On June 25, 2024, Dr. Tanya Settles of Paradigm Public Affairs LLC presented a proposal to the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners, outlining what an impact study on Sexually-Oriented Businesses (SOBs) would entail. Dr. Settles would serve as the project manager for this study.

She said her family-owned business, based out of Denver, will be gathering information from leadership and local government officials with a goal of ultimate transparency. Project launch and preliminaries include an analysis of similarly situated governments (Cripple Creek/Teller County; Mead/ Weld County), initial preliminary interviews with county leaders to finalize scope and purpose, and initial discovery.

Settles has been following the SOB story from the local media. She said her company can perform a double-blind, peer-reviewed impact study that can be finished by November 1, 2024 and is estimated to take 178 hours.

She assured the Board that the deadline and scope will not change without prior direction from them.

The proposed scope of the project will focus on the potential impacts to Gilpin County government. These include public safety, human services, and possibly public health. There will also be a preliminary assessment of impacts on revenue generation that may be associated with changes in commercial and residential property valuation.

Manager Ray Rears introduced Resolution 24-99, Awarding a Contract to Paradigm Public Affairs for the Commission of an SOB Impact Study. This resolution approves the contract and authorizes the County Manager to execute it.

The company was chosen following the County’s established procurement process. Staff issued an RFP, and four firms responded with proposals. Of these, three were shortlisted and one was ultimately favored. The agreement specifies a maximum contract value of $50,000.

Rears said that County staff support the resolution. Commissioners Sandy Hollingsworth, Marie Mornis, and Susan Berumen were all in favor of approving the resolution.

Addressing other business, the Board heard Chanda Johnson, Human Resources Director, present Resolution 24-89, Amending the Master Policy & Procedure Manual; P-19, Hiring & Retention Incentive Policy.

Currently, there are numerous essential yet difficult-to-fill positions that are vacant, and also important for community safety. The implementation of this policy aims to attract new team members and also provide rewards to existing employees who are taking on additional responsibilities due to the staffing shortfall.

Hollingsworth asked: If the resolution passed today, would the changes come into effect soon? Johnson replied that training would need to be done first.

All were in favor of adopting the resolution.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), specifically Commissioner Rick Ridder, Local Government Liaison Crystal Armendariz, and members from the Region 1 Team, gave an overview of the statistics of the area. Region 1 includes eight counties, including Gilpin, and has a population over 3 million.

The team reviewed the March 13-16 snow event. Over the last winter, several sections of I-70 closed and multiple semi-trucks crashed. Snowplows drove a total of 1,012 miles on Highway 119 alone.

The Board thanked the group for their presentation.

The Board of County Commissioners recessed and reconvened as the Board of Adjustment to hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Resolution BOA-24-3.

The applicant, Clifford Cutter, sought a variance from Section 2.3 to allow for the construction of a detached garage upon an existing foundation, with a setback of approximately twenty feet. The required setback is thirty feet from the south lot line of Lot 25.

All were in favor. The public hearing was closed at 10:09 a.m.

Other approved items included:

Resolution 24-96, Extending the Temporary Stay on the Processing of 1041 Permit Applications, presented by County Attorney Brad Benning.

This resolution extended for an additional 90 days the previous temporary stay of six months on the processing of 1041 Permit Applications, since more time was needed to finalize the regulations.

Administrative Analyst Sam Bower and Community Engagement Officer Melanie Bleyler addressed Resolution 24-97, Approving the Gilpin County Digital Accessibility Transition Plan.

This resolution adopted and approved the Gilpin County Digital Accessibility Transition Plan. This plan provides high-level strategic planning for the County to reach its digital accessibility goals as required by State law. The plan was first shared with the Board during their June 4 Work Session and was subsequently shared with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for their review.

Under Resolution 24-95, Appointing Veteran Services Officer, Leon Pohl was appointed as Gilpin County’s Veteran Services Officer.

Janey Barker, Human Services Director, presented the resolution. Pohl has been the Veteran Services Officer for about six and a half years and has met all the qualifications including the required military service and honorable discharge, ongoing certification, and federal accreditation.

Under the Consent Agenda, Treasurer Mary Lorenz presented her report, as well as the 2024 National Forest Service Money Apportionment. A number of grants were also presented.

During the County Manager’s Report, Rears said the next work session will be a joint meeting between the County and the Cities on July 16 and will include a tour of Roworth Heights at 2 p.m. and then a meeting at the courthouse at 3 p.m..

The meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for July 9, 2024, at 9 a.m. and will be held in person at the Historic Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City and online via Zoom.