Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met online at 9 a.m. for their regular meeting. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were present, as were County Attorney Brad Benning and County Manager Abel Montoya. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, an IGA, a BLA and the planning of the 2021 Gilpin County Fair.

Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht said there are now 18 cases with five tests scheduled for today. The flu clinic is setup and the employee flu is Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Appointments are not necessary.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington said the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) continues to work with Jefferson County to acquire the ultra cold freezer for mass Covid vaccinations. The EOC was recently awarded a grant, written last year, that will be used for shelter trailer equipment.

Human Services Director Laura Solomon requested an approval on the Child Support Enforcement IGA with Clear Creek County to share a full-time employee that would fulfill this statutory role. The request is made because Jefferson County will no longer be supporting Gilpin County in this regard. Watson requested a meeting with Clear Creek County Commissioners to discuss case load to payout ratios.

 Public Health Annual Purchases of Services Agreement is the same as previous years except for the addition of an epidemiologist. Watson said that this is a more cost-effective way to source public health services. The motion was approved and passed unanimously.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick and her new Chief Deputy Ashley Martin, who was also taking minutes during the meeting, delivered the August and September numbers. Recordings is up almost $16,000 at this point compared to last year and Motor Vehicles is only down about $4,300. 

The Historic Preservation Committee presented some changes to its bylaws with the goal of making them more complementary to the new ordinance and the board approved unanimously.  

 Next on the agenda, County Planner Tami Archer presented BLA 20-21 requested by Bernie Realty Group on Robinson Hill Road. In the current configuration, Parcel D lacks legal access to Robinson Hill Road, and the group is asking to realign the parcels so each have road access. The new configuration does not result in any new parcels and additionally the new proposed survey plat identifies building envelopes for each parcel. The motion passed unanimously.

Tolland Road will be closed due to work on the Union Pacific Railroad. 

Normadee Jones presented a request for the 2021 County Fair to take place albeit financially challenged. She suggested 4H demonstrations and events like old-fashioned carnival games, parade, mutton busting, hayrides, a biergarten and a band. Watson said, “It sounds fantastic and I think I speak on behalf of all of us, this is great and we’re happy to work with you.”

Resolution 2020 with Great Outdoors Colorado Resilient Communities Grant Board was presented by business analyst Gabrielle Chisholm and pertains to a grant in the amount of $109,000. The resolution was approved unanimously.

During the County Legal Status Report, the board discussed Teller and Gilpin counties having representation on the Gaming Board so their input can be heard.

County Manager Abel Montoya reported from the courthouse on the testing of new technologies slated for the beginning of November. The Park and Rec mill levy question on the ballot will determine the fate of the reopening of the Community Center. This second alliteration outlines staff positions and hours, admission and class fees, with 20 positions that are mostly full-time. 

Covid guidelines might restrict capacities and thereby profits. Montoya’s hope is that job descriptions will be posted in early November with the first hire being the director who will hire the rest of the staff.

The next regular meeting for the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 9 a.m. virtually and can be accessed by following the instructions on the current agenda on the Gilpin County Commissioners website at http://www.gilpincounty.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=9285259&pageId=11072364

(Originally published in the October 8, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)