John Scarffe, Gilpin County.  The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners sent revised On-site Wastewater System Treatment regulations back for more information during a regular meeting on June 26, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. The Board also edited a proposed Facilities Use policy.

Beginning discussion of the revised On-site Wastewater System Treatment regulations, Commissioner Gail Watson said the Board was hoping for a redlined version. County Attorney Jim Petrock said most of these are state regulations, and they have preserved all of the previous restrictions. Redlining is a massive undertaking.

Watson said: “I’m approving something I’m not fully understanding. I don’t think it covers the changes we put in.”

Commissioner Linda Isenhart asked if this is pretty much boiler plate. Community Development Director Stephen Strohminger said that, yes, it is. Isenhart said: “I’m not an expert on this, and I defer my decision-making to you and the staff. To read this, I’m not sure I could add much to this.”

Watson said that if the Commissioners approve this, it would negate what they did four years ago. Petrock said that Appendix A identifies the more restrictive regulations.

Board Chair Ron Engels said that some county requirements have fallen out of this. “I would prefer that we continue the public hearing and get the regulations clear and included in the new version. We will continue the public hearing until July 10 at 9 a.m.,” and the Board approved.

Facilities Coordinator Vicki Nemec introduced a Facilities Use Policy. The policy is several years old, according to the request. To make it more user friendly, changes have been made, including removal of the Justice Center as an option.

Use of facilities may slow down, but most organizations don’t pay or have had their fees waived. “This will largely affect new reservations, and, so far, the few public I have spoken to that wanted to use the facilities are not happy about the changes,” according to the request.

Watson said it should stay scheduled one or two weeks ahead of time to give staff more time to have people there, and Isenhart said she liked the advance notice.

Watson said that most people have that. Engels said the policy says should and not must, so you can still schedule a meeting room the next day.

The Commissioners disagreed with the hourly rates and wanted to charge more. Watson also encouraged placing that information so readers can’t miss that. She advocated that rent for nonresidents should be much higher for the facilities, but keep residents’ costs low.

Watson said she also was not sure the exhibit building should even be available at no cost, because you have to have staff time. Nemec said they ride their horses there and have reservations for it.

Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Benedict said they could submit applications to be determined by director. “The groups that have used it in the past know to come talk to us”.

The Commissioners debated use by the facility for public and private events, and Benedict suggested that private events shall have the use for 30 minutes. On the application, they will note whether it is private or public.

Watson said she was conflicted on the Fair Ground arenas at no charge. If a group is a for-profit, should it cost? “We just spent $12,000 on sand, and you have to have staff there. We want to encourage the use of this great facility, but we’re charging for everything else but that.”

Isenhart said that they still want no camping on the ballfield. They are not meant to be camp grounds.

Watson suggested it should be at the director’s discretion. One nonprofit group camped on the ballfields, and if a group like Boy Scouts that would have minimal impact wanted to camp there.it would be okay.

Engles said the concern would be damage to the grass from traffic if you were using it for camping.

Benedict said a Boy Scout group would be fine. Watson said just not a festival.

Isenhart pointed out that the County has venues for larger camping groups. Nemec said she will go back and make the changes and bring it back next meeting.

Public Works Director Gordon Thompson presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Central City. The MOU was the cemetery project above Central City.

Gilpin County participated in funding for fences at the Cemetery. The County is responsible for repairing damage to the fencing caused by Gilpin County.

Thompson told the Board that the MOU was never signed. It has been through Central City and attorneys. “We’ve been maintaining that road for a long time.” The Board approved.

Thompson introduced an IGA with Central City to maintain the Upper Apex and Bald Mountain Roads. “The County has been maintaining the roads for many years and has received compensation for that work,” according to the request. The IGA will keep current compensation in place and make additions over the years.

Thompson told the Board this is formalizing what we had in place for quite a few years with a couple of new contract items. “We won’t lose what’s in the previous IGA.”

Board Chair Engels asked if Central City has seen this. Central City Manager Daniel Miera told the Board that his legal counsel has not reviewed this.

“We want to pass through general counsel and water counsel,” Miera said. The July 17 meeting would be a reasonable time frame

Engels asked County Attorney Jim Petrock to work with Central City to incorporate those changes. Watson announced that an open house at the Red Tail Cabins will take place on July 12, and asked Public Works to clean it up.

(Originally published in the July 5, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)