The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners discussed again a mill levy option for Parks and Recreation during a regular meeting on April 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Central City.
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The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners discussed again a mill levy option for Parks and Recreation during a regular meeting on April 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Central City. The Board also approved a deputy position for the Assessor’s office, the annual cemetery crawl and bicycle race, and one boundary line elimination, and tabling another.
Gabrielle Chisholm, parks and recreation director and Joe Allaire, finance director, continued the discussion about the different options available for the Parks and Recreation mill levy. At the previous meeting on April 11, County Manager Ray Rears said capital costs for Parks and Recreation warranted extending the current mill levy.
Chisholm said the Parks and Recreation department does childcare, the Gilpin County Fair, fitness and increases property values. She presented a $600,000 fund balance, and the 2.570 mill levy is the main source of revenue and then grants. Most parks and recreation departments have their own funding source.
The department did a survey for programs people were interested in, which included outdoor recreation, early childhood with the Eagle’s Nest Early Childhood Center, playgrounds and the after-school Eagle Teen program.
Chisholm said she was introducing a 3.49 mills proposal to address maintenance repairs, and they could be open seven days a week. On average, they spend $115,000 a year in maintenance.
At the April 25 meeting, staff was seeking clarification or direction from the County Commissioners for the 2024 Parks and Recreation Mill Levy. Chisholm said the Board had a work session last week, and the facilities director reprioritized capital needs and removed non fixed assets.
Before this review, the numbers were 1.8 million but now it has gone down to $900,000. She asked when the mill levy would be set, and how much we will ask for and to answer questions for the county.
Rears said they are asking for clear direction if the Board agrees with the mill levy. A lot more information is coming in. Is the Board supportive of the mill levy and what that number should be?
Board Chair Marie Mornis said that $900,000 is not going to address the capital needs. “I’m not sure the mill levy will help with capital projects.” Commissioner Susan Berumen supported moving ahead with the mill levy, and Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth supported the mill levy.
Rears said the consensus of the Board is to move forward with the mill levy and is proposing a 2.57 for mill levy.
During public comment, Donna Parman asked to see what it cost to run the recreation center 10 years ago. Rears said he will get the numbers and share that with the Board.
Rears said this could be added to the May 2 work session, and the Board agreed.
April Nielsen, Assessor, and Chanda Johnson, Human Resources Director, introduced a chief deputy assessor position. The Assessor’s Office has identified a need for a chief deputy position.
The primary functions of the position are to perform the duties of the Assessor in their absence and act as the official representative of the Assessor’ Office when interacting with the public or private groups, entities or agencies. The person represents the assessor or the Assessor’s Office at the County Board of Equalization. This position would replace the assessment specialist position, a budgeted position in the office.
Reporting to the Assessor, and partnering with departmental staff, the chief deputy assessor will provide a variety of supervisory, managerial and complex professional skills to the office. Not only will the chief deputy be an additional resource for complex issues, but they will also contribute consistent leadership to the team.
The main role of the chief deputy will be to assist with compliance with state mandated reporting, process deadlines and audits. Secondarily this role will include cross training with the other positions in the office.
“The need for the chief deputy position is urgent as the workload and complexity is increasing due to legislative changes that are ongoing that require additional support,” she said.
Staff recommended approving the chief deputy position at salary grade 18.
Chair Mornis said the job can be done without a deputy. Commissioners Hollingsworth and Berumen supported the position and moved to approve the creation of a deputy director. The Board approved with Mornis voting no.
James Shrout, Planner I, introduced a resolution for the Knights of Pythias Annual Cemetery Crawl Temporary Use Permit. The applicant is seeking approval for a Temporary Use Permit to allow for their annual Cemetery Crawl event at the Knights of Pythias Cemetery in Central City.
The event will occur on August 26. 2023, between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The organizers anticipate between 250 and 400 people will attend and will be capped at the upper end of attendance.
Parking will be available at the cemetery and shuttle access for the cemetery event.
The Board approved the 34th annual crawl.
Shrount introduced the Highway 119 Ride the Rockies Bike Tour and requested a temporary Use Permit. Applicant David Benjes of Ride the Rockies is seeking a Temporary Use Permit to host the bicycle tour through Gilpin County.
Participants will enter the County via Virginia Canyon Road and exit the County via Highway 119 at the northern boundary of the County. There are approximately two thousand participants and more than one hundred volunteers.
Due to the size of the event, this event will require Planning Commission recommendation prior to a decision made by the Board of County Commissioners.
The Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour will begin in Estes Park on June 11 and end in Fort Collins on June 16. The Gilpin County portion of the event is scheduled for June 15 and June 16.
Participants in the event will enter Gilpin County via Virginia Canyon Road in Russell Gulch on June 15, and exit Gilpin County via Highway 119 at the northern boundary of the County. A rolling start is expected to begin at 5:30 a.m. on June 16 in Black Hawk and end at 8 a.m. Participants will follow Highway 119 and exit Gilpin County to the North.
An aid station will be placed at the intersection of Dakota Ridge Road, Harris Detour Road, and Virginia Canyon Road. Volunteers will set up the aid station at 8 a.m. and will clean up at 1 p.m. Aid stations will have water, electrolyte liquids and pre-packaged food available to participants. Aid stations will include a supply truck, relief stations, trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks, and mechanics. Trash and recycling will be collected at aid stations and host cities and removed from the site for proper disposal at the next host city.
There will be no aid station or relief station on this portion of the event as participants exit Gilpin County. Colorado State Police will have seven officers on course dedicated specifically to the event. Stadium Ambulance will have an ambulance dedicated to the entire tour and will be on the course daily.
Ride the Rockies will also have a Centura Medical Unit at the Host Cities for on-site medical needs. Riding medics will be riding throughout the tour to assist riders as needed. There will also be an additional six SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles on course to assist riders with non-emergency transportation.
Centura Health has created the medical plan. Communication will be provided by Radio Resource to Ride the Rockies staff, key medical and police personnel. Staff vehicles will also have radios installed for communication. Cell phones will be utilized as back up.
Daily meetings are required for key personnel. Riders will be required to follow Colorado vehicular laws for “Rules of the Road.” Ride the Rockies has filed the necessary permits, and is working with CDOT, CSP, and Local and County Authorities to ensure minimal traffic disruption and for the safety of cyclists.
Ride the Rockies staff will place course signs the day before the event and remove the signs the same day that cyclists follow the route.
Staff have reviewed the operations manual, and the medical plan as provided by the applicant. Staff finds that Ride the Rockies has prioritized the safety of the participants to include a contingency plan in case of inclement weather. Staff find that the medical plan provided by Centura Health to be adequate in case of a medical emergency while the ride is in progress.
The bicycle race has been approved by all departments, and the Board approved the resolution.
Shrout introduced a Boundary Line Elimination, Lots 11 – 15, Block 3, K&K Ranch. Applicant, Jessica Hughes wants to allow for a bigger plot of land for construction of a driveway. They have 1.8 acres just below Wondervu.
It’s very steep coming up the road, Hugues said. The Board approved the boundary line elimination. The Board tabled a Boundary Line Adjustment, Livingstone Lode Mining Claim (N011000), Gladstone Lode Mining Claim (N022316) and Robert Fulton Lode Mining Claim (N022317).
The Board will have a work session on May 2 and then a staff meeting in the afternoon. They have nine applicants for ARPA funds.
The next regular meeting will be on May 9. For more information, go to https://gilpincounty.colorado.gov/ public-meetings/board-of-countycommissioners bocc-meetings