The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners updated the County’s dog ordinance during a regular meeting on January 24, 2023, at the courthouse in Central City. The Board also approved the Apex Valley Facility Update and Emergency Purchase Notification, the Microsoft System Retention Schedule and a contract for the annual audit.

County Attorney Brad Benning introduced the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to the welfare, control and licensing of dogs. Once the Commissioners have voted to adopt this resolution, it will be published in the Newspaper of Record for the County.

This Ordinance outlines the authority in which Gilpin County can create a licensing policy to regulate dogs in Gilpin County. It also outlines the penalties should someone violate this ordinance.

According to the ordinance, the keeping of dogs within Gilpin County has proven to be a potential hazard and annoyance to the residents of the County. A dog owner should assume the full and complete responsibility for the safety and actions of any dog owned, kept, harbored, or in the custody of the dog owner. It is also the intent of the Board of County Commissioners to fully enforce the Colorado state statutes preventing cruelty to animals.

All dogs over the age of six months should have a current County dog license tag and a current rabies tag. A dog shall be considered unlicensed in the absence of either tag. The Sheriff may take into custody and impound any dog found without a current County license tag or found running at large. The Sheriff may alternatively take into custody and transfer any dog to the nearest animal shelter with available space and resources for the dog.

Gilpin County and Clear Creek County entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on January 1, 2018, that allows Gilpin County to utilize Charlie’s Place at 500 W. Dumont Road, Dumont, Colorado. The Sheriff may take into custody and impound any dangerous dog, provided that with respect to dogs which have bitten other animals.

A dog impounded for biting a person will not be released from impoundment before approval by a veterinarian and the Sheriff. A dog that has bitten another animal may be confined by the owner for a minimum of 10 days as approved by the Sheriff.

The minimum fines specified will be mandatory, and in addition, a surcharge of $10 will be paid to the clerk of the court by the guilty party. The first offense is a mandatory fine of $50, second offense, any violation of this ordinance within 18 consecutive months of the first offense, mandatory fine of $100, third offense, mandatory fine of $300, fourth offense, any dog owner convicted of a fourth violation of this ordinance shall be deemed a persistent offender and will be subject to a fine of $600.

Benning said the County had a dog ordinance, but the laws have changed, so the updated ordinance changes penalties to fines.

After Public Comment, Benning said if you have your animal on your private property and not a county road, it’s on your own property. Commissioner Susan Berumen said the intent for this ordinance is the safety of the animals.

A lot of people come up to the mountains and do not understand the wildlife here. Dogs are a danger to drivers and to the animals. The spirit and intent is for the safety of the dogs. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth said they have received public comments earlier.

This is not a new law, and has been updated starting in 1993. It contains no requirement for an electric fence, and Hollingsworth expressed concern about animal owners cleaning up on trails.

Benning said after public comment that leashes are not required on private property but if the dogs get out on County roads they will be required.

The Board passed the resolution with amendments and it will become effective on March 1.

County Manager Ray Rears said the Apex facility was closed on January 18 due to lack of water. The Gilpin County Ambulance Authority sleeps there.

Preliminary cost estimates to get a water storage container there are for $32,555. They can’t get too far from casinos, so Ameristar will rent three rooms until water is restored.

Facilities Director Ryan Keenan said they have run out of water. The well is producing less and not enough to sustain normal activity in the facility. The best chance is to add a water storage tank, which is a better option than looking for a new well. Commissioner Berumen said the cistern is a good fix, and the Board approved $3,365 and accepted the emergency notification.

Paralegal Sarah Baciak introduced the Microsoft System Retention Schedule. Rears said they have talked about deleting items from County employee emails after one year but now are saying they will be deleted after three years.

Baciak said the senior leadership team had concerns with one year, so they looked at other counties. Grand County has 185 days and Boulder County has one year. Los Animas is three years. Deleted items will be removed after 30 days for junk email and things not relevant. Employees should not assume the email will be forever.

Rears said April 1 is the effective date for the change. The Board approved the resolution.

New Finance Director Joe Allaire, with the County since December, introduced the approval of a contract with Hinkle & Company, Professional Corporation for the State-Mandated Audit Review. He said it is the yearly mandated audit. The contract states the $17,850 cost has been steady and the cost is in the budget. He requested an addition of $3,500 for a single audit again this year.

He wants to work with an auditor who is familiar with the County. Commissioners expressed concerns that they don’t meet the deadlines. He said he will push hard to meet the schedule. Next year they will do an RFP for auditors. The Board adopted the resolution for $17,850 and $3,500 in addition.

County Manager Rears said that during a work session last week, the Board approved a schedule for work sessions. Work sessions will be scheduled on January 31 for the budget, February 7, February 21, March 7, March 21 with a jail tour, April 18 and May 2 for housing.

The next regular meeting for the Gilpin County Commissioners will be on February 14, 2023, at the Gilpin County Courthouse.