the discussion until December 7 with Sill voting against it.

The Board awarded funds from the ARPA fund to be distributed to several local entities. The funds will be distributed later this year. The awards were given to:

Clinica $100k

The Mountain-Ear $25k

Employee hiring back $559,393 allocated for salary & benefits (not yet spent) over 3 years if positions are filled

Jefferson County DA $20k

Eagles Nest $50k

Gilpin Ambulance $100k

Reddi Grant $40k

BOCC hasn’t allocated all of $1.2M expected ARPA funds to allow for future identified needs.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Commission will be on November 23 at 9 a.m.