John Scarffe, Gilpin County.   The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners received a request to vacate a County road during a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. In return the County would receive a road easement over a portion of South Beaver Creek Road.

Tyler Wilson of 53 Wallen’s Place requested 350 square feet of Wallen’s Place right of way near South Beaver Creek Road, according to Community Development Director Tony Petersen. These are unfortunate circumstances and a difficult situation to solve, Petersen said.

Without the benefit of a building permit, Wilson inadvertently constructed a garage about six feet into the platted right of way of Wallen’s Place, Petersen wrote in background material. Gilpin County would convey about 350 square feet of Wallen’s Place right of way to Wilson.

The property that would be conveyed would protrude about 10 feet into the existing right of way, but it would not affect the existing traveled portion of the road, Petersen wrote. Wallen’s Place is a short cul-de-sac that is not County maintained.

The road serves three other lots, but this action would not impact existing conditions on the travel part of Wallen’s Place, Petersen wrote. It would limit future improvements through this section.

In this particular case, the right of way has not been fully improved, and neighbors don’t want it improved, Petersen told the Board. “It presents an opportune time for us,” Petersen said, explaining that the County has tried to get a right of way over South Beaver Creek Road.

Petersen proposed a trade, allowing Wilson to keep the garage where it is and deeding the right of way to him, and the County would get South Beaver Creek Road access, giving the County a stretch of two miles of access on South Beaver.

Commissioner Gail Watson said that she was interested in letting people know about the County’s building requirements, so she was disappointed the garage was constructed, but she made a motion to approve the request since the County would benefit. The Board approved vacating the County road and conveying the property to Wilson.

Planning Commission Appointments

Administrative Assistant Sharon Cates told the County Commissioners that they need to fill four vacancies on the Gilpin County Planning Commission. Member Trudi Kinser has to be removed from the Commission because she could not meet bylaw requirements, and three members resigned, including the recent resignation of Tami Archer.

The Commission interviewed five people for four positions, Cate said. The Planning Commission recommended Jim Wailes and Sharon Perea for terms expiring December 31, 2018. Jane Billings was recommended as first alternate for a term expiring December 31, 2016, and Gary Nixon second alternate expiring December 31, 2018.

The Board approved the Planning Commission appointments.

Increasing Revenues

During the monthly report from County Clerk and Recorder Colleen Stewart, she announced that she had a special surprise for her staff and wanted to acknowledge their hard work and to congratulate and praise them. The office has three full time and two part time employees, Stewart said.

They have been watching the chart on monthly revenues and have seen revenue grow from $1.7 million in 2012 to $1.8 in 2013, and in 2015 revenues have reached the $2 million figure, at $2,023,767.85 for the year ending on December 31, 2015. Of that revenue, the County was able to keep $217,000.

“My staff has become very efficient,” Stewart said. “They don’t make many mistakes. Everyone cross trains, so if a line builds up in motor vehicle or another area any employee can help out.”

Chief Deputy Gail Maxwell presented polo shirts and congratulations to office staff.

Employees, in addition to Maxwell and Stewart, are Sean Jones and Richard Conklin in the motor vehicle area and Deborah Mestdagh and Joyce Hefty in recording.

Treasurer and Public Trustee Alynn Huffman presented the treasurer’s monthly and semi-annual reports and the Public Trustee’s fourth quarter and annual reports. January is a very stressful month, she said.

Huffman pointed to the Treasurer’ Monthly Report for December 2015. This is the first year the County has collected 99.88 percent of taxes, including all mobile home and personal property taxes, and some that were outstanding have come in.

The grand total of County funds increased from $11.5 million in 2014 to $13.8 million in 2015. The Board accepted the Treasurer and Public Trustee reports.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Commissioners will be on Tuesday, February 9, at 9 a.m. at the Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City.