The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners amended a public health order regarding masks and COVID-19 testing during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on August 31, 2021. The Board also approved a lactation area in the Community Center, pay raises for interim employees, and facilities maintenance requests. They also discussed a jail food service proposal and heard the annual audit report.

Emergency Manager Nathan Whittington and Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht provided a COVID-19 update. Whittington said Gilpin County has completed a postcard update to be mailed shortly to Gilpin County residents. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is still activated and supporting County employees with supplies as needed.

Albrecht said the County has had six COVID cases and two hospitalizations in the past two weeks. There will be vaccine clinics on Wednesdays at the library, and all three days of the Farmer’s Market. Testing is available at the public health office on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Z Casino. Mobile clinics will have all three vaccines.

The Board then considered a potential revision to testing dates and masking requirements. Albrecht said the current public health order requires masking for all unvaccinated individuals in County offices; these people also must be tested weekly. She suggested rescinding that order and placing testing under Human Resources instead of Public Health.

Commissioner Web Sill said the long-term effects of the vaccination are unknown. It’s a personal choice, he maintains. He claims that it is still an experimental vaccine, but he is happy to go with the masks.

Dr. Dawn Comstock, Executive Director of Public Health, said it is true that a fully vaccinated individual can get COVID. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, but all three of the vaccines are more than 83 percent effective even with the new variant. Fully vaccinated individuals are much less likely to have a serious illness. Vaccination is still the way out of this pandemic, she pointed out.

Comstock is very concerned the County might have another spike in cases in October and November like they did last year. At this point, she said, we have higher rates than last year.

“I am strongly recommending increasing vaccinations and everyone wearing masks, and testing to put cases in isolation, and that is public health 101. Jefferson County will review a proposal for testing of unvaccinated individuals, and law enforcement has started testing regularly.”

The Board approved a motion to amend the public health order to require masking for everyone in County offices and to continue testing for unvaccinated employees.

Parks and Recreation Director Gabrielle Chisholm submitted a request to designate a Lactation Area at the Community Center. In collaboration with Triad Early Childhood Council Health and Wellness Outreach Specialist Jamie Fanselow, they would like to certify the Gilpin Community Center as a Breastfeeding Friendly Employer and Public Space.

Triad is giving a $500 allowance to buy shades and dividers to put up in the lounge area.

The Board approved the request.

The Board approved a request to move the Payroll Specialist higher in the pay range effective this pay period, approved the salary for Interim Finance Director Lorna Plamondon beginning on July 15 at the minimum of the pay range, and approved payment to Interim Human Resources Director Stephanie Garrett for June 7 through July 30, based on a prorated amount of $74,000 per year for her position as temporary HR director.

Facilities Manager Ryan Keenan presented three proposals. Gilpin County is requesting proposals from qualified contracting firms for the replacement of the lift station grinder system for the Justice Center sewer system since the existing unit is nearing the end of its life. Construction date for this project is anticipated to be May 23, 2022, with completion by July 31. Deadline for proposals will be April 29, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. The Board approved moving ahead.

Keenan said that Gilpin County is requesting proposals from qualified contracting firms for the regular cleaning of the Gilpin County Justice Center and Community Center. The Board approved the proposal request.

The Board also approved a proposal from Triple N Restoration for work at the ballfields and around the community center to be financed through a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant. It will include animal containment fencing, a public announcement system, baseball field parking lot paving, and a new rubber surface for the playground that should hold up for 10 years.

Undersheriff Tania Kapke and Detentions Division Chief Greg Demo presented a Jail Food Service Proposal. Staffing in the jail kitchen is down to three full-time employees, with a requirement of a minimum of two employees at any time. Demo said that a cook resigned in March of this year. They had two applicants, but neither decided to join the staff. This summer, one cook was gone from June 10 to August 23, so there was only one cook on site. The remaining cook had a family emergency, so they had to come up with a plan.

“We’re at a critical level. No one has applied since March and April, and we don’t have a certified dietitian,” Demo said. The current kitchen manager is resigning; and Meals on Wheels, with two employees, is expecting one to quit on December 1.

The jail is now searching for a company that provides staffing, because now they are using trustees to supplement the work force. The jail is looking at the Summit company, which has a dietitian.

Summit has provided food and commissary services for correctional facilities for more than 30 years. Summit’s proposal would provide a qualified and well-trained staff, with sufficient back-up personnel to successfully manage the contract requirements.

All diets and menus are prepared and approved by a Summit Certified Dietitian, with meals that conform to all applicable and current standards. Summit would be able to incorporate the Gilpin County Senior Meal program into their daily operation out of the Jail.

Kapke said the potential of savings every year with this company will be huge. She will put together hard numbers, and the Board agreed to put this on the agenda at the next meeting.

Auditor James Hinkle with Hinkle and Company presented the annual audit and said the audit reports were clean. He issued an unqualified opinion, including total compliance with the $2 million the County received from federal COVID funds. “It was a good audit. We felt we had open transparency, and everything we asked for we received in a timely manner. All the reports are clean reports,” he said.

The next regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting will be on September 14, at 9 a.m.