Sharon Cate, Gilpin County. On November 23, 2020, the official results for the November 3, 2020, election were made public. Gilpin County Issue 1B, a Parks & Recreation Department dedicated mill levy of 2.570 sunsetting on December 31, 2023, passed.

Thank you to the Friends of Gilpin County Community Center for your hard work spreading the word about our wonderful Community Center and the many essential services and benefits the department provides. And, to all the voters who voted in record numbers!

The County has finalized the 2021 budget, is working on a reopening plan and hiring for the Community Center. The Community Center would like to open as soon as possible yet this will depend on Covid-19 health and safety restrictions and hiring status. The County foresees a mid-February or March opening.

On December 28, 2020, Gabrielle Chisholm, started her new role as the Parks & Recreation Director. The County had over thirty applicants that represented a well-rounded and very experienced group of professionals. Gabrielle is a four year Certified Park and Recreation Professional through the National Recreation and Park Association, with 15 years of experience in the industry. She is very eager and excited to work with other departments, the Friends of Gilpin County Community Center and surrounding agencies to get the Community Center up and running safely.

The Community Center will take a phased approach to opening. Phase one will be individual activities that are low touch and licensed child care. The second phase may add low-participant group activities such as fitness classes, pottery, pickleball and aquatics. All planning phases and timelines will need to be flexible and follow Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Covid-19 guidelines. Parks & Recreation staff will work closely with Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht, to make sure operations are keeping residents, guests and employees safe.

With a mill levy of 2.570, Gilpin County is projecting a tax revenue of approximately $1 million for 2021. This will allow for limited staffing, fewer days of operation and less programming than in the past. The County plans to partner with CSU Extension and the Library on more activities and programs to build capacity and enhance program opportunities for the entire Community Center campus.

Multiple grants awarded in 2020 will help with program costs, Covid-19 expenditures and outdoor maintenance needs. They include:

Great Outdoors Colorado, Resilient Communities- awarded $109,724 for Pete Gones Park, fairgrounds, trail maintenance and outdoor capital projects. The estimated use of funds is by December 31, 2021.

Office of Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse Block Grant- Awarded $149,999 for licensed school age childcare, and substance abuse prevention programs (incorporated within childcare and new, collaborative teen programs). The estimated use of funds is through July 2025.

Colorado Department of Human Services, Tony Grampsas Grant- Awarded $307,221 for CSU Extension and County Partnership, teen youth leadership program-EAGLE. The estimated use of funds is through July 2023.

More information on the Community Center reopening plan, Covid-19 updates and grants will be available on gilpincounty.org.

(Originally published in the January 21, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)