The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) called their work session to order at 1:15 p.m. on August 2, 2023. In attendance were Commissioner Marie A. Mornis from District 1, Commissioner Susan Berumen from District 2, Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth from District 3, County Manager Ray Rears, Deputy Clerk to the Board Margaret Keller, Facilities Director Ryan Keenan, Senior Living Chair and former Senator Jeanne Nicholson, Parks and Recreation Director Gabrielle Chisholm, and County Attorney Brad Benning.

At the June 13 BoCC meeting, the Board decided to go with Option 1 for the future site of the food pantry but there was some confusion as to the exact location, hence the need for a work session and a tour of the County property surrounding the Community Center.

The commissioners toured the Gilpin County Community Center property to get an idea of where to build the new food pantry and senior living facility. Rears and Keenan accompanied the commissioners as they walked the property, referring to a site map that outlined private versus County land.

The work session began with a presentation of the parcels, about 27 acres, owned by the County, and their locations on an aerial map. The proposed food pantry location is across from the western parking lot of the Community Center on Norton Drive, just south of the County-maintained walking trail.

This location would allow semi-truck delivery and ease of access to residents with parking available at the Community Center’s west lot. The proposed building would be 2,000 square feet and would require about three times that for the entire build area.

The Board discussed water usage and sewage and the possibility of using the existing infrastructure. Rears said the food pantry may only require a septic tank or it may tie into the existing infrastructure, in case it needs more water.

Next on the agenda, Benning presented information on the future Gilpin County Senior Living facility. Nicholson and Chisholm approached the Board. Nicholson had served on the Gilpin County BoCC from 2003 to 2011, and in the Colorado State Senate from 2011 to 2015.

Nicholson is currently the chair of the Gilpin County Senior Living Organization, which is a 501(c)(3) organization with a local community board. She has been pushing for the creation of senior housing for years.

The proposed area is just east of the Community Gardens and south of the existing food pantry.

Nicholson opened with a story about a family being forced out of their mobile homes in Gilpin because someone bought the land. She wants a place for seniors where they cannot be forced out. She spoke about the lease with the County, a 100-year lease with rent of $1 per year.

She said that, according to the experts, obtaining the water rights can take up to 15 years. She spoke about single-level duplex designs for the Senior Living facility, which would simplify the build and provide more natural light and privacy for the residents.

The process begins with selecting a parcel, followed by a land survey, a water study, topographical and utility surveys, and eventually the issuance of a building permit with at least five duplexes installed and hooked up to utilities.

The Board said the proposed area just east of the community gardens is only about 2.5 acres.

Berumen said the purpose of discussion today is to determine location so that contractors and others can move forward pursuing water rights and site plans.

Hollingsworth responded that she does not want to see the process delayed. The Board wanted to know from Nicholson how large a parcel would be necessary, to which Nicholson responded that less space would mean fewer duplexes. The Board mentioned the option of higher-density complexes with a smaller footprint.

Revenue was briefly discussed as well.

The work session ended at 2:44 p.m.

The next Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners meeting will be on August 8 at 9 a.m. and is held in person at 203 Eureka Street in Central City and online via Zoom. There will be a work session at 2 p.m. on August 8 that is held in person only.