Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On January 21, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance. Highlights include a request to adjust Head Lifeguard pay, a presentation by Jacob Smith, Executive Director of Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA) and two liquor license renewals.

Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Benedict presented a request to adjust the pay rate for the Head Lifeguard position which has been vacant since August 2018 and hasn’t received any applications since August 2019. 

The advertised starting rate is $12.36 per hour plus benefits for 30 hours per week, which would be increased to $15.14 per hour. Benedict said, “This will put us right in the mix with Golden and Clear Creek.” 

“I think it’s a no-brainer. We need to offer a wage that’s attractive enough,” said Isenhart. The motion was made, seconded, approved and all were in favor.  

Next, Jacob Smith, former mayor of Golden, made a presentation on behalf of CC4CA in the hopes Gilpin County will join the coalition for climate action. Smith cites the benefits of the coalition as being collaboration, cost-effectiveness and local support.

Working together through CC4CA, local governments can influence state and federal actions more than individual jurisdictions can alone. Pooling resources to secure professional representation is the most cost-effective way to maintain a presence at a state and federal level. And lastly the coalition offers networking opportunities to members.

Coalition members annually update a policy statement “which requires unanimous support of every member. It makes for a lot of work on the front end, but the result is pretty powerful for us on the legislative end,” said Smith. 

The current policy priorities include actively supporting pro-climate action legislation and opposing bills that undercut state or local climate authority. 

Second priority is advocating for state policies and actions that put Colorado on the path to significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions and empower local governments to take effective action in their own communities. 

Third priority is representing local interests in state agency proceedings on climate protection, energy efficiency, and clean energy, and advocating for continued and strengthened federal climate actions and against efforts to roll back federal policies and programs.

The coalition has 32 local governments as members, many of which are cited as rural by Smith. Members pay annual dues based on population size, but every member of the coalition has the same voice and vote regardless of the dues level they select.

“All our county buildings are wind-powered. It was a little disappointing how little support we got from the state,” said Watson. “We help to connect resources to local governments,” said Smith.

The Board of County Commissioners adjourned and reconvened as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority to review two liquor license renewal applications; one for Mid County Liquors and one for the Last Shot. Both were said to be in good standing with no concerns and were approved.   

 (Originally published in the January 23, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)