Commissioners approve Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Implementation imminent
Gilpin County Commissioners Forrest Whitman, Jeanne Nicholson and Buddy Schmalz began their May 19, 2009 meeting with a review of the County’s Casualty and Property Pool (CAPP) loss ration and that of the County’s Workers’ Compensation Pool (CWCP).CAPP/Workers’ Compensation
Ted Lindveit of Colorado Technical Services, Incorporated (CTSI), provided a report on CTSI’s financial status and an account of Gilpin County’s CAPP loss ratio and CWCP loss ratio. There are 52 CTSI member counties who have combined resources to form three “pools” of affordable liability and health insurance. CTSI administers the pools. The most recent figures, the first half of 2008, show Gilpin’s CAPP loss ratio at 32% (compared to the all-member average of 50%). That’s on the rise from 2007’s 11%, but far down from the 120% of 2006. Vehicle accidents (specifically, failure to allow clearance) was number one in claim frequency with nine incidents. The most expensive claims, totaling $123,532 were from water damage (discharge, leak and overflow). Administrative employees had the most claims (22 claims totaling $166,840), followed by law enforcement (14/$22,345) and road and bridge employees (14/$20,362).
The CWCP loss ration for the first half of 2008 was 65%, compared to 2007’s 98%, 2006’s 15% and an all member 2008 average of 55%. The number one workers’ compensation accident category is “Slip, Trip or Fall” with 22 claims at a total of $157,339. There were 35 CWCP claims for administrative employees at a cost of $38,910. Law enforcement had 26 claims at a cost of $55,552. Road and Bridge had 20 claims at a cost of $147,741. All in all, Gilpin’s 59 CAPP claims totaled $226,701 averaging $3,842 per claim. CWCP claims totaled 89, costing $291,077-an average of $3,271 per claim.
Polis Delegate Visits
Congressman Jared Polis’s representative, Nissa Erickson, told Commissioners Gilpin will receive $6.3 million in stimulus funding for forest health. That’s the second of several batches coming to Colorado, she told them. The legislator is also working on Pine Beetle legislation that should be ready in June, she said. When asked for their input, Commissioners replied they’d like details on how the $6.3 million will be spent in Gilpin; money for public transportation; and money for renewable energy projects, especially retrofitting buildings. They urged Polis to be vocal about woody biomass, not just solar and wind energy. Finally, they’d like help resolving the Internal Revenue Service’s 1994 issue with Gilpin Ambulance Company.
CWPP
Commissioners approved the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Chris White of Anchorpoint, the contractor who prepared the plan, said there were a larger number of community participants in Gilpin County than his company usually sees-especially when the work is being done in the wintertime and fire is not at the forefront of people’s minds. He called that collaboration the “highlight” of the project. The document was signed by Commission Chairman Whitman and will need signatures from forest service and fire department officials to be final. Even after that, the plan is a work in progress and can be modified as needed. One revision, adding the water storage report from High Country Fire Protection District, is already planned. The next step will be laying out how to implement the plan. That work falls to George Weidler, Emergency Preparedness Director.
Colorado Sierra Variance Request
Acting as the Board of Adjustment, Commissioners reviewed an after-the-fact variance request from Michael Husler for a garage constructed on his Colorado Sierra lot without a building permit. The garage sits 21 feet from the front setback and 0 feet from the side setback. County regulations require 30 feet for both setbacks. Additionally, the garage was constructed over a utility easement. County Planner, Ray Rears, noted the lot is narrow and steep and would have been eligible for a variance prior to construction, though unlikely one built right at the property line. The owner of the adjacent lot opposes the variance request. Husler’s options are to remove the garage which he estimated would cost $12,000 and make the property less desirable for sale; or he can purchase part or all of the adjacent lot and combine it with his current lot via a Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) or Boundary Line Elimination (BLE). The adjacent property owner is willing to sell; Commissioners continued this hearing to August 18, 2009, to give the neighbors time to resolve the situation.
Colorado Sierra BLA
Corrie Webb, Julianna Hodges, and Laura Webb requested and received approval to adjust the boundary line between their Colorado Sierra Alpha 2, Lots 19 (Corrie and Julianna) and 20 (Laura). Both lots have homes built on them; however that on Lot 19 doesn’t meet current setback regulations from Lot 20. The BLA accomplishes the setback and also allows for a proposed garage on Lot 19. With the new dimensions, Lot 19 increases from 0.516 to 0.54 acres. Lot 20 decreases from 0.576 to 0.55 acres.
Treasurer’s Report
County Treasurer Alynn Huffman’s April report showed 63.38% of County taxes had been collected at that time (compared to 47.81% last year). County coffers held a grand total of $7,216,810. That’s also up from last year’s $6,774,361. Huffman explained the high balance and collection rate is due to tax payments received from casinos. 61.12% ($2,806,937) of taxes for special districts had been collected at the end of April. Last week Commissioners decided to borrow $1,525,250 until the gaming money arrives next fall. Commissioner Nicholson noted that with a current balance of $7 million and disbursements of about $2 million per month, “We would have been cutting it very close without the loan.”
Foreclosures Rising
As Public Trustee, Huffman tracks foreclosures in Gilpin. At the end of the first quarter there were 16. Since then, 19 more have come in, said Huffman, bringing the foreclosure total to 35. There were 78 foreclosures in 2008.
Monthly Departmental Reports
At the Sheriff’s Office, the Detentions Division April report showed 86 bookings for that month (69 male; 17 female). The Sheriff’s Office accounted for 52 of the arrests: Black Hawk Police Department, 12; Central City Police Department, 2; Colorado State Patrol, 15; and the Division of Gaming, 5. Sixty of the arrests were gaming-related. There were eleven arrests for domestic incidents. DUI arrests numbered 15; DWAI numbered 2. The average daily population at the jail was 36. Of those arrested, 13 were Gilpinites.
Human Resources Director Susie Allen’s April report showed the County employing 196 people at that time (110 full-time; 67 part-time; 3 temporary; and 16 property tax work off program). There had been two people hired in April and one who left the County’s employ. This month, County employees are receiving training to prevent back injury, communicate effectively and work safely with electricity. The trainings tie in with the County’s efforts to reduce injuries and CTSI insurance expenses.
At the Library, Director Larry Grieco reported 2,099 items circulated during April with estimated library visits by 1,436 individuals (about 70 per day) during the 20.5 days the library was open. The “Let’s Talk About It” reading series concluded this month and was so successful that Grieco and project scholar Nancy Ciccone are working on another series for Fall or next Spring. The Friends of the Library raised more than $1,000 at their May book and bake sale.
Public Comment
Zane Laubhan, Gilpin Ambulance Director, informed Commissioners the American College of Surgeons conducted a study of Colorado’s trauma centers and system last week and will be providing recommendations to improve service. Rural areas were included, he said. Governor Ritter will shortly sign Senate Bill 2 (SB009-02) into law, said Laubhan. It gives $1 of every vehicle registration fee to support Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
A Gilpin man said he’d been monitoring the Timberline Fire Authority’s progress toward merging High Country and Colorado Sierra Fire Protection Districts and outlined his observations for Commissioners.
Tom Korbecki asked for Commissioners help in obtaining a Rural Business Enterprise Grant to start a local pellet manufacturing plant using Gilpin’s beetle-killed trees. Commissioners plan a work session to discuss the proposition on June 2, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.
Executive Session
Commissioners met with County Attorney Jim Petrock in an executive session immediately after the public session to discuss the Brannan Sand and Gravel litigation.
Head’s Up
Commissioners are not meeting on May 26th. They meet next on June 2, 2009, with a late start of 10:30 a.m.