Dilemma – to rent or buy a chipper

Lynn Volkens

05/08/2008 - Commissioners Jeanne Nicholson and Forrest Whitman (Ron Slinger was absent due to illness) might have been addressing the conjunction of cabin fever and spring fever with their first order of business at Tuesday morning’s meeting. At this time of year, Gilpinites are usually suffering from one or the other, or both.

Go Mental in May

  One reason, among many, to support mental health services: Colorado community-based public mental health services cost less than incarcerating people with mental health needs. Gilpin Commissioners, in conjunction with Governor Ritter’s Colorado Promise Agenda, proclaimed May 2008 as Mental Health Month in Colorado. Tom Henry of Jefferson Center for Mental Health, a Gilpin County partner in providing mental health services to Gilpinites, told Commissioners that JCMH, now in its 50^th year, has provided 367 services to Gilpin residents so far in 2008. The total number of services provided to Gilpinites in 2007, was 630.

Colorado Sierra ISDS

  Jacqueline Greaves requested and received Commissioners’ approval to install a pre-treatment Individual Sewage Disposal System for her .76-acre property in Colorado Sierra Beta subdivision.

County Nurse Services

  Director of Public and Environmental Health, Jennifer Lavely, requested approval of the 2008-09 Public Health Nursing Contract. The contract is supported by state funding of up to $20,232 to provide health services to Gilpin residents.

Shonle’s War on Weeds

  There are still many acres of Gilpin land infested with non-native weed species. Some threaten the local environment because they use more water than native species and become invasive. The “A” list of noxious weeds includes myrtle spurge and orange hawkweed. Scotch thistle, Canadian thistle, Chinese clematis, common tansy, Dalmatian toadflax, dame’s rocket, diffuse knapweed, hoary cress, leafy spurge, musk thistle, oxeye daisy, spotted knapweed, scentless chamomile, yellow toadflax and cheatgrass don’t top the list, but must also be managed in Gilpin. Extension Agent Irene Shonle presented this summer’s battle plan to identify and attack problem weed areas. “So far nothing’s been eradicated,” she admitted, “but that’s the nature of weeds.” Shonle reports progress is being made and she welcomes volunteers for her 2008 Weed Rampage.

  Gilpinites can take advantage of Shonle’s sprayer and low toxicity weed spray (for thistles and sunflowers, mainly). A $100 deposit is required, but is returned when the equipment is brought back. The County will also pay 50% of a Gilpinite’s cost to hire a professional weed eradicator (up to $200 per property) for other weeds. Shonle stressed this program is first-come, first-serve until the limited funds run out.

  Meanwhile, forest health in Shonle’s office is thriving with the arrival of some 3,380 saplings. They will need to be hardened off before planting, but Shonle urged Gilpinites who are expecting the trees, to “Please pick them up, now.”    

War on Beetles

  In Gilpin’s battle against the pine beetle and effort to provide more biomass options and handle the County slash pile, Commissioners are considering purchasing a 1994 “reconditioned” wood chipper, at a cost of about $90,000. That machine would be expected to last at least eight years before being sold or traded in. Per a report provided by Facilities Manager Bill Paulman, from January through April, the Road and Bridge Department burned an average of 33 tons of wood chips in the biomass system. At $37 per ton, that totaled $4,847 and, compared to the cost of producing the same amount of BTU’s with natural gas ($20,848), saved the County $16,001 over the four month period. The County currently rents a wood chipper at a cost of about $15,000 to do the slash pile twice a year and chipping for the biomass system runs $10,000-$12,000 per year. The machine, Road and Bridge Director Earl Robinson is looking at will handle all of the County’s needs and can be used to chip small lengths of logs that homeowners can haul to the Road and Bridge building in their pick-ups and cars. Commissioners directed Robinson to check into a lease purchase arrangement for a new machine (costing up to $350,000) before making a trip cross-country to look at the used machine.

  During public comment, a Gilpin man cautioned Commissioners that pine beetle damage might not turn out to be as dire as predicted. He recommended they continue to rent the chipper for at least another year or two. His view was echoed by another resident.

Paulman Hits Roof

  B & M Roofing of Colorado began removing the ballast rocks of the old roof at the Justice Center last week. Under the contract presented to Commissioners by Facilities Manager Paulman, the County will pay up to $553,900 for a new roof. That includes re-roofing at $511,000; $6,900 for skylight installations; and insulation replacement as necessary, at $3.60 per square foot. There’s approximately 21,000 square feet of roof to replace, said Paulman. The contractor will use a hot process, heating the asphalt to 300-400 degrees for part of the roof. Neighbors and visitors to the area will see smoke and smell the asphalt for several weeks. The work should be done by mid-September, sooner if rains and wind don’t delay the process. Paulman said the new roof will carry a 30-year warranty on labor and materials.

Wanted: Rare Plants

  Representatives from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) asked Commissioners to pursue a Greater Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant to survey biological resources in Gilpin County. The want to identify rare, threatened or endangered plant species and significant natural plant areas in the County. The information will be used in determining future open space plus natural and wildlife habitat areas the County wants to protect. Grant amounts range from $60,000-$70,000 and require a County match of 10%. CNHP representatives also asked Commissioners to pursue a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency that could run as much as $80,000. As the EPA deadline was looming (May 9^th), Commissioners agreed to write a letter of support for the EPA grant, but offered no commitment for matching funds. If the EPA grant comes through, the GOCO match could be paid with EPA funds, the representatives said. 

  If the project proceeds, private lands can be included in the survey only if a landowner signs an access agreement. CNHP has completed 17 county surveys since 1992, using the GOCO funding. They are not a state or federal program but do use funding from these sources to collect data for researching Colorado’s biodiversity. Landowners that participate in the survey will be provided with a list of species occurring on their property. The information can also be useful in seeking conservation easements. Commissioners said they are in no hurry to proceed and might push this project back until 2009-2010.

  During public comment, a Gilpin man cautioned Commissioners to “be careful of the water resource portion of it,” as it could affect private landowners and limit road maintenance.

Monthly Departmental Reports

The Parks and Recreation Department’s April report showed 1,248 Gilpin residents had used the community center for a total of 5,770 visits during the month. Drop-in admissions earned the County $2,860 ($1,142 by non-residents) for the month and membership revenue was $2,621. Little League’s season opener is May 17^th and registration for adult co-ed softball is ongoing. Dugout covers have been completed. Staff is now researching the possibility of constructing a fitness trail around the Community and Justice Centers. Gilpin is contracting with Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District to provide the children’s summer day camp. 30 kids have enrolled so far.

Shuttle Where-To

  Commissioners continue to look at expanding the County’s shuttle (Connector) service to north-Gilpin. LSC Transportation Consultants, hired by Commissioners to study the current service and develop plans for expanding it, proposed three options.

  Option One starts the route in the south at Silver Hawk Casino and runs north to Nederland with stops along Highway 119. It runs one bus from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a 90 minute headway. The annual cost to run Option One, seven days a week, is $243,528. That’s the same as the cost of the current service. Figuring on 21,500 riders per year, that works out to a per-passenger cost of $11.31.

  Option Two coordinates with Black Hawk Transportation Authority’s Tram service running between Central City and Black Hawk. In this option, the route begins on the south end at the Silver Hawk Casino and runs to Nederland, with stops along Highway 119, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. using a 90-minute headway. This option operates six days a week, eliminating Sunday service. It uses two buses. One bus runs between Gold Mountain Village and Silver Hawk (with one stop in Central City and one stop in Black Hawk) making a total of six runs a day, six days a week. Annual operating cost for Option Two is $256,040. Option Two has an estimated 27,240 riders per year, working out to a per-passenger cost of $9.40.

  Option Three proposes service from Silver Hawk Casino on the south to Nederland on the north, with stops along Highway 119, using a 90-minute headway and running from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. five days a week. The service from Silver Hawk to Gold Mountain and back, with one stop in Central City and one in Black Hawk, would make six runs, five days a week. Option Three includes a regional route from Central City to Idaho Springs on three days a week and a commuter service to the I-70 park-and-ride lot during peak hours, five days a week. Weekend service is eliminated. Option Three requires three buses with an annual operation cost of $307,250. With a projected 33,920 annual riders, Option Three’s per-passenger cost is $9.06.

  Commissioners were reluctant to proceed without Commissioner Slinger’s input. They will hold a work session in June and get back with LCS in July.

Court Upholds Local Control

  County Attorney Jim Petrock told Commissioners the Colorado Court of Appeals had ruled in favor of Idaho Springs in one case and Douglas County in another. At issue was local control over the Colorado Department of Transportation’s location or expansion of highways. “It looks like I-70 will stay two lanes for the time being,” said Petrock. He expects CDOT to appeal.

DOLA Grant Applications

  Commissioners began the process of pursuing Department of Local Affairs grants by holding a work session with applicants after the regular meeting. Once they have reviewed the applications, Commissioners will prioritize them prior to presentations at the DOLA hearings.

  Commissioners meet next on May 13^th.