The Gilpin County Commissioners approved language for a lodging tax for short-term rentals during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on September 6, 2022, at the courthouse in Central City and virtually. The Board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with Clear Creek County for a shooting range, the second reading of a resolution establishing a licensing authority to regulate massage businesses, and the second reading of a resolution prohibiting firearms in all County buildings.

County Attorney Brad Benning introduced a resolution providing for the submission to the registered, qualified electors of unincorporated Gilpin County authorizing the levy of a two percent lodging tax on the rental fee paid or charged for the leasing, rental, sale, or furnishing of a room or accommodation for a short-term period.

Revenue will support tourism, enhance the visitor experience and address the impacts visitors have on the county, including, without limitation, undertaking community projects and services addressing visitor experiences and impacts in the areas of recreation, transportation and roads, housing, childcare, workforce housing, and historic preservation, which revenue from the lodging tax will be credited and dedicated to the Gilpin County lodging tax tourism fund.

The Gilpin County lodging tax would not apply within any municipality which levies its own lodging tax. It shall be submitted to a vote of the registered, qualified electors of unincorporated Gilpin County.

Board Chair Sandy Hollingsworth said “We have talked about this over and over again. Benning said this is drafted so the person renting the space is intended to pay for this.”

It includes short-term rentals, motels, and camping for less than 30 days. The funds must be remitted to the Colorado Department of Revenue. If the facility owners do not charge the customers, they will have to pay it themselves. The tax is not meant to be a burden on residents.

It should diversify the economy and provide needed revenue for the County, Benning said. The moratorium on applying for short-term rentals ends on September 7, so applications will be accepted. He estimated that total annual revenue from the tax could be $273,028.

This does not impose a lodging tax on long-term rentals. Benning said workforce housing should be added to the question. At the end of the meeting, the Board approved the ballot question with workforce housing added into the question.

Benning introduced an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Clear Creek County for a shooting range. He said the IGA satisfies the Forest Service requirements.

Their hope is that those who want to do recreational shooting will go there. Gilpin County would put in a $400,000 grant match while Clear Creek is providing the property and $125,000.

They are looking for vendors right now to get an operator for the facility. Commissioner Linda Isenhart asked if the Sheriff’s Office will be able to take advantage of the shooting range. Benning said that local law enforcement will be a big draw for them, but they haven’t worked out the details yet.

Commissioner Web Sill said that this is one of the dumber things that Gilpin County can do. “Gilpin County employees would have to pay and then drive through Gilpin County and halfway up Clear Creek County for the privilege of shooting,” he said. “The money stuff is just crazy. It will cost $855,000 for the club house. Gilpin County’s $400,000 and Clear Creek’s $125,000 will just get us through phase 2.”

The agreement is one-sided and favors Clear Creek County, Sill said. He sggested that they are making every decision. “I don’t like anything about this agreement. We could use $400,000 in many ways. It’s sheer folly.” He said he would vote no.

Isenhart said they have been working on this for a number of years. There has never been any place in Gilpin for a shooting range. Clear Creek, she added, is doing the heavy lifting. At this point, it’s an opportunity to move forward, she pointed out.

“We would have some nice lanes and won’t have to pay rent for the little range on Lake Gulch Road. I would endorse this,” Isenhart said. Hollingsworth added that they have been working on this for six to eight years, and it’s in response to residents who are concerned about safety.

She did a tour of the facility, which is on land that Clear Creek owns. “They are renting it to a group that is running it as a shooting range. The money we put in would never purchase a shooting range in Gilpin County. It’s a good investment,” Hollingsworth noted.

The Board approved the IGA with Sill voting against.

The Board approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing a licensing authority to regulate massage businesses. Hollingsworth said they have approved this at a previous meeting, but the notice was not published in both papers.

Benning said this is to help prevent human trafficking. No changes have been made since the ordinance was first passed. It will regulate the few massage businesses and facilities in the county. It will become effective September 6.

Benning introduced the second reading of an ordinance prohibiting firearms in all County buildings. Based on the law, local governments can control carrying firearms in public buildings. He offered one change, an exception allowing law enforcement, those in the military, and retired law enforcement employees to carry.

Commissioner Sill said that the Board has talked about this quite a bit. “It is advertising to the bad guys that this is a soft target,” he said. He didn’t think the County can enforce it. “I’m opposed to this.”

Sheriff Armstrong presented statistics from the FBI about mass shootings in the United States. First responders are working on plans for an active shooter. “This is on everyone’s minds. If we have signage that no guns are permitted, this not an appropriate venue to carry firearms. Employees want to come to a work place that is safe for them. We need to takes this seriously,” the sheriff said.

Hollingsworth said that when we first dscussed this issue there were many public comments. Two-thirds were from people who didn’t want weapons in the building, and that included staff.

The Board approved the ordinance with Sill opposing. It takes effect on approval.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Commissioners will be on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 9 a.m., at the Gilpin County Courthouse. For more information, go to https://gilpincounty. colorado.gov/public-meetings/board-ofcounty commissioners-bocc-meetings.