John Scarffe and Mindy Leary, Gilpin County.

January

The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners recognized newly elected officials for 2019 during a reception at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at the Gilpin County Courthouse before the regular meeting at 9 a.m. Newly elected officials are Gilpin County Commissioner for District 2 Linda Isenhart, Gilpin County Assessor Anne Schafer, Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick, Gilpin County Coroner Zane Laubhan, Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Armstrong and Gilpin County Treasurer and Public Trustee Mary R. Lorenz. County Manager Abel Montoya distributed a news release announcing the purchase of a 1.5-acre property at 15193 Highway 119 in mid-county for a new Human Services Department and Public Health building for $480,773.  The property is adjacent to existing County owned land, and the building is about 5,088 square feet.

On January 22, the Board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State of Colorado and Gilpin County for shared communications site and systems including the Dory Hill Tower for new equipment. The MOU will allow the State to co-locate communications equipment at one or more tower sites owned and operated by the County. On a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Watson voting against it, the Board approved a budget adjustment to receive Central City funds for a Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that would transfer $45,000 for the purchase of a patrol vehicle for Central City. Central City will transfer the money, so it’s essentially a wash. 

February

The Board heard a report from the Gilpin Ambulance Authority on February 5. During a work session following the brief meeting, the Board received an update from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and discussed a proposal to bring network connectivity into County office locations via a radio and receivers. Due to the recent installation of a Fiber internet connection at the Justice Center, the County can utilize the 100 x 100 speeds to expand the network to the Recreation Center, the Barn and Public Health utilizing Gilpin owned equipment to create a Wide Area Network WAN), a way of connecting multiple buildings, departments or offices across distances. The Goal of this project is to bring the network connectivity to as many Gilpin County locations as possible.

On February 19, the Commissioners approved a contract for a 2019 Quality of Life Survey with the Center for Research and Public Policy (CRPP) for $10,900. On January 24, the County released a request for proposals to create, coordinate and conduct the survey. The Board approved fining Steve McCollum and McCollum’s Excavating, LLC., at 759 Pactolus Lake Road, $500 for each violation and $50 per day for an On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems installer license and a penalty assessment for performing work without permits or licenses. 

March

Eldora Mountain Resort requested approval of a Special Use Permit for the expansion of Eldora Ski Resort into northern Gilpin County on March 5, 2019, at the Gilpin County Courthouse including construction of a lift return and a lift operator building, on property owned by Tolland Ranch, LLC. 

This session of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) also addressed a budget adjustment for a new Utility Task Vehicle (UTV). Sherriff Kevin Armstrong said the current UTV is going to be de-acquisitioned and cannot be retrofitted. Commissioner Ron Engels was not in favor of an unplanned, unbudgeted vehicle replacement request and suggested that proper channels be used.

On March 19, Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners have approved the request to purchase a new Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) by a vote of two to one. The $27,000 UTV would be used by the Sheriff’s Office in the backcountry for patrols, rescues, and other operations. It will have wheels and tracks, allowing it to be used any time of the year.

The Board made a motion to approve boundary line elimination, BLE #18-06 for Barbara S. Anton, who wished to consolidate two residential lots into one on Globe Flower Lane off of La Chula Road. The board approved the motion unanimously.

April

The Board approved a restructure and adding an employee to the Human Resources and Finance departments on April 9, adding a full-time staff member to work half time for Human Resources and half time for Finance with a financial impact of about $45,000 annually. The Board also approved an attorney for Human Services with the Law Office of Jeffrey J. Timlin, who would be designated as the special attorney to represent the department in all proceedings under the Colorado Children’s Code. The Board also approved the purchase of two vehicles and the annual emergency operations plan.

On April 23, 2019 the board of commissioners in Gilpin County met for their bimonthly meeting. Kara Campbell, the Mountain Services Manager for Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH), proclaimed that May is Mental Health Month.

Sahari McCormick made a request to purchase Map/Plat Cabinets for the county. The commissioners approved the request for up to $6,000. Administrative Manager, Cherokee Blake, and Administrative Services Coordinator, Vicki Nemee entered a proposal from the Gilpin County Sherriff’s Office for a new copier lease.

The Public Works Director, Gordon Thompson, presented a Vehicle Replacement Plan and Request to Purchase Four SUV’s. These vehicles will replace older vehicles that serve as pool vehicles for the Assessor’s Office/Community Development/Clerk and Recorder, CSU Extension Service Vehicle, and Jefferson County Public Health Department.  The board approved the purchase of four Toyota Rav 4’s.

The Board of County Commissioners Status Report discussed the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission Membership. The Board appointed Jack Hidahl to a new 3-yr term. Additionally they appointed Sarah Russell and Travis Wright to 3-yr terms.

May

The Board prioritized local applications for Colorado Department of Local Affairs Gaming Impact Grants on May 7. The County annually applies for the gaming grants with financial assistance available to local government entities for documented gaming impacts. The Board ranked the application for the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office Detentions as number one, Sheriff’s Office Patrol number two, Gilpin Ambulance Authority number three, County Victim Services as four, Eagles Nest Early Learning Center as five, the Jefferson Center for Mental Health as six and the First Judicial District Attorney as seven. The Board also approved a Special Event Liquor Permit for the 2019 County Fair.

The Board of County Commissioners met on May 21, 2019 for their biweekly meeting at the Gilpin County Courthouse in Central City to first award Vicki Nemec, who is retiring after 25 years of service as the Administration Services Coordinator.

The County Commissioner Board then recessed as the Board and reconvened as the Local Liquor Licensing Authority to have a public hearing for a Special Events Permit for the 4th of July Barn Dance that will be held at Gilpin County Fairgrounds. Rob Savoye and Kristen McFarland of the Peak to Peak Music Education Association presented the application with a site map and express goal of raising money for Gilpin County Schools.   

County Manager Abel Montoya presented a recommendation on the appointment of the new County Surveyor, namely Robert Hennessy, PLS. All commissioners were in favor.

Robert Young, d.b.a. Elk Horn Investment Group, LLC presented a Boundary Line Elimination Application concerning BLE #19-01 in Russell Gulch, requesting to consolidate 14 lots into one lot with plans for a Historic Landmark Designation of the Frontenac Mill Site. Future plans for this site include public hiking trails, with mountain biking separate from hiking trails and wildlife conservation.  Ron Engels moved to approve the application and all were in favor.  

June

On June 11, 2019 at 9 am the Gilpin County Commissioners met at the Central City Courthouse. First on the agenda, Human Resources Director, Susie Allen, presented the guidelines for recognizing public servants.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong presented the US Forest Service Patrol Agreement with the recommended action for approving the use of $8,100 in the patrolling forest service areas. The roads patrolled include Upper Apex Road, Apex Valley Road, Mammoth Gulch Road, East Portal Road, Rollins Pass Road, and Missouri Gulch Road. Emphasis for law enforcement patrols will focus on illegal off-road use, illegal cross country travel, going around closed gates, natural resources damage, mudding, and OHV registration compliance (permit sticker/license plates).

On June 25, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse to discuss topics like work contracts, boundary line eliminations, a landmark designation and a liquor license renewal. Sky Blue’s contract was presented and approved for a new Human Services Building.

County Planner, Dan Horn, presented a public hearing, BOA #19-01, to the board concerning a request for a variance that would permit the construction of a new 864 square foot garage 18 feet from the applicants’ west property line. A building permit was already approved by the Plans Reviewer with an original setback of 30 feet. The applicant then decided to apply for a variance instead.

The property owner of the Frontenac Mine is seeking local landmark designation from the Board of County Commissioners. Stephen Strohminger, Community Development Director, presented the information, saying that the applicant desires to develop the area into a park with trails that have views of the historic structures.

Reconvening as the Board of Health, the commissioners reviewed an annual liquor license renewal application for Underground Liquors, located at 15107 Highway 119. Per usual, a background check of the owners was conducted by the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office and no records of any negative contact or issues were found. The application was then approved at the local level.

July

On July 9, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse to discuss the Quality of Life survey that was mailed out to Gilpin County residents in June 2019.

Another highlight of this meeting had to do with the public’s concern over accessibility for emergency services where a gas pipeline is being installed at Dory Hill Road. Several citizens expressed concern during public comment, including an individual who had left a heated voicemail for the commissioners the prior evening. Engels played this voicemail for the board and sympathetically agreed with the citizen’s concerns.

On July 23, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse to discuss the 2018 Tobacco and Health Household Survey results.

Next on the agenda was the Cost Allocation Plan presented by Ellie Hennes. A Cost Allocation Plan is defined in the handout given as “An accounting document that identifies countywide indirect costs and distributes those costs to benefitting departments.”

The allocating departments are depreciation, maintenance, administration, finance, human resources, and attorney. For the financial year of 2018 the most significant variance was an increase of $37k to the Clerk and Recorder function within Administration that was mainly due to maintenance.   

  The Sheriff had an increase of $52k due to maintenance and increased costs in finance function.  Parks and Recreation and Solid Waste had increases as well, $41k and $33k, respectively.

Pickle Liquors located at 661 Hwy 46 in Black Hawk applied for a liquor license renewal and was approved by the liquor licensing board.

August

In August 1, the Commissioners approved a new position and a pay increase for dispatchers in the Sheriff’s Department during a special meeting to convene as the Board of Equalization, hearing appeals for property valuation protests. The Board approved a request to create a Full-time Evidence Technician Position with a tentative start date of October 1, 2019, at pay grade 85 between $46,000 and $69,200, and a request to increase pay for emergency dispatch personnel to bring dispatchers more in line with market prices.

On August 20, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and discussed the Treasurer Report, Financial Statements Audit, Strategic Improvements Requests, and Xcel Energy’s Wildfire Mitigation Program.

County Treasurer and Public Trustee, Mary Lorenz, approached the table to present the First Quarter of 2019 as the Public Trustee and then as Treasurer, she presented the First Half of 2019. Foreclosures are at a low which is good news, remarked Commissioner Gail Watson.

Finance Director, Clorinda Smith, Jim Hinkle and Chris Parker, CPA, approached the table and presented the 2018 Audit of the Annual Financial Statements. Watson moved to accept the 2018 Financial Statements and all were in favor.

Included in the Strategic Improvements Request was approval for Permit Application and Document Management. Stephen Strohminger, Community Development Department Director, elucidated on the Permit Application Improvement and how a resident could submit building permits and plans from anywhere with internet access.

Xcel Energy representatives, Preston Gibson and Kirk Scheitler, then presented Xcel’s Wildfire Mitigation Program for Gilpin County. 

Isenhart mentioned that half of the county is served by United Power and that she had heard of no outreach from them. Watson replied that United Power contracted with Asplundh to mitigate their power lines, about 3-4 years ago. Watson expressed her gratitude to Excel and mentioned how Gilpin County has been paying 50% of the residents’ costs in creating defensible spaces.   

September

On September 3, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and discussed two hotly contested variance requests and Stage One fire restrictions.

Gilpin County Community Development Director Stephen Strohminger presented two variance applications to the Board of Adjustments (BOA). BOA 19-02 is request for a variance that would permit a subdivision exemption that would divide property located at 432 North County Road into two lots.

Gilpin County Sherriff Kevin Armstrong presented Resolution 19-08 which will implement Temporary Stage one Fire Restrictions. Gilpin County Commissioners approved the Stage One Temporary restrictions unanimously.

A reception at 8 a.m. on September 24 honored Colorado State University Extension Agent Irene Shonle, who left her position with the County. During the regular meeting, the Board approved rescinding Stage One Fire Restrictions, an emergency management grant from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for $60,000, and a variance for an Onsite Waste Water Treatment System for Ginger Deray at 306 Harris Detour for a privy because she does not have enough room for a full-blown system.  The Board denied a request to add a full-time position in the Assessor’s Office and approved a Boundary Line Elimination creating a two-acre lot at 592 Morning Star Circle, Mountain Meadows Subdivision.

October

On October 8, the Board approved the reclassification of the fair coordinator position into a full-time special events coordinator. Addressing noise complaints in Russell Gulch, a husband and wife and daughter had a bucket list to shoot machine guns, were paying a fee to shoot on private land and had legal paperwork, so the owner has been notified. The Board discussed a Shooting Range Lease solely intended for law enforcement and certain state and county employees with a lease term that would start on October 1, 2019, and would terminate on September 30, 2020, with an option to renew for the total rental term totaling $6,000. The County received a letter of recommendation for the historic preservation of the Thorn Lake School building, which would remain in its present location. 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. The Board approved accepting the historic structure assessment from 2014 and asked that the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) move forward with looking for state funding to partner with the $70,000 the Board appropriated for Phase One and Two of the Thorn Lake School Building. 

On October 22, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and responded to community concerns about FAA diverting their routes over Gilpin County, a variance request and the CSU Extension Services Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

A resident, Bob Morgan, came to the table to discuss issues about the FAA planning routes over personal properties in Gilpin County. He requested lists of priorities, plans, correspondence and scheduling from the board in relation to fears about additional noise and air pollution from the proposed new flight plans.

The commissioners then held a public hearing as the Board of Adjustments for an application for a variance and as the Board of Adjustments heard the request as presented by Community Director, Stephen Strohminger. The applicant requested an approval of a fifteen-foot variance to site a residential structure, 1,854 feet in size, citing topography and the location of two public roads bisecting the one-acre property located at La Chula Vista Ranch.

Next on the agenda, JoAnn Powell, the CSU Extension Regional Director, presented a revised MOU that updates the previous one entered in 2006. The MOU adds some history and some clarity on who provides reimbursements for certain positions, such as the county being the provider for the offices and operating materials and budget.

November

On November 5, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting and responded to continuing community concerns about FAA diverting their routes over Gilpin County, a liquor store tasting application and presentation about community solar gardens.

Xcel Energy representative, Preston Gibson, presented information concerning the Community Solar Gardens Program. The program’s popularity enables Xcel to give 5% of the energy to lower-income residents. But it wasn’t working well due to finding customers so they decided to use the solar gardens exclusively for low-income residents. In total it will provide about $160 offset on an energy bill for about 1,350 people.

After a recess the room reconvened and residents filled up the seats to attend the work session about the Denver Metroplex Environmental Assessment letter to the FAA about airspace over Gilpin County.

Donna Okray Parman, Gilpin resident, said she was deeply grateful for the work the commissioners have done and asked for a copy of the letter to be sent to the FAA. The commissioners responded that they have two drafts and will make copies of the final letter available when it is ready.

On November 19, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Highlights include the Commissioners’ Letter to the FAA Regarding Denver Metroplex Flight Paths over Gilpin County, an Agreement for Cooperative Wildfire Protection and a Letter of Support for City of Central’s DOLA Grant Application for Belvidere Theater.

A letter sent by the board to David Suomi, Administrator of the NW Mountain Region expressed concerns about the Denver Metroplex Project and the lack of notification and involvement in our county.

The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is designated the lead Colorado State Agency for Wildland Fire Suppression and provides technical assistance, upon request, to the County, the Sheriff and Fire Departments on local fire safety matters such as fire prevention, fire protection, fire investigation and emergency medical services.

The City of Central is applying for an Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Grant for the rehabilitation of the historic Belvidere Theatre.

The county was originally involved with this project when it received the building for back taxes, and undertook the assessment report prior to transferring the building to the city. The City’s intent to provide a community space, local arts venue, and commercial space will serve several critical needs in the county. 

Furthermore, the rehabilitation of this nationally historic structure will serve as a showcase for proper preservation practices, and how they fit in with the goals of a Main Street community.  The letter, sent by Bret Johnson to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs was approved by the BoCC.

December

On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met at the Gilpin County Courthouse for their regular meeting. Highlights include the Commissioners’ Letter to the FAA Regarding Denver Metroplex Flight Paths over Gilpin County and a request for a temporary housing permit that was met with negative public comment by a nearby neighbor.

Watson held conversations with neighboring counties to ascertain what their position is on the Denver Metroplex. Boulder County suggests that the Metroplex flight lines move south which puts a target on Gilpin. Watson has asked to meet with them to join forces, with a case that the summits and peaks along the Divide would amplify the sound, mirroring Boulder’s concern of amplification of sound from the Flatirons.

This discussion was attended by a large amount of residents concerned over the matter with Donna Okray-Parman representing the group. She spoke about how the FAA’s website states that FAA would meet with counties that had concerns but that hasn’t happened here in Gilpin. 

Other communities had meetings in Boulder, Erie, Broomfield, Aurora, and many of the areas around Denver. Okray-Parman’s case is that these counties already have a lot of ambient noise and aren’t as affected by it as much as Gilpin county, which prides itself on a peaceful, rural way of life.

End-of-year financial items were presented by Finance Director Clorinda Smith during a public hearing on Resolution #19-12, Adopting the 2020 Budget.

The final highlight of the meeting was conflict between residents over an application presented by Tami Archer, Office Manager, for a temporary housing permit at 2021 Coyote Circle. The applicant requested an extension beyond what is allowed by Gilpin County building and zoning codes to finish construction of their home whilst living in a trailer on the property.

Neighbors presented their concerns over trash and debris on the property. The matter was shelved for further assessment.    

(Originally published in the January 2, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)