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Redistricting public comment remains open

John Scarffe
Posted 2/17/23

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners agreed to continue public comment on the redistricting process during a regular meeting on February 14, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Central

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Redistricting public comment remains open

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The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners agreed to continue public comment on the redistricting process during a regular meeting on February 14, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Central City. The Board also extended the application deadline for nonprofits to apply for ARPA funds and approved a bid award for the Wet Well Pump Station, a Payroll Administrator Position Adjustment, policies for on-call employees and their take-home vehicles.

Community Development Director Rob Gutierrez brought back the Gilpin County Commissioners’ Districts Redistricting. As required by state law, the Gilpin County Commissioners Districts must be realigned and adjusted after every Federal census to ensure that the districts are proportional by population.

The county’s GIS contractor has prepared several sets of potential redistricting maps based on the requirements of state law. Tom Neer from Digital Data Services Inc. has presented the maps to the Commissioners and overviewing the requirements of state law on the redistricting process.

According to the U.S. Census 2010 Population, Gilpin County had 5,441 residents. Redistricting would have a target population per three districts at 1,936 residents with a maximum population deviation of 290 residents. Gutierrez presented three options with statistics.

Option One would include 2,059 in District One, 1,934 in District Two, and 1,815 in District Three. Option 2 would include 1,937 in District One, 1,937 in District Two and 1,934 in District Three. Option 3 would place 1,937 in District One, 1,936 in Two and 1,935 in District Three.

County Manager Ray Rears suggested continuing the resolution until March 14, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. to allow for public comment. Gutierrez said no changes have been made since the last time this was presented to the Board. They received one public comment who said they preferred Option Three.

Commission Chair Marie Mornis said the precincts are important for the election process. The precincts should be totally in a district. Rears said that is a separate process. The Board agreed to continue the public hearing on redistricting until March 14, and public comment will remain open until March 14. The maps are on the Gilpin County website.

Finance Director Joe Allaire updated the Board on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. ARPA has awarded Gilpin County $1,212,630, and the County has received all funding. To date, the Board has approved $858,010.78 of ARPA funds to be spent.

This number includes two salaried positions in 2023 and in 2023, the Board has elected to allocate an estimated $235,468, so $354,619.22 remains unallocated.

Mornis said at the time when the allocations were approved, they did allow a business to be included. The $25,000 approved for The Mountain-Ear is legal. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth said that nothing precluded giving the funds to a business and businesses were allowed. The Mountain-Ear was the only one that applied even though both newspapers were invited.

At the end of the meeting, the Board wanted to clarify what a non-profit organization needs to apply for the ARPA funds. Rears said they have letters of interest from non-profits that are 501(c)3 organizations.

Staff is looking for clarification to update the notice on the website. Mornis said they should leave the language general for charities that are out there. Commissioner Hollingsworth said they should narrow the scope, and have the funds go to nonprofits that are valuable to the County. The Board agreed that the application deadline is March 31.

Facilities Director Ryan Keenan requested approval of a bid award and contract for engineer services for the Wet Well Pump Station to HC Green Inc., at Dory Lake. Gilpin County is seeking to have engineered plans developed for the construction of a new in-ground wet well pump station on the shore of Dory Lake.

This wet well will tie into an existing pipeline and controls but replace the current submerged skid pump system as a long-term serviceable alternative. The existing pipeline to which the wet well and pumps will serve is designed to transfer water, when determined by the State Water Commission, out of Dory Lake and into nearby Ralston Creek to maintain obligations to senior water rights. All efforts must be made in design to minimize any aesthetic and functional disturbances to Dory Lake.

Final design plans will need to achieve approval from a majority of stakeholders as agreeable to qualify as zero negative impact. Upon project completion, a single visible in-ground manhole cover will be completed within the County easement on the shore of Dory Lake for wet well access.

Keenan said they started on the project in October, and two proposals were evaluated by three employees. Rears said this was budgeted in 2022. From the County’s side, they want to expedite this as soon as possible but construction could be in 2024.

The Board approved the contract.

Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson introduced a payroll administrator position adjustment. The County staff have identified a need for a part-time finance clerk position.

The primary functions of the position are to oversee payroll functions, assist accounts payable, resolve accounting issues and assist the Finance Department with various functions. This position would replace the Payroll Administrator position, which is currently a fulltime, benefited position in the Finance Department office. Depending on business needs, hours may vary at salary grade 14, $38,188 to $51,554.

Normally the position will be 20 hours weekly, occasionally up to 29 hours a week.

Reporting to the Finance Director, and partnering with departmental staff, the position is an entry-level position designed to assist all members of the Finance team in daily operations.

Rears said they had budgeted for a fulltime position. The Board approved the position adjustment.

The Board approved the On-Call Employee Policy primarily for the sheriff’s department and public works and on-call vehicle renewals. It was included in the budget.

Rears said the Board will have a work session on March 7. The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Commission will be on February 28, 2023, at the courthouse and virtually. For more information, go to Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) Meetings | Gilpin County (colorado.gov).