Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Thursday, April 7, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) posted a video update on Covid-19 which is also covered in this article. Highlights of the virtual meeting include a consideration and decision on potential fire ban and shooting restrictions and a discussion on compensation for Gilpin County employees who use remote technology.

Gilpin County has its first confirmed case of Covid-19. Sheriff Armstrong gave a video update on their Facebook page on April 9, 2020, saying that they will be launching a symptom tracker on GCSO webpage. 

Bonnie Albrecht, Public Health Director, said the online symptom tracker is designed to give us a more complete picture of what the illness looks like in our community and is asking Gilpin residents who have experienced symptoms to enter into this system. This system helps the state allocate resources to the county in accordance with need.

Armstrong said, “We will continue to be out in the county responding to calls. Please remember that if in-person contact is necessary, we will be showing up in masks. You may also receive a phone call first depending on what your needs are. This is for your safety, as well as our safety, in support of physical distancing.” GCSO will start sending out weekly video updates on the progress of the pandemic. 

Nathan Whittington, Gilpin County Emergency Manager, presented the Gilpin County Covid hotline for any questions which is 303-515-4342 and the email which is covid19@gilpincounty.org. Whittington gave thanks to Mountain Masks who was able to produce over 400 masks that were donated and handed out to Gilpin’s first responders.

The board convened as the Gilpin County Board of Health to consider and decide on a potential fire ban and shooting restrictions. Many counties and possibly the state are thinking of passing fire bans, according to County Attorney Benning. 

“A Stage 1 Fire Ban and Shooting Restrictions is being issued to address the potential danger the Covid-19 pandemic has on the ability of Gilpin County and its USFS, regional, state of Colorado and federal emergency operations partners to prevent, manage, and extinguish forest fires. Additionally, a forest fire would impact and deplete fire and emergency personnel, resources, and funding needed to safely, successfully and timely prevent, manage, and extinguish forest fires,” reads the order. The shooting restrictions do not include hunting. 

The county facing a pandemic means cost, time and resources that shouldn’t compete with any possible fire disasters. The motion was passed unanimously.

The board then reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners and discussed a policy for remote access and technology compensation. Human Resources Director Lori Schrayer and Finance Director Clorinda Smith said all but 8 employees have returned to work either remotely or independently with social distancing intact. Forty-two employees are working from home using their own technology and the county would like to give them $50 per month per person since March 14 and extending to May 1, equaling $75 each to be dispersed in their direct deposit paychecks.

Montoya pointed out that the county is saving money on overhead like utilities and that some of that saved revenue could help out the folks working from home using their own printers, copiers, faxes and internet. This discussion is tabled for executive session where a short and long-term plan will be decided.

No changes to the minutes for the April 7 meeting were necessary.

The next meeting for the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at 9 a.m. virtually and can be accessed by following the instructions on the current agenda on the Gilpin County Commissioners website. Check the county website for the schedule of meetings held twice weekly, every Tuesday and Thursday during this crisis.

(Originally published in the April 16, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)