Dear Editor,

Recently, I participated in a discussion with Gilpin County officials and Colorado State Attorney General Philip J. Weiser about the problem of drugs in our communities. It was an incredibly eye-opening experience. The crisis involves opiate and fentanyl use, as well as the overuse of certain other drugs. There was no fault-finding or political debate. We focused on what our mountain community can do to connect people and talk to our families about drug use.

That word “connection” kept coming up. We all know what a challenge it can be to connect up here. Gilpinites are spread out over mountains and valleys, and each neighborhood is an enclave. However, we have resources that DO bring us together. One is the library. Another is our Gilpin School.

Yet another valuable resource for connection is the Gilpin County Community Center, run by the Parks & Recreation (P&R) Department. More than half of Gilpinites use it for classes and exercise, and many more use it for social connections through meetings and events such as the Fair. It serves people from preschoolers to seniors. They use it to connect over arts, activities, senior lunches, fitness, and other events. And, usage numbers are growing. In any fight against drug use, such social and recreational activities play an important role. Our Center provides those.

Gilpin County Ballot Issue 1A is on the ballot to continue funding for the P&R Department. It replaces the expiring 2020 mill levy that supported the facility when it reopened after the COVID shutdowns. County officials could not legally extend the 2020 levy since it sunsets at the end of 2023. In late 2022, the former Board of County Commissioners proposed this replacement mill levy. The current Board set the amount of 2.570 mills, the same as the old one, to continue P&R support. It’s not “new”, and all money collected from the mill levy is dedicated solely to Parks & Recreation. It will cost residential property owners about $17.39 per year per $100,000 of property valuation.

Our group, Friends of the Gilpin County Community Center, has gathered factual information that you can use to make an informed vote. We have a plain-language FAQ page at https://gilpincommunitycenter.org/ -- just click on the “P&R Mill Levy Discussion and Q&As” link at the top. It even shows estimated costs for various home valuations.

A “Yes” vote for the mill levy guarantees a stable source of income for P&R and preserves its programs.

A “No” vote may save residential taxpayers a few dollars a month on their taxes. But, that’s all it will save. The Center will only be open three days per week, the pools will be closed, and programs, staff, and activities will be curtailed.

Speaking ONLY for myself: I will vote FOR the mill levy. P&R is an incredible, value-added resource for all of us in Gilpin County. I support what it offers to help Gilpinites connect in so many ways.

Carolyn Collins Petersen

Gilpin County

President, Friends of the Gilpin County Community Center