CENTRAL CITY - The Gilpin County Commissioners covered a full slate of budget, road, and human services issues at its November 18 regular meeting, while also hearing a plea from a resident to help address widespread mail theft.

The meeting was held at the Historic Courthouse in Central City, led by Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, with Commissioners Jeff Aiken and Susan Berumen present.

Board trims management structure, tightens hiring review

In two budget-related moves, the board unanimously approved Resolution 25-130, which dissolves the dual Finance Director/Assistant County Manager position and the Office Assistant in the County Manager’s Office and restores a standalone Finance Director job.

County Manager Ray Rears and Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson explained that despite months of recruitment, the county had been unable to fill the combined Finance Director/Assistant County Manager role. The hybrid job also contributed to an overloaded span of control, with the County Manager supervising 14 direct reports.

Under the new structure, the county will return to a single Finance Director position with an updated description and eliminate the unfilled Office Assistant role. Staff estimated the change will save more than $84,000 a year.

The board also adopted Resolution 25-123, which establishes a formal policy requiring justification and board approval before filling any vacant or soon-to-be-vacant county position. The new rule will be added to the Master Policy Manual as Policy P-23. The resolution passed 3–0.

Backup coverage for child protection on-call

To ease pressure on the small Human Services team, commissioners approved Resolution 25-128, authorizing a contract for backup on-call supervision for Child and Adult Protection.

State law requires counties to have staff available 24 hours a day to take abuse and neglect referrals, Rears explained. With the program manager on leave and a new manager still working toward supervisor certification, the County effectively had only one person qualified to cover those duties.

The contract brings in veteran child-welfare supervisor Catherine Craig at $250 per week, not to exceed $17,000 through the end of 2026. The County share is about 20 percent.

The board amended the resolution language to allow the county manager to execute the agreement in consultation with the county attorney, then passed it unanimously.

In a related action, commissioners adopted Resolution 25-127, continuing the County’s 2026 contract with Charles Abbott Associates, Inc. for building plan review, inspection, and Building Official services under the same revenue-sharing and rate structure as 2025. It passed unanimously.

Consent agenda

In a single motion, commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included:

• Third-quarter 2025 departmental reports

• Clerk and Recorder October end-of-month report

• Resolution 25-131, appointing Black Hawk Police Commander Tory Jantz as the Black Hawk municipal voting member on the Region 10 “Gateway to the Rockies” Opioid Council (GROC), with Commander Troy Cooper as alternate

• Resolution 25-126, adding Commissioner Berumen to the Gilpin Mountain Kids board

• October 28, 2025 BoCC minutes

Later in the meeting, the board also adopted Resolution 25-120, reappointing Ruth Arnold to a new five-year term on the Gilpin County Public Library District Board of Trustees.

Resident describes weekly mail theft

During a resident presentation, Elizabeth Penrose of Aspen Springs described severe and ongoing mail theft across the county. (Her testimony formally presented the concerns covered in an article in the November 13 issue of The Mountain-Ear, “Residents concerned about mail theft.")

“Mail has been stolen at least once a week for most of the summer, which is a huge increase from last winter,” she said.

Penrose cited dozens of crimes tied to stolen mail, including identity theft, bank fraud, passport theft, and the diversion of prescriptions and medical equipment. She asked the county to create a Mail Theft Prevention Steering Committee to develop a county-wide plan, help residents obtain locking mailboxes or cluster boxes, and navigate right-of-way and USPS rules.

Commissioners expressed concern but stopped short of forming a new county committee or committing county funds for mailbox infrastructure.

Hollingsworth said she had contacted Congressman Joe Neguse’s office and encouraged residents to work directly with federal representatives and the District Attorney’s office. Mail theft is a federal crime, with the Postal Service controlling cluster box decisions and funding.

She added that not all residents supported using County funds for locking mailboxes.

Aiken compared the request to providing home security systems for residents, saying that locking mailboxes might be considered a personal responsibility.

In the end, the board did not agree to create the steering committee Penrose sought. Hollingsworth said the County would instead help share information on how residents can work with the Postal Service and federal offices. Penrose asked for clarification, and Hollingsworth confirmed they would offer to connect residents through email.

Senator Hickenlooper’s office updates

Trina Griego, West Metro Regional Director for U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, provided updates on federal activity. She discussed wildfire mitigation legislation, childcare modernization efforts, and immigration-related casework her office has been handling across the state.

Zoning text amendment 

The board unanimously adopted Resolution 25-129, revising Section 1.11 of the zoning regulations to clarify how and when applicants may reapply after a denial. The updated language now covers reapplications to both the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Adjustment and allows earlier reconsideration when there are substantial changes or new information.

Boundary line eliminations approved

Commissioners approved two Boundary Line Elimination (BLE) resolutions recommended by staff:

1. BLE 25-4, merging four vacant lots into a single parcel in the K & K Ranch subdivision, and

2. BLE 25-7, consolidating two parcels into one lot at 109 Los Hermanos Way in Brickey Highlands No. 1.

Both passed without opposition.

Board of Adjustment: Missouri Flats Road variance denial formalized

Sitting as the Board of Adjustment, commissioners ratified Resolution BOA 25-3R, which formally records their October 28 vote to deny a retroactive setback variance for a barn at 940 Missouri Flats Road.

Road issues

After a second reading, the board adopted Ordinance 25-02, which designates South Beaver Creek Road, Gap Road, and Dory Hill Road as non-truck routes for heavy commercial vehicles. 

Public Works staff said large trucks use these roads as cut-throughs, especially during the spring thaw, causing additional damage. The ordinance takes effect in 60 days. Signs will be installed at each entry point.

Earlier in the meeting, J.R. Engineering presented a 60-percent design update for improvements on South Beaver Creek Road. The update included drainage fixes, soft-spot repairs, and four possible surface types: asphalt, chip seal, recycled asphalt, and maintained gravel.

Commissioners did not make a final decision. Aiken said he was “leaning toward asphalt.” Berumen raised concerns about construction timelines. Hollingsworth noted that paving tends to increase vehicle speeds and asked staff about available funding to offset right-of-way costs.

SNAP funding and pantry donations 

Community Benefits Program Manager David Josselyn and Finance Specialist Jenni Josselyn briefed the board on SNAP funding and food pantry operations.

SNAP benefits for November have all been paid, and December funding is secured. USDA is funded through September 2026.

Locally, the food pantry has received nearly $17,000 in donations along with several grants. These donations will stretch into next year to keep the food supply current.

Jenni encouraged residents to bring turkey donations on Thursday, November 20, though Monday drop-offs will also help families during the holiday season.

Organ donation

The meeting also included an organ donation presentation from Donor Alliance and an update from NoCo Places Executive Director JD Tanner.

Kris Pedersen, with Donor Alliance, explained that a single donor can save up to eight lives and encouraged residents to consider registering. Coroner Zane Laubhan spoke about how donation can bring meaning to families during difficult times.

New hire introductions

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong welcomed Jami Bowers, the County’s new Emergency Communications Dispatch Supervisor. Bowers recently joined the 911 center and was greeted warmly during the meeting.

Public Works Director John Combs then introduced three new members of his team.

Shawn Bowers (husband of Jami) is the new Transfer Station Equipment Operator. Brandon Robinson, a lifelong Gilpin resident, joins as a Road & Bridge Worker and told the board he plans to stay “for the long haul.” Chris Willis, an experienced heavy-equipment operator with CDOT background, steps into the role of Equipment Operator I.

Reports

County Attorney Todd Messenger reported continued work with Public Works on a public roads designation resolution and said current code enforcement cases remain cooperative.

Rears reviewed progress on the Community Annex construction, the county-wide records scanning project, the strategic planning process, and the meeting calendar.

Hollingsworth announced that two or more commissioners may attend the December 3 Senior Holiday Lunch.

Berumen reported the approval of the Gilpin Ambulance Authority’s budget and said Gilpin Mountain Kids Early Learning Center plans a phased opening beginning December 1.

Aiken said he recently accompanied Timberline Fire on a search for possible water storage sites in Rollinsville.

The meeting adjourned at 1:38 p.m. 

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the Historic Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street in Central City, with a special meeting set for December 15 to adopt the 2026 budget.