Historic Preservation Advisory Commission Appointed for County

Lynn Volkens

1/12/2006 - Following their quarterly breakfast at Bullwhackers for all elected officials in Gilpin County, Commissioners Jeanne Nicholson, Al Price and Forrest Whitman began their regular meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Historic Preservation Advisory Commission Appointed

  Gilpin County now has an official Historic Preservation Advisory Commission (HAC). Commissioners appointed Debra Krause, Linda Jones, Glenn Putney, Michelle Saeger and Colleen Toth as the six members. Membership rules require one member from each of the three Commissioner districts (but no one from District Three submitted a letter of interest) and that two members are from the professional sector of the community. Rick Newman was appointed as an alternate member and Ray Rears of the County’s Planning Department was appointed as the liaison between HAC and Commissioners.

Will the Spanish Ambassador Please Report to Gilpin County?

  County Attorney Jim Petrock informed Commissioners that the Lorenz land acquisition closing had been postponed until February, pending completion of the survey. He also notified Commissioners that a complaint had been filed against the County Clerk and Recorder and the County Treasurer. The complainant, Laurence Goodwin, claims he owes no allegiance or taxes to any United States government authority, Petrock explained. Goodwin’s 30-page complaint, filed with the State Board of Assessment, is based on feudal law under the auspices of either the king or queen (Petrock wasn’t sure which) of Spain. Goodwin has been in District Court in years past, said Petrock, in attempts to avoid remunerating local taxes and/or fees. The attorney said Goodwin had lost his prior case, incurring penalty fines at the time. Petrock identified Goodwin as an “ally” of Philip Wolf, one of the parties involved in the quarry operation proposed for south Gilpin County. Wolf is another who has refused to recognize the United States government and local governing bodies in the past.

And The Total (2005 Revenue) Is…

  Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Jessica Lovingier presented her December 2005 report to the Treasurer. The County took in $85,761 during December. Of that, $21,534 was distributed to the State and $6,030 went to Central City. $47,024 was disbursed to the County Treasurer and the County Clerk retained $11,173. The majority of revenue ($43,154) was collected from ownership taxes. The County collected a total of $879,537 in sales tax for 2005, down from the total collected in 2004 ($964,679) by about $85,000.

  The County took in revenues of $85,761 in December, the majority ($43,154) from ownership taxes. Gilpin County's grand total in 2005, from all fees and taxes, was $1,509,054 (down from the 2004 year-end grand total of $1,622,335).

  The County will receive $83,000 from the State’s Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding for implementation of a statewide voter registration system and purchase of new voting systems. The County will receive the funds as it incurs costs to comply with HAVA requirements.

Managing South County Development

  Tony Petersen, Community Development Director, reported on recent progress of the Coordinated Planning and Highway Access Agreement (CPHAA). This Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Central City, Idaho Springs, Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties was entered into back in 2000 to address potential development issues in south Gilpin County following completion of the Central City Parkway. Petersen represents the County on the CPHAA joint planning commission, charged with creating and enforcing a development plan for the area. The resulting plan defines growth limits for the area, ensuring that Idaho Springs will not annex into Gilpin County and that development in the area will be known and more manageable. The IGA also establishes ridgeline protection and low-density buffer zones in the unincorporated land between Idaho Springs and Central City. The IGA does not affect existing vested property rights.

  So far, said Petersen, Clear Creek County and Central City have approved the IGA. Idaho Springs has reviewed it but is delaying approval until de-annexation issues with Central City have been resolved. Gilpin County Commissioners, acting on Petersen’s recommendation, approved the IGA.

Boundary Line Eliminations/Bounties

  In Golden Gate Park Estates, Terrell and Nancy Dobkins received approval (and a bounty of $500) for their Boundary Line Elimination (BLE) between Lots 25 and 69. The BLE created a single parcel of 7.17 acres.

  Laura and William Fenhagen earned a $1,000 BLE bounty by combining three Gilpin Gardens lots into one parcel of 5.23.

  Twelve Lincoln Hills lots (.057 acres each) were joined to a 2.11-acre lot, creating a single parcel of 2.794 acres for owner, Michael Camarata. BLE bounty of $781 was awarded to Camarata. Gilpin County has paid out a total of $56,583 for 395 BLEs since the program’s 1987 inception. The program has resulted in a decrease of 1,366 developable lots in the County.

Mid County Liquors--License Renewal

  Mid County Liquors, a retail liquor store located near Pete’s Beaver Park Inn, received renewal of its liquor license. Owner, John Dunham, paid $312.50 for the license renewal.

County Structures in Good Standing

  The January Maintenance Report submitted by Technician Tim Lewerke states the Justice Center, Community Center, Courthouse, Library, Emergency Services Building, and Exhibit Building are all in good working order. Commissioner Nicholson asked if heating problems in the Justice Center had been remedied. County Manager Roger Baker said they had improved, but a total fix requires replacing the heating/air conditioning system – a “big ticket item.” Lewerke suggested that a second floor be added at the entrance of the Exhibit Barn where the large open space could be utilized as additional office space. Nicholson also asked to schedule a tour of the new maintenance building on Dory Hill Road. The building is up but not completed. Lewerke expected it to be ready for occupation in February. Regular maintenance and cleaning work is on schedule and going well, he reported. Commissioner Price asked if the complaints he’d received about the transfer station (the mid-County trash compactor) had been taken care of. Baker responded that the personnel matter was being handled. Trash being left at the site after hours is an ongoing problem, he said. Lewerke has increased staff to two employees at the transfer station on Saturdays and predicts the need for another employee there by 2007 as the volume of trash is increasing commensurate with population growth. He expects to expand the recycle capacity in the future, as well.

Fire Ban Above 8,000 Feet

  Baker alerted Commissioners that Governor Owens has extended the fire ban on all public lands above 8,000 feet. That includes much of Gilpin County. Conditions are very dry and authorities have announced that the wildfire season is already here (if ever it was gone.)

  Commissioners adjourned at 11:10 a.m. There will be no Commissioner meeting on January 17^th, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.