County begins zoning code revision
New sections added
Gilpin County Commissioners Forrest Whitman, Jeanne Nicholson and Buddy Schmalz covered the items on their meeting April 28th meeting agenda within one hour, then moved on to conduct a work session on zoning regulations.Treasurer’s Report
Gilpin County Treasurer Alynn Huffman’s report showed a grand total of $4,898,338 in County coffers at the end of March (compared to $5,699,214 in March 2008). The amount reflects collection of 30.04% of the County’s annual taxes. $514,574 had been collected for special districts. The Treasurer included a summary with transaction amounts detailed for each account. Commissioner Nicholson gave it mention as a valuable tool. Huffmann said she will now include the report on a regular basis.
Huffman also presented her quarterly report (January-March) as the Public Trustee. Huffman has been tracking Gilpin’s foreclosures since 2000 when there were 15 foreclosures started and 6 owners who lost their properties. In 2008, there were 72 foreclosures started; 20 are pending and 25 were completed. Huffman said, so far, for 2009, 17 foreclosures have been started.
Gaming Impact Summary
Commissioners directed a letter be sent to the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (Colorado Division of Gaming), asking them to leave tax rates at the 2008-2009 levels. They note Gilpin’s dependency on the gaming industry. The letter states gaming taxes, the 12% share rebated to the gaming counties, dropped last year but still accounted for approximately 57% of the County’s revenues. Combined with the property taxes paid by casinos, and gaming-related revenues provide 2/3-3/4 of all County revenues. Last year Commissioners opposed reduction of taxes for larger casinos but took no position on reducing tax rates for smaller casinos. This year’s letter does not make that distinction. In 2008, the County received $9,773,892 in gaming tax revenue. Commissioners are expecting less in 2009, but won’t know for sure until late summer when the check actually comes in.
Climate and Energy Bill
Commissioners directed another letter be sent to Jared Polis in Congress. They oppose language in the pending Waxman-Markey Climate and Energy Bill which disallows selling the biomass taken from federal lands. The County had planned to participate in the fire mitigation efforts on public lands as much of Gilpin County is national and state forestlands. The County planned to market any excess biomass after meeting the needs of the Road and Bridge facility’s biomass burner. Thinning the lands was also expected to provide jobs and a local economic boost. The Waxman-Markey bill is currently in the draft stage.
Forest/Open Space Protection
Another Congressional bill (s.188), sponsored by Mark Udall, is currently in committee. Its purpose is to provide for a study of options to protect “the open space characteristics” of lands in and adjacent to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Commissioner Nicholson said the study area proposed includes Gilpin, Boulder and Jefferson Counties.
DRCOG Representation
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) has added another Gilpin County seat on their Committeel on Aging. Don Harvey is the current representative. Commissioners appointed Midge Norville as the additional representative.
Stimulus Money for Clean-Up
The Clear Creek/Central City Superfund Site in Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties is getting up to $5 million in new funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to continue clean-up of hazardous mine waste. The work includes capping the waste piles, sediment control and water treatment to mitigate the impact of heavy metals in Clear Creek. Efforts will also be made to reduce heavy metal impacts on the 400 square-mile Clear Creek watershed. The area was designated a Federal Superfund site nearly 30 years ago and clean-up has been ongoing at various levels since then.
U.S. Recreation Advisory Positions
Commissioners were notified the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), has four positions opening in July 2009. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are seeking nominations for the seats. The term is two-years. The RRAC deals with issues such as recreation fees charged at USFS and BLM campgrounds. They are seeking two people with interests in non-motorized recreation and hunting and fishing; one person with interests in motorized outfitting and guiding; and one person to represent local government.
Zoning Work Session
Following the public session, Commissioners conducted a work session with Community Development Director Tony Petersen regarding revised zoning regulations. The proposed changes, which deal with Administration, Zoning, Development, Roads, Environment, Mining, and Signage, were previously reviewed by the Planning Commission. Petersen explained the reasoning behind some of the changes, including a few entirely new sections. Commissioners asked questions and made suggestions. No action is taken during work sessions so Petersen will make the revisions and bring back the document for adoption at a future meeting.
Commissioners meet next on May5, 2009.