The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) called their regular meeting to order at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. In attendance were Commissioner Marie A. Mornis, Commissioner Susan Berumen, Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, County Manager Ray Rears, County Attorney Brad Benning, and Deputy Clerk to the Board Lyndsey Denton.

Chanda Johnson, Human Resources Director, introduced Gabriella Chisholm, who said Parks and Recreation have had five new hires in the past two months. The positions filled include: two Recreation Generalists, two Teen Program Aides, and a Guest Service Representative. An employee who had been laid off during COVID was re-hired into the Road and Bridge Department. There was also an internal promotion within Human Services.

Alisa Witt, Public Health Director, presented information on Resolution 23-80, Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) for Tobacco Control Work and Funding.

A new intergovernmental agreement was proposed for tobacco control work and funding between Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) and Gilpin County Public Health (GCPH). This funding is a sub-award from a tobacco grant that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ( CDPHE) awarded to JCPH. Gilpin was originally supposed to receive $50,000 but miscommunication between JCPH and CDPHE left Gilpin without an award.

After negotiations with JCPH and CDPHE, this contract is a concession from JCPH. CDPHE has also agreed to open up the 3-year grant cycle in years 2 and 3 so that Gilpin will be eligible for the full award in 2024 and 2025.

This funding will initially come into the GCPH budget monthly and then will be sub-awarded internally to the Gilpin Community Center’s Eagle youth program, where most of this work will be done. The Gilpin Public Health Coordinator will oversee and assist with this work and communicate goals and objectives to the Eagle program leadership, as well as continue to work with the JCPH tobacco control team.

Witt will supervise the policy work and would like to see an approach in the schools to smoking and vaping cessation that is more supportive than punitive. The award in future years will be larger and the work will be a collaboration between the Youth Program and Public Health.

Hollingsworth suggested adding that the work will be primarily done through the Youth Program, and that it is part of the Parks and Recreation Department. Hollingsworth said it is not common for money to be split between two departments, hence the need for clarity.

Hollingsworth moved to approve Resolution 23-80 with the revision of bullet point 4, that the work is done through the Parks and Recreation Department. Berumen seconded, and all were in favor.

Joe Allaire, Finance Director, presented the 2024 Draft Budget via Powerpoint, which will be on the County website at https://gilpincounty.colorado. gov/public-meetings/board-of-county-commissioners-bocc-meetings.

Allaire reminded the Board of its priorities to create a dedicated emergency fund, implement recommendations from the Compensation Study, address deferred capital costs, and expand broadband.

He completed his overview and slated a work session for October 12. He said he feels it is a good draft budget and may need some tweaking since it is the County’s first year doing priority-based budgeting.

Sam Bower, Administrative Analyst, introduced Resolution 23-94, Issuing Inspection Certificates and an Ambulance Service License to the Gilpin Ambulance Authority.

This resolution issues inspection certificates and a license to the Gilpin Ambulance Authority (GAA) for one year, backdated to January 1, 2023, and set for expiration on December 31, 2023. Inspections were performed by Zane Laubhan, and his comments and inspection forms are attached to this staff report.

Bower said the State will actually resume inspections on July 1, not January 1, and would like the date extended to June 30, 2024. Berumen moved to approve the resolution with the extension. The motion was seconded and passed 3-0.

Bower presented Resolution 23-91, Amending the Master Policy & Procedure Manual, P-8, Sale and Other Disposition of Personal Property Policy

This resolution amends the Master Policy & Procedure Manual to include a new policy, P-8, Sale and Other Disposition of Personal Property Policy. This policy closely matches the County’s current policy adopted by Resolution 22-11 on May 3, 2022. Small corrections and clarifications have been made.

After some discussion, the board called a 10-minute recess to allow Benning some time to review legal language. After the Board reconvened, Benning explained that the County is not supposed to lend credit to private companies – with some exceptions – so as not to compete with private interests.

The ensuing discussion concerned whether the language meant lending property, funds, or credit; and Rears recommended tabling the issue until the next regular meeting.

Bower introduced Resolution 23-90, Amending the List of Official Appointments, Boards, and Committees. Changes in staffing has prompted the need to update the List of Official Appointments, Boards, and Committees because he noticed a few things were out of date according to Statute.

Bower said that, specifically, the Board needs to officially appoint a new Human Services Director (Janey Barker), a new Administrative Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners (Lyndsey Denton), and to authorize the Clerk to the BoCC (Lyndsey Denton) to use facsimile signatures.

Hollingsworth moved to approve the Resolution, Berumen seconded, and motion passed 3-0.

Nate Wittington, Office of Emergency Management Director, introduced Resolution 23-93, Authorizing the Execution of Real Property Lease Agreement with Pano AI.

Wittington has been working diligently over the past few years to create an early detection and alert wildfire prevention system.

Xcel Energy has partnered with Pano AI wildfire detection cameras to install a camera on the Dakota Hill Tower location in Gilpin County. The camera would normally cost $50,000 on an annual basis, but partnering with Xcel, Pano AI is willing to install it for free. They believe it would be a great location from which to view the Continental Divide.

The Board can decide to approve a zero cost lease agreement for the installation of this technology on the Dakota Hill Tower.

The fiscal impacts include electricity costs of approximately $.20 or whatever it takes to power a laptop over a year.

There would be a live video feed in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). There will be a tower survey to ensure lack of interference with current systems.

Wittingon said there are smoke sensors throughout the county and by partnering with United Power’s sensors they can get a very good idea of potential dangers.

Wittington said this is a statewide initiative and Hollingsworth said it is complementary to the sensors.

The commissioners decided to include some language explicitly stating it is no cost to the County since Excel is paying. Wittington is working with County legal now to get the standard lease agreement with a zero fee statement.

Berumen moved to approve Resolution 23-93 with amendment. All were in favor.

Wittington and Bower presented Resolution 23-92, Rescinding Resolution No. 23-84 and Awarding a Contract to SWCA, Inc. for the Commission of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

On June 7, 2023, staff released a request-for-proposals (RFP) for an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) with a deadline of July 6, 2023. The County received a total of four proposals.

The top scoring firm was SWCA, with a financial proposal quoting the cost of their services for this project at $146,169.14. This falls well within the County’s budget of $253,579, with total savings of $107,409.86.

Resolution 23-84 awards a contract to SWCA for the commission of a CWPP and authorizes the County Manager to execute the contract following review by the County Attorney.

Bower said that following the Board’s award via Resolution 23-84, it was discovered by staff that the proposal included with the Resolution was out of date. The Project Manager had requested a revised proposal from SWCA with additional services.

This error was, thankfully, noticed before the agreement was executed. Resolution 23-92 rescinds Resolution 23-84, which Hollingsworth pointed out has a typographical error in it.

The additional funds now requested for this project are to provide for evacuation route planning, watershed planning, and greater community engagement through community events.

Hollingsworth moved to approve Resolution 23-92, rescinding Resolution 23-84 and awarding the contract to SWCA Inc. for the commission of a CWWP with the corrected fourth bullet point. Berumen seconded and all were in favor.

James Shrout, Planner 1, Community Development, introduced Resolution BLE-23-2, Approving a Boundary Line Elimination for Steph Mitro Burnett.

Property owners are seeking a resolution to approve the elimination of the boundary line between their two lots to create a larger parcel of land.

The lots are currently vacant and elimination of the lot lines allow for greater flexibility with development of the lot. The Dory Lakes Property Association is willing to rescind the walking easement. Shrout recommended approval. All were in favor.

Benning and Rears delivered the County Attorney’s report and County Manager’s report, respectively.

The next budget workshops will be on October 12 from 12 to 2:30, October 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, and October 18, 12 to 3 p.m. On October 17 there will be a work session at 9 a.m. with updates on broadband and the employee handbook, and discussions on Public Health and Moffat Tunnel. The October 31 work session was canceled. On November 7 there will be a discussion at the Community Center on staffing compensation. The Black Hawk dispatch tour is being pushed back to January.

Hollingsworth said that the Governor’s Office recently changed the Moffat Tunnel lease and that Gilpin County should submit a comment supporting a passenger stop in Rollinsville. She confirmed with the Governor’s Office that Rollinsville is in the proposal as a potential stop. The Board will discuss writing a letter at the next work session.

Eagles’ Nest is working on cutting costs, increasing tuition, and has reached out to nearby businesses for financial support as requested by the Board. They are also working on a silent auction fundraiser and possibly a Pickleball tournament on November 18 to raise funds. Hollingsworth requested they also develop a closure plan.

Mornis announced there will be a fire mitigation meeting at 6 p.m. on October 12 at the Observatory with the Corona Heights residents. Timberline’s Station 9 will have its grand opening on October 17 at 4 p.m.

Berumen moved to adjourn into Executive Session. Hollingsworth seconded, all were in favor, and the board adjourned at 11:53 a.m.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for October 24 at 9 a.m. and will be held in person at 203 Eureka Street in Central City and online via Zoom.