The Gilpin County Commissioners ratified a resolution suspending new applications for short-term rentals during a regular meeting on April 5, 2022, at the Gilpin County Courthouse. The Board also approved historic designation for the Severance Lodge, an Emergency Operating Plan, and a submission of two projects for grant funding.

County Attorney Brad Benning introduced a resolution to impose a 90-day suspension on the submission, acceptance, processing, and approval of any application for a Gilpin County permit for the operation of a short-term rental business, declaring the intention of the Board to consider amendments to existing County regulations. He defined a short-term rental as any rental up to 30 days.

At its March 1 meeting the Board approved a moratorium on short-term rental applications effective March 7. Benning requested a motion to ratify this resolution.

The purpose of this resolution is to give the Board time to consider amendments to County regulations. Short-term rentals raise many issues throughout the entire state. They have a lot of impact on traffic, noise, and visitors who are not aware of the weather in Gilpin County. STRs use more water than the existing septic systems can handle.

As a result, the Commissioners are looking at different options and attempting to determine the impacts. Other Colorado counties are also looking at short-term rentals.

The Board approved ratifying the resolution and conducted a work session on the issue that afternoon. Benning said they will set this for a public hearing and will take public testimony at the hearing in person, so the public will have considerable time to participate.

Tami Archer, County Planner and Historic Preservation Commission Liaison, presented an application for local landmark designation for the Severance Lodge at 19507 Highway 119 in Black Hawk. On February 17, 2022, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) considered the application and voted unanimously to recommend approval to the County Commissioners. The HPC reviewed the application for designation to the County Historic Register submitted by Judd Motchan for the Severance Lodge.

Staff recommended to the HPC that the Severance Lodge is eligible for County landmark designation. The period of significance for the building was established as 1926 through 1970, the typical fifty-year cut-off for historic buildings.

The property has changed very little during this period and retains very good historical integrity. The HPC found that the property is eligible for local landmark designation for “exemplifying the cultural, political, economic or ethnic heritage and exemplifies specific elements of an architectural style or period.” The HPC further recommended that the property’s landmark name be “Severance Lodge.”

Archer said the Severance Lodge was constructed in 1925 and in the 1940s it was a hunting lodge. It most recently was owned by Judith Fisher, and Applicant Judd Motchan said he became the caretaker by purchasing it on December 17, 2021.

The Severance Lodge property is located 1.2 miles from the mid-County business zone and includes a seven-acre parcel, the historic building, four outbuildings, a chicken coop, a fireplace and chimney. Judd Motchan said the property hasn’t raised any revenue for maintenance. His goal is to preserve the property and restore it to its original use.

He promised Judith Fisher that she could return to the main lodge. He wants to protect the water supply and repair damage that occurred over time. He hopes to have semi-annual events and in summer 2023 he hopes to open it up for public visitors.

The Board approved the historic designation.

Nate Wittington, Gilpin County emergency manager, introduced the adoption of the Gilpin County Emergency Operations Plan. The plan outlines general guidelines on how the County carries out its response and recovery responsibilities to address an emergency or disaster event.

Adoption of the plan identifies the Director of Emergency Management or Deputy Emergency Manager as the lead in County disaster or emergency response and recovery efforts. The plan includes policies, plans, and procedures that address the preparation, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery from emergencies and disasters.

The County plan was last revised in 2017 and is to be reviewed and updated every five years to comply with state regulations for funding. The plan, which serves as a policy level and guidance document, has been written and approved to respond to major incidents and disasters within Gilpin County. All organizations participating in emergency management activities are to follow the concepts and coordination systems specified in this plan.

The plan has been written in consultation with participating organizations. It has been designed to coordinate the activities of various organizations that may not interact daily while recognizing the standard mission of the organization. Nothing in this plan is intended to interfere with the delivery of the organization’s primary services. As necessary, a local disaster declaration may be issued to address those issues.

The Board approved the plan and the adoption of Gilpin County Annual Operating Plan for 2022. The Annual Operating Plan (AOP) is a working document compiled each year by wildfire agencies participating in the plan. The purpose of this Annual Operating Plan is to set forth standard operating procedures, agreed-upon procedures and responsibilities to implement cooperative wildfire protection on all lands within Gilpin County.

If a fire crosses, or threatens to cross, jurisdictional boundaries and becomes a multi-jurisdictional fire, a Unified Command may be utilized if deemed necessary by the involved jurisdictions to meet as a group and identify one common set of objectives and tactics for implementation. Agencies will respond upon request (or may do so voluntarily if adjoining land is threatened) to any other agency or fire protection district for the duration of the mutual aid period.

The parties to this operating plan will use the Incident Command System (ICS) during all wildland fire operations that is consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Administrative Analyst Sam Bower requested applications for Congressionally Directed Funding from U.S. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper’s Offices. He said they needed to submit a one-page brief, and they have two briefs: one for a new building for the Food Pantry and another for the Office of Emergency Management.

The Gilpin County Food Pantry currently operates out of a temporary structure which is not suited to accommodate the operational needs, goals and objectives of the Food Pantry. Gilpin County is seeking to resolve this issue through the construction of a new Food Pantry building, which can appropriately accommodate the Food Pantry.

The goal is to construct a new building to suit the specific operational needs of the Food Pantry. This will allow the Food Pantry staff and volunteers the ability to correctly and efficiently provide for the needs and demands of the community now and into the future.

The building of a correctly designed food pantry will, through efficient building design, directly benefit three groups: the citizens of Gilpin County seeking food assistance, staff, and volunteers who operate the Food Pantry.

Gilpin County is currently seeking proposals from Architect and Engineer firms and individuals to progress collaboratively through the design and schematic phase anticipated to be completed by the end of September 2022. Then the contract and building phases will commence, with anticipated completion by September of 2024.

The Gilpin County Office of Emergency Management requested the opportunity to approach Senator Hickenlooper regarding funding the update to the community wildfire protection plan to include a comprehensive emergency evacuation route study. This request provides for the purchase of 200 additional N5 Shield Sensors.

This project will apply to the Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Pre-Disaster Mitigation Project, as identified in the letter from Senator Hickenlooper’s staff on March 30, 2022. This wildfire mitigation project is 100 percent shovel ready, clearly defined in scope and deliverables, reasonably budgeted, self-sustaining, and beneficial to the wider community. By submitting this project, Gilpin County can ensure it meets all the requests of Senator Hickenlooper.

Commission Chair Sandy Hollingsworth said they can submit more than one proposal, and Congressman Joe Neguse is also open to proposals. County Manager Ray Rears said the deadline to submit the proposals is April 8.

Hollingsworth said the County has three opportunities and we have these two projects. Wittington said he has a file of projects and will bring one to the Board. The Board approved applying for the two options.

The next meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will be on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, and the Gilpin County Courthouse. For more information, go to https://gilpincounty.org/public_meetings/bo_ c_ c_ meetings.