Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On October 8, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and discussed a reclassification for the Special Events Coordinator position, noise complaints in the Russell Gulch area, a lease for a Law Enforcement Shooting Range, and a recommendation for historic preservation for the Thorn Lake School. 

Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Benedict presented a request to convert the part-time fair coordinator position into a full-time special events coordinator under the direction of Parks and Recreation. The person who fills this position will be responsible for the county fair in addition to community and departmental special events. 

Commissioner Ron Engels made a motion to approve the reclassification of the position. Watson seconded and all were in favor.

Gilpin County Sherriff Kevin Armstrong approached the table, which was attended by Madame Chair Commissioner Linda Isenhart, Commissioner Ron Engels, Commissioner Gail Watson, County Attorney Bradford Benning, County Manager Abel Montoya, and Deputy Clerk Sharon Cate. He addressed reports of noise complaints on Russell Gulch.

A deputy went to the location to verify safety measures as well as no alcohol. “It was a husband and wife and daughter that had a bucket list to shoot machine guns,” Watson said. He asked, “Were they paying for that opportunity? Armstrong answered in the affirmative, “There was a fee that they paid to do this.”

A notice was given to be passed on to the property owner, who only has to report to discuss zoning compliance in a required amount of time. Armstrong said, “There was nothing that we can do because they had legal paperwork; they were on private property.” Engels expressed concern about whether or not a Range Master was present or any supervisor and Armstrong confirmed that there was someone there from Machine Gun Tours. 

Whilst on the topic of shooting, a Shooting Range Lease was discussed solely intended for law enforcement and certain state and county employees. The lease term would start October 1, 2019, and would terminate September 30, 2020, with an option to renew and the total rental term totaling $6,000. The property owner expressed concern in the verbiage of the lease for proper restoration of the site. 

Stephen Strohminger approached the Board about a letter of recommendation for the historic preservation of the Thorn Lake School building, which would remain in its present location. The Thorn Lake School was designated a Gilpin County Landmark in 2007 as a rare example of a one-room schoolhouse. It was donated to Gilpin County in 2012 and moved to its present site in Rollinsville.

Structural concerns involve a temporary roof request equaling $1,200 immediately and a request to rehabilitate the building on the interior and exterior, totaling $60,000, partially funded through grants. It could be used as a seasonal interpretive center. 

If use as an interpretive center is planned, consideration will be given to climate control requirements inside for the exhibits and artifacts, such as a period-appropriate stove, and should be designed to minimize impact on the historic integrity of the structure.

Watson said, “This may not ever turn into an interpretive center. We don’t know yet. What we’re trying to do right now is to keep it from deteriorating further.” Engels said, “I think it’s a very definitive proposal with getting the roof but everything else we can wait on.” Isenhart said, “Time is of the essence with the roof.” 

Watson then asked, “Can we approve all of Phase One?” The county would need about $70,000 in the budget for the project and plan on sending out an RFP soon. Watson made a motion to accept the historic structure assessment from 2014 and ask that the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) move forward with looking for state funding to partner with the $70,000 that we are now appropriating for Phase One and Two of the Thorn Lake School Building. All were in favor.

(Originally published in the October 17, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)