New Commissioners sworn in

Lynn Volkens

1/13/2005 - It didn’t take long for Judge Frederic Rodgers to swear Forrest Whitman and Al Price into office as Gilpin’s new County Commissioners. And it didn’t take long for them to get right down to work – the work of deciding who was going to do what.

   There are many committees that County Commissioners either serve on or chair. Many have to do with other agencies within the State. Some are regional and others concern Gilpin County only. Commissioners divided the number of committees equally among the three.

   There are eight committees within Colorado Counties, Incorporated that require representation by one of Gilpin’s Commissioners. These committees deal with legislation at the State level, something of a lobbying group for the individual counties of Colorado. Forrest Whitman will be Gilpin’s representative to the CCI committees of Public Lands, Agriculture Wildlife and Rural Affairs, and Land Use and Natural Resources. Al Price will represent Gilpin at the Tourism and Resorts, General Government, Taxation and Finance, and Transportation and Telecommunications committees. Jeanne Nicholson will cover the Health and Human Services Committee. All of these committees go beyond advisory capacity to that of decision-making. The committees keep an eye on bills before the legislature. Committee members review legislation keeping in mind its impact on their particular counties. Then, using as a guideline whatever philosophy their own Board of County Commissioners has developed, the committee members vote on whether to support, oppose, or take no action on that bill. According to Commissioner Nicholson, there is a lot of material to cover within each committee’s realm. CCI committees meet monthly.

   Within the County’s own committees, Commissioner Nicholson will serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Community Health Assessment under Public Health Director committee, Youth Action Committee, Human Services Advisory Board, and the Jefferson Center for Mental Health Committee. Nicholson has a background in nursing and an interest in human services that has led her to serve on some of these committees already.

   Forrest Whitman will be the commissioner seated on the Gilpin Ambulance Board. He will also work with the Rollins Pass Restoration Association and serve on the Upper Clear Creek Watershed Association. Whitman has long been interested in land use, particularly open space. Prior to winning his Commissioner’s seat, he was an active member of the County’s Planning Board.

   Al Price will sit on the Eagles’ Nest (Advisory) Board and oversee the Gilpin Water District. (The Gilpin Water District is a pipeline providing water to several businesses along Highway 119 in mid-County). He will serve on the 911 Authority Board and the Public Forfeiture Funds Committee. As a long time councilman for the City of Black Hawk, Price has acquired years of experience in finance and local economic issues.

   Gilpin’s representatives to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) will be Commissioners Nicholson and Whitman. DRCOG has many subcommittees and many meetings to attend. Nicholson will also serve on the Metro Mayors and County Commissioners Youth Awards Committee, a group that nominates and awards youth who have succeeded in overcoming difficult obstacles in their lives. She will also report back to Gilpin’s Board of Commissioners from the Gaming Area Sub-regional Planning Commission.

   Each week, at the regular County Commissioners’ Tuesday morning meetings, the commissioners announce their meetings to attend with the times and locations. Most are open to the public. Commissioners will also talk to individual citizens who may have an interest or concern in one of these areas. Then, in between their committee meetings, Commissioners handle all routine and emergent county business, usually at their weekly meetings, also open to the public. The new commissioners are already plotting their course for 2005.