John Scarffe, Gilpin County.  Residents of Russell Gulch in Gilpin County registered concern about lack of fire protection in the area and asked for a building moratorium during the regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at the Gilpin County Courthouse. Two Russell Gulch residents brought a petition signed by 37 people to the meeting.

Residents, Forrest Anderson and Ed De Cieco, presented the petition to the Board. Anderson said residents of Russell Gulch have been concerned about fire protection. “We’re without a fire protection district, and we’re covered by Centrals City’s good graces.”

Anderson said they have issues about fire loads and new construction. Home owners don’t understand the lack of fire protection. The population has been stable in the past, but that is changing quickly.

“We’re concerned for ourselves and anybody who wants to build or develop there,” Anderson said. “The purpose of the petition is to ask the Commissioners to consider a building moratorium.”

The petition stated: “As property owners and residents of Russell Gulch, we have grown concerned with fire protection in our community. It is to the point that it’s nearly impossible to obtain and retain insurance coverage.

“For many years, the Central City Volunteer Fire Department has been kind enough to provide us assistance; however, their resources are limited. With the amount of dead timber that continues to grow as the pine beetle continues to spread, the situation becomes more volatile.

“In addition there are an increasing number of lots being cleared, structures being built and trailers being put in place. All of this adds to a disaster waiting to happen.

“Due to the increased liability involved in adding new structures without adequate protection, we submit that a building moratorium for new structures be put in place immediately. This should remain in effect until a long-term solution for fire protection be put in place immediately.”

Anderson told the Board that the Timberline Fire Protection District has had a change of policy and might be able to cover the area. Timberline covers much of the area in unincorporated Gilpin County.

“The town of Russell Gulch no longer exists, and you’re the only government we have to help us,” Anderson said, adding that the whole south end of the County doesn’t fall into a fire protection district. “We thought we probably better get this process started.”

De Cieco said that one of things that has started to occur is that insurance companies won’t cover them. “Somebody could get hurt, injured or die in a fire. It takes a lot of time to haul water up the hill.”

Board Chair Linda Isenhart said the County needs to find a solution. The County has had some talks with Fire Chief Levy, but this is a larger problem.

Commissioner Buddy Schmalz said this is this the first time this issue has come up.

“There needs to be a much bigger, comprehensive solution. You need equipment and a station up there. Someone has to pay for that.”

De Cieco said they need to have two thirds of the property owners agree to form a fire protection district and pointed out that some people are building homes on mining claims. “We have no water supply. There are water issues and fire issues for a potential buyer.”

Anderson said that in the County master plan, the area of Russell Gulch and the south part of the county are considered to be a mineral resource area. “It seems that is inconsistent with the zoning and the stated needs of the County. If we could buy some time that would be good.”

The area has issues of easement, road maintenance and the ability of fire trucks to get in, Anderson said. “All those issues are going to merge. You’re looking at a potential of maybe 1,000 new establishments being built there.”

Isenhart said the Commissioners have this issue down on their radar. “I would be in favor of a six-month moratorium. Putting 1,000 more homes in this area would be a bad idea.”

Commissioner Gail Watson said the Commissioners need to get a better sense of this from the County’s Community Development Department and should sit down and talk to the Timberline and Central City fire departments during a work session.

Isenhart asked County Manager Roger Baker and Community Development Director Tony Petersen to work on getting a meeting together. Baker said they have a meeting with Central City in July and could bring this up.

Clerk and Recorder Colleen Stewart presented a termination agreement with Hart Intercivic, Inc., of Houston, Texas, for the Hart Voting System. The County entered into a license agreement for Hart voting equipment on May 11, 2006, and renewed the agreement on January 13, 2014, according to the Termination Agreement.

A dispute has arisen over the agreement and their continued legal existence, effectiveness and performance, according to the Termination Agreement, so the parties want to resolve those disputes and terminate the agreement. The County will pay Hart $6,000 and the agreement was terminated on June 14, 2016.

Hart must pick up the equipment at the Gilpin County Courthouse within 60 days or the County can keep the equipment or dispose of it, according to the agreement. Stewart told the Board that Hart is going to pay for shipping the equipment. “This is a win-win for us,” she said.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Commissioners will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City.