CENTRAL CITY - The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners spent their July 15 work session diving deep into plans for Rollinsville and other long‑running housing issues, with a packed agenda that kept the conversation going all morning and into the early afternoon. 

Commissioners Jeff Aiken, Susan Berumen and Sandy Hollingsworth were all present, joined by County Manager Ray Rears and a lineup of consultants and staff members.

Rollinsville survey dominates discussion

The meeting opened with the initial findings from JVA Consulting Engineers on the Rollinsville Area Development Plan. 

The presentation included detailed projections for water and sewer demand, infrastructure options, and parking considerations tied to future growth near the Mountain Rail station.

Presenters shared that early estimates indicate approximately 3,300 gallons of water per day are needed for train riders and roughly 9,000 gallons per day for residential use, based on industry-standard formulas. 

They said that those figures will be refined after further discussion with local distilleries and breweries. The team spoke of the need to secure source water and plan a distribution system alongside wastewater management and firefighting water.

The consultants discussed adding sidewalks, parking stalls, and ramps, analyzing options for siting near County property, and even looking at relocating the County shed to free up space. 

A possible location for the fire department was also part of the brainstorming.

The commissioners were told to expect a draft report before the August 19 meeting.

Housing authority 

After the Rollinsville review, Sara Walsh of Core Planning Group provided an update on a multi‑jurisdictional housing authority study. 

She outlined timelines and potential governance structures, while also noting that Black Hawk is exploring forming its own housing authority, which could complicate collaboration. [Ed. note: Black Hawk has already done so; see the article on page 24 of this issue of The Mountain-Ear.]

The working group will continue meeting bi‑weekly with the goal of sharing more concrete recommendations by late October.

Senior Housing discussion

Former State Senator Jeanne Nicholson and Board Director of Gilpin County Senior Living has been working toward senior housing for quite a while now.

The proposed senior residences would provide a way for seniors to remain in Gilpin County if their homes are not suitable for elderly living.

All residences will feature wide doorways, walk-in showers, and covered entrances to minimize fall risks and enhance daily movement safety for seniors.

The Board and Nicholson discussed challenges in finding flat, suitable county parcels for lease, the need to address water rights, and sanitation for any new development. 

Commissioners considered dedicating certain lots and exploring self-managed sanitation solutions to make the projects viable.

Workforce housing

Community Development staff briefed the Board on workforce housing surveys.

The commissioners noted that a stronger workforce housing plan could help local businesses retain employees by providing stable, affordable places to live close to their jobs.

The Board also acknowledged that workforce housing solutions will likely need to include flexible options, such as accessory dwelling units or small County‑owned parcels, to meet the needs of local employees.

Community talks

Commissioners agreed to schedule a round of community conversations to hear from residents about housing, infrastructure, and budget priorities. The event may be dubbed “Cookies with your commissioners,” because, as Hollingsworth said, “Everyone likes cookies.”

The event may be planned for mid-to-late August, with an evening format to increase attendance.

The next Regular BoCC meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2025, and will be held at the Historic Courthouse located at 203 Eureka Street in Central City.