John Scarffe, Gilpin County.  The age a minor can be in the Gilpin County Community Center without an adult was raised from 10 years to 12 years old during a regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on May 22, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. With Commissioner Gail Watson absent, the Board also prioritized grant applications and approved construction and maintenance agreements.

Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Benedict told the Board he wanted to increase the age of visitors to the recreation center. The County had a walk-through three weeks ago to look at facilities and policies, and the first recommendation was to up the age they can be with parents or by themselves.

Benedict recommended that the overall facility usage would be 12 and up. Industry standards and best practices allow unsupervised youth beginning at age 12, according to the proposal. “Increasing the age will also generate more participation in the afterschool program.”

Commissioner Linda Isenhart said it makes sense to her. They cannot be in the facility without supervision if they are under 12, and you would implement that in June and would allow them to get the word out.

Board Chair Ron Engels said that it makes sense based on issues they are seeing. Benedict said they had 35 visitors show up yesterday. With new software rolling out in late summer, it will be 180 and members will see it and appreciate it.

Engles asked if he had messaging for staff. “This is the right thing to do, and it will cause some consternation.” Benedict said that it’s just going to be more structured now, and if you’re coming in and under 12 we need to know who the guardian is.

The Board approved the policy change. Dirk Matthews introduced a proposal to provide emergency power to the County’s Emergency Operations Center in the Justice Center.

They would like to connect the Justice Center and install a generator for $6,376. This is part of a larger discussion that came out of a wildfire response. It’s one of the most important things to be taken care of. It was denied as part of the budget process and the issue was revisited.

Engels said this generator may or may not be properly sized for the Justice Center. Matthews said it’s large enough to handle it, but it is four years old so the load study will determine whether we can add that on.

The initial reaction is this should work fine, Matthews said. The generator was bought used and didn’t have an hour meter on it. The engine is fresh. An hour meter has been installed.

The Board gave approval to negotiate the contract with provisions added by counsel, and then looked at annual grant applications to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Every year, Gilpin County accepts applications from area organizations for Mineral Impact Grants, made possible through gambling tax funds, and the Board prioritizes the most important.

Isenhart said she went through the applications and nothing looks outside of the norm.

Engels said he doesn’t have any questions. The Board agreed that the first priority would be the jail, with a request for $62,000 for deputy salaries and four rescue ropes.

The second priority will be a request for Sheriff’s Office patrol, which includes the jail request and an additional $53,000 for a rescue truck installed chassis and guard rail installation.

The third priority will be emergency medical services for the Gilpin County Ambulance.

A request for a school counselor will be fourth with a request of $64,782, followed by Day Care Center Eagles Nest with a request for $62,000 and victim services with a request of $62,000.

Public Works Director Gordon Thompson presented an agreement for the maintenance of the Fair Grounds Arena. Larry Sterling Excavating, Inc., will be paid a lump sum fee not to exceed $6,000 to perform routine maintenance on the arena.

Isenhart said that $6,000 doesn’t seem like much. “Is it adequate for what we need?” Thompson said it was, and the Board approved the contract.

Matthews discussed carpet runners for the newly renovated courthouse. He said that two options are viable. He has investigated period carpet, and it is available, made in London.

They can have runners made out of the same carpet on the rear stairs.

The flooring guy thought it was the best option because you won’t see traffic marks. The second option of printed carpet will wear in traffic areas sooner than the carpet on the stairs.

Isenhart said she likes option one. Engels said he doesn’t like either option. The way the stairs came out and the fabrication of the stairs is a good chunk of the cost.

“If we leave them wooden, I’d be willing to wait for a quote from the real thing without the stairs. The stairs get twice as much carpet,” Engels said.

Matthews said they could get a four-foot-wide carpet and then cut everything down to make the runners. There still exists a potential issue with 12 foot wide carpet cut to 6 inches, so even if the stairs are left bare, all of the carpet would still be paid for.

Isenhart said they would have it cut by a professional. Engels said he would like to see a quote with and without the stairs from the British manufacturer. Matthews also presented an evaluation on the Courthouse boiler, which is 90 years old and 40 years beyond normal life expectancy.

“If we keep the same type of radiator system it’s difficult to find old stuff. If the boiler dies in the middle of the winter we would have a huge issue,” Matthews said. “It’s something we’d like to stay ahead of and have a viable plan and some options. There is no timeline. A month or two.”

The boiler evaluation for continued service would cost $3,500 and replacement options would cost $6,500. Isenhart said they need to have a contract put together.

Engels said they already talked about doing this scope of work and this is just formalizing what we’ve already agreed to. The Board approved the contract.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse.