Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Thursday, April 30, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for a special meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included discussions on a GoCo survey, enterprise zone dues and the gaming commission tax presentation. 

Gilpin County is looking for funding to backfill lost revenue. Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Benedict will be researching a Great Outdoors Colorado (GoCo) survey and recommends exploring emergency funding for recreation centers. “I think it is incumbent on the county to look for funding wherever possible,” said Watson.

Watson said they received a voucher for $1,000 for enterprise zone dues. Ray Rears, Central City Community Development Director, brought this matter to the attention of the board as it can help the Central City Opera Association and the Belvidere. “The enterprise zone was created for non-profits to create additional revenues for donations. The City is trying to do the same type of arrangement,” said Rears. This expenditure will be looked at closely with the budget and was approved unanimously. 

Every year the board gives a tax presentation to the gaming commission and this year’s report would differ with the revenue shortfalls due to Covid-19. “They’re probably very much aware of what’s happening with revenue right now,” said Watson but beyond that there’s no other recommendation.

The board then considered the meeting minutes from April 24 and April 28. There were no changes, edits or approvals for either meeting. Minutes were approved unanimously. 

The commissioners concluded the meeting with a reminder of the upcoming virtual town hall on Monday, May 4, 2020, at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for their regular meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included discussions on Eagle’s Nest funding, Golden Gate Canyon and County Courthouse reopenings.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong said the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) is working with the state to develop a plan for a community testing site with sufficient PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), hand sanitizer and medical personnel. 

Eagle’s Nest Early Learning Center Executive Director Kayla Lowe came before the board for a discussion on the county’s 2020 general funding. Eagle’s Nest has received the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan which is helping but they are still awaiting the results of an SBA application. The county will continue to work with Gilpin’s only childcare facility to try to provide the necessary funding.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is still determining a reopening timeline with a possible opening on May 11 for Reverend’s Ridge campground and May 22 for Aspen Meadows. The park has seen large groups whom they have been educating about the governor’s order to recreate within ten miles of home.

Resolution #20-06 Approving Collection and Remittance of Timberline Fire Protection District Impact Fee was presented along with concerns from constituents voiced through Isenhart and Watson that the fees are too high. Ondr responded that the impact fees are higher here because Gilpin has less available commercial building sites. The matter was tabled for further compromise on these fees.

Lauren Duncan, Project Manager for Trout Unlimited Abandoned Mine Restoration, gave an update on the mines they have been restoring in the county. In 2020 they plan to do sampling of USFS sites and have been working with Four-Mile Watershed Coalition and Snowline Lake. They’re looking at testing specific campgrounds for E. coli and heavy metal testing further in the summer.

Montoya presented the County Manager Report which focused on the Return to Work Protocol, namely the soft opening of the first floor of the courthouse on Monday, May 11 by appointment only. Face masks will be required and alternating parking spaces. One person in and one person out will be through the front door and out the back with signage directing the public. Identification will be documented so that contract tracing can be enacted in the case of exposure.

Resolution #20-07, Amending the Employee Handbook for Part-Time Employee Benefits, meaning those that work less than 60 hours prepay period would not get vacation benefits, was approved unanimously.

The board then recessed as the Board of County Commissioners and convened as the Board of Health. Gilpin County has decided to stick with the Stay-at-Home protocol until May 8, to determine whether the county wants to transition to the Safer-at-Home order. The latter loosens restrictions by allowing gatherings of more than ten people and recreating beyond your county. 

Watson said that masks should be worn when six feet of distancing cannot be maintained. She would like to see this mandate for the public to wear face masks in county buildings as part of the new health order. Benning said it’s more advantageous for the board to apply for a variance if the county wishes to be less restrictive than the state order, for example, with campgrounds. 

The board took public comment which included remarks on how KOA and RV camping should be allowed. The governor has acknowledged RV parks that are being used as permanent residences as critical businesses and the county is being requested to follow suit. Restrictions to keep guests safe have been implemented and out-of-state visitors would like to be allowed to stay in KOA campgrounds as long as they follow social distancing guidelines. 

The next meeting for the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 9 a.m. virtually and can be accessed by following the instructions on the current agenda on the Gilpin County Commissioners website. Check the county website for the schedule of meetings held weekly, every Tuesday during this crisis.

(Originally published in the May 7, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)