John Scarffe, Gilpin County.  The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners approved revised On-site Waste Water Treatment System regulations during a regular meeting on July 10, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. The Board also approved Stage Two Fire Restrictions, a County Facility Use Policy and discussed violations on the property of Dirk Lawson.

Sheriff Bruce Hartman introduced a resolution imposing Stage Two Fire Restrictions in the County. Board Chair Ron Engels said it has been hot and dry, and it’s time for Stage Two. Hartman said that means no open fires period whether in a designated campground or not.

Hartman coordinated with Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle, so Boulder County and Gilpin County are enacting the fire ban at the same time. The Board approved the resolution.

County Development Director Stephen Strohminger introduced the second reading of the revised Wastewater Treatment System Regulations, continued from the June 26 meeting. He said they have addressed all the Board discussed at the June 26 meeting.

Beginning discussion of the revised On-site Water System Treatment regulations at the June 26 meeting, Commissioner Gail Watson said the Board was hoping for a red-lined version. County Attorney Jim Petrock said most of these are state regulations, and they have preserved all of the previous restrictions.

Watson said she dosen’t think it covers the changes the Board put in. Petrock said that Appendix A identifies the more restrictive regulations.

Board Chair Ron Engels said that some County requirements have fallen out of this, and he continued the public hearing to get the regulations clear and included in the new version. On July 10, the Board approved the regulations as submitted.

Facilities Coordinator Vicki Nemec introduced a revised Facilities Use Policy, also carried over from the June 26 meeting. 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.

She said the changes have been added from the discussion last time. The use of the 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,” states the request.

Watson said it should be scheduled one or two weeks ahead of time to give staff more time to have people there. Isenhart said she liked the advanced notice. 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 advocated that rent for nonresidents should be much higher for the facilities but keep residents’ costs low.

Watson said she was also 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 offering 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, which 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.

At the July 10 meeting, Isenhart said she got an email from someone concerned that the fee for the multiple purpose room might be challenging for some residents and asked if they can acquire a waiver.

Nemec suggested having that at the director’s discretion. Watson said she was fine with this now but would like to talk about making entrance to the Community Center free for Gilpin County residents.

Access to a county funded building for recreation for the community is very important, Watson said. The County pays 90 percent from taxes. Allowing everyone in the community to use it is a good thing. Engels said he is willing to have a conversation.

Gabriel Chisolm, with Parks and Recreation, asked when they should implement this. The Board decided it would begin on October 1, 2018.

During public comment at the beginning of the meeting, a Gilpin County resident asked for an update on Dirk Lawson and alleged violations against his property in Russell Gulch. Lawson still has a few trailers there, and neighbors are concerned about fire danger.

“It’s his property. I understand that. There has been some progress,” he said. Later in the meeting the Board addressed the situation.

Gilpin County Landowner Dirk Lawson requested an RV park at the Board’s May 2, 2018, meeting. Larsen requested a 50-to-99-site RV park on 50 acres, on the Pewabic Mine Road near both the Virginia Canyon Road and Russell Gulch Roads. Strohminger said the traffic would include ten trips per day of 50 to 150.

The request was denied, and the County has subsequently investigated code violations on his property. Board Chair Ron Engels said the Board has the staff report with the application, staff, Planning Commission recommendations and public input.

On July 10, Engels asked how to move forward, especially with fires, considering the new fire restrictions. Hartman said that after they toured the area and saw motor homes and trailers on the side of the road, they distributed red tags. “I’m not sure we have the authority to haul them away because it’s not a county road.”

Engels asked if they can deal with public roads and allow these actions.

“We hoped for voluntary compliance.” Watson said that 30 days after papers are served, they can start court proceedings.

Petrock said that he has been given notice of the violations. Right now, the complaint is with the Boulder County Sheriff. Isenhart asked if Boulder County understands the urgency of this. “We have residents who are going crazy up there.”

Hartman said they don’t understand the urgency. “It’s one of 5,000 they have to serve, and I didn’t feel it was appropriate to make a call because they have so much going on. They do try to get them done very timely.”

Engels asked if they are confident the owner is only clearing trees on his property. Residents want to charge him with trespassing. “I understand there is open burning. If he starts a fire and it gets out of control everyone up there will be in a world of hurt.”

Strohminger said that at this time they are waiting on a court date. Hartman said, “We have limited authority, but we are communicating and working on it and understand it’s a community problem.”

(Originally published in the July 19, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)