Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On February 18, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance. Highlights include Sheriff’s Office items and a Proposal for Reallocation of Funds from Public Works.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong and Undersheriff Tonia Kapke presented the board with the US Forest Service Annual Patrol Agreement which seeks $8,100 to help with the cost of additional work hours, fire safety enforcement, shooting complaints, locating homeless camps and public interaction to deliver weather advisories with up to 25% of the money to be used for equipment.

Isenhart said, “I wish we could increase that amount because that backcountry really needs such a presence of law enforcement with illegal camping and shooting and crazy stuff.” To which Watson responded, “They are expecting to get some more funding for additional seasonal patrol on the Forest Service side.” 

Armstrong also responded by saying that “We met with the US Forest Service last week and they are going to close West Magnolia to all camping which will move it towards us and we’ll have a little more impact.” Isenhart made a motion to approve the USFS grant agreement and all were in favor. (Please see correction at the bottom of this story.) 

Another item was presented by the Sheriff’s Office concerning a request to fund Lexipol which is a program used by law enforcement agencies to streamline policy, legislation and communication. Lexipol was founded by public safety experts who saw a need for legally defensible policy content that is continually monitored and updated based on legislative changes. 

Kapke said, “We need to get our policies updated and it would help with our liability for the county as well.” Armstrong said, “They provide opportunities for scenario-based training which increases accountability because each of those officers or deputies have to sign off on that policy that they have read and understand that policy.” 

Isenhart asked, “Does Lexipro send you updates on a constant basis so you can digest and let your folks know?” To which Kapke responded, “Yes, it’s a continual notification of anything that changed on a list that applies to our county. It goes in and changes the policy and puts stuff out to everybody and then you can even create a little quiz that they read the policy,” which answered Engels’ next question about training.

At $14,000 a year the board expressed concern over cost and why it isn’t funded by the state if 64 counties ascribe to the service. Other thoughts posed included whether CTSI would offset the cost and/or could the county’s insurance provide a reduction. Watson said, “Let’s reconvene on this at our next work session or our next meeting.”

A Proposal for Reallocation of Funds was presented by Public Works Operation Supervisor David Rich and Public Works Director Gordon Thompson about purchasing a truck in 2020 for $78,000 instead of the $45,000 that was requested and approved in the 2020 budget. The extra is needed to upgrade the current truck from a 3500 flatbed to a 5500 operating on diesel instead of regular gas with a hook lift that would benefit the county by turning a limited use vehicle into a multi-use truck.

In 2019 they spent less than was expected because of limited available man hours for hauling materials from Denver and using less dust suppressant due to the Xcel pipeline project. Rich said, “It’s a hook-lift system so we can swap different beds out with it. This new system we could ask Central City to use their lift on our truck. We could put a goose neck platform to haul a goose neck trailer, etc.”

Engels said, “Using allocated funds from the last fiscal year I’m really disinclined to approve it. If you could work within the existing budget to find that other $33,000 I’d be much more inclined to approve this.”

Watson said, “Saying no now would indicate to departments that they need to spend every penny of their budget because we don’t allow them to carry it forward.” 

County Manager Abel Montoya asked, “Is this an absolute need or a want?” Rich said, “It’s more of a need than a want other than making it multi-use.” The board approved the proposal barring the hook lift upgrade which could be allocated in next year’s budget at Engels’ suggestion.

The next regular meeting for the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be held at 203 Eureka St, Second Floor, Central City Courthouse on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 9 a.m.        

(Originally published in the February 20, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)

CORRECTION: Camping in the West Magnolia area will continue to be allowed in designated, dispersed sites and the no camping restrictions will apply to the area immediately outside the designated camping area.