John Scarffe, Gilpin County.   The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners passed the second reading of an ordinance regarding Gilpin County emergency and evacuation routes over private property during a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. The board also approved the 2018 supplemental budget and proposal for audit services and the cost allocation plan for 2019.

The board briefly discussed the second reading of an ordinance regarding Gilpin County emergency and evacuation routes over private property. The first reading of the ordinance was approved at the October 23, 2018, meeting.

County Emergency Manager Kevin Armstrong and County Attorney Jim Petrock introduced the continuation of a first reading of the ordinance from the September 9, 2018 meeting.

Armstrong explained that the ordinance is to help land owners be able to join into a program for emergency access through easements, so they would have some protection from people accessing the emergency routes. The program is still in development.

This allows the Sheriff’s Office to issue citations if someone uses an emergency egress unnecessarily, Armstrong said. This is predicated on the private property owners agreeing, and in return the County will be informing them of these protections.

The county has identified emergency and evacuation routes in existing developments and subdivisions, according to the ordinance. Private property owners on these routes have agreed to allow them to be used for emergencies and evacuations.

Emergency routes will be marked with signage specifying that use is strictly restricted to emergency and evacuation routes. The routes remain private property and are not available to the public until the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Board of Trustees or county emergency operations manager declares the emergency route open to the public.

On November 20, 2018, Commissioner Gail Watson corrected three typographical errors. Commissioner Linda Isenhart said that given the events in California regarding people becoming trapped and the highways clogged, we must be sure we are prepared.

The board approved the ordinance with the corrections. Finance Director Clorinda Smith introduced the 2018 Budget Supplementals to prevent funds from going over budget. The supplement includes $478,025 in expenditures less $68,356 in revenues totaling $409,669.

Smith said, “We do not need to put in every single item as long as we don’t go over budget.” The $20,000 for professional services in community development is included every year because staff doesn’t have a set amount and just had a lot going on this year.

Other big items include $50,500 for an emergency preparation contract with Anchor Point and $28,770 in staffing changes and benefits for the jail. The commissioners approved the supplemental budget resolution.

Smith then introduced the Cost Allocation Plan 2019 Agreement. MGT of America Consulting will conduct the agreement for $4,230. The county does a cost allocation plan to receive money from the state for finance, human services, IT, the county manager and facilities.

Watson said it pays for itself, and the board approved the agreement. Smith proposed audit services for the year ending on December 31, 2018. Hinkle & Company will start work on the audit on December 10 for $17,000, and if a single audit is needed additional fees will not exceed $3,000.

The firm will look at financial transactions and finish in May. The board will see a report in June or July, Smith said. During the last couple of years, they haven’t had to pay the $3,000.

County Manager Abel Montoya said that typically audits like this would require a bid process, but it’s common to have a contract with a company including an option to renew for three years, and he is comfortable moving forward with this company.

The board approved signing the engagement letter with the firm. The board also approved a Liquor Tasting Permit for Mid County Liquors at 17218 Highway 119 for two events each month throughout the year and reappointed Harv Mastalir to the Gilpin County Public Library Board.

(Originally published in the November 29, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)