“Connector” bus runs new route, new schedule
Starting July 6th
Gilpin County Commissioners Forrest Whitman, Jeanne Nicholson and Buddy Schmalz revisited several issues from last week’s meeting, at this week’s meeting, June 30, 2009.
Revised Zoning Code
Commissioners approved Resolution 09-17, amending the County’s zoning regulations, following a public hearing (continued from the June 23rd meeting). Changes occur throughout the code dealing with development, mining, signage, building, animals, etc. View the codes online at www.co.gilpin.co.us or visit the Community Development Department at the Courthouse.
Robinson Hill Easement
Russ Bergren requested and received approval to amend the conservation easement at his Robinson Hill property. Bergren was required to grant the easement as part of a Senate Bill 35 exemption awarded in 2006. That exemption allows Bergren to create 6 lots on 160 acres, averaging 26 acres each, with a 2.5-acre building site on each. The remaining area of the lots is to remain undisturbed. This amendment restricts ridgeline development so that no structure can form a silhouette against the sky as viewed from the Parkway or Highway 119 within a three mile radius of the building site. That complies with the new zoning code. Previously, that code simply stated “Ridgeline development is prohibited,” and it did not specify the three mile radius. Bergren had lost a sale because the ridgeline prohibition prevented prospective buyers from building where they wanted.
“Connector” Route
Commissioners approved a shuttle route and schedule, revised from that presented at last week’s meeting. They will revisit the schedule once the service has been running awhile, to see if it meets Gilpin’s needs. Beginning July 6, 2009, the Connector will start service (seven days per week) at 5:15 a.m. at Gilpin County Public Library. From there it will run to its southern terminus, Gold Mountain Apartments, before reversing and heading north all the way through Gilpin to Nederland. The Connector will make two morning and two evening runs to Nederland (connecting with RTD at 7:03 a.m., 5:23 p.m. and 8:18 p.m.), with several more inner Gilpin runs. The last run ends at the library at 8:46 p.m. The schedule is timed to accommodate Gilpin School, a de facto school bus service. In meeting that schedule, one early morning run to Nederland had to be moved to a later time spot. Stops include Gold Mountain Village, Central City, Black Hawk, Gilpin School, Community/Justice Centers, Library, Rollinsville, Nederland; and at Mountain Family Health Center, as needed. Senior Resource Center Transportation Services (SRC) will take over operations of the Connector from Black Hawk Transportation Authority (BHTA) July 6th. The County has contracted with SRC at an annual cost of $149,985 plus a 65 cent-per-mile charge when the SRC reserve bus is needed to fill in. SRC representatives told Commissioners the revised route adds 15 minutes per day to the schedule, resulting in additional cost to the County of $2,800. The County is in the process of acquiring a second bus but will start the service with the one they now own and two drivers. Gilpin Commissioners have funded the shuttle since 2006, mainly via federal grants (requiring a County match). There is no charge to ride. The service carries an average of 3,000 passengers per month. Commissioners will be among those riders on the mid-morning run to Nederland July 6th.
Public Health Director
Commissioners eliminated the County’s current in-house Public Health Director position, thereby terminating the employment of Jennifer Lavely, and contracted the duties to the Jefferson County Director of Public Health. In passing Resolution 9-18, establishing the contract position, Commissioners also eliminated Lavely’s opportunity to appeal to reverse their decision. Commissioners have said they are restructuring the Public Health Department to provide access to more services for Gilpin residents. Those services include nursing, food safety and sanitation, water quality, environmental health planning, zoonosis (infectious disease transmitted from animal to human), housing and institutional sanitation, safety monitoring and protection, environmental compliance and community safety, recreation sanitation and safety, and air quality monitoring and protection. Gilpin will reimburse JeffCo up to $110,000 for one year of nursing service and $65 per hour, up to $97,000 for one year of environmental health services. The contract is in effect July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.
The new Director, Dr. Mark Johnson, has 25 years of experience in public health and medical supervision as well as his Medical and Masters Degrees. He joined Commissioners at their table, along with Norma Tubman, Registered Nurse, and Dr. Jim Dale, to discuss some services (restaurant inspections, at length), and hiring the Public Health Coordinator who will work, and preferably live, in Gilpin. The Coordinator will be supervised by the JeffCo personnel. A committee of one member from each County’s Board of Health (in Gilpin, that’s Commissioners), and on member of each County’s staff will select that coordinator.
Direction to Lobbyist
Colorado Counties, Incorporated (CCI) lobbies legislators per directions of each county’s elected officials. Gilpin Commissioners directed CCI to work toward legislation that gives counties the option (rather than mandate) to assess fees for certain child welfare programs. They argue that requiring custodial parents to pay for Core Services (mental health, problem solving, child rearing, life skills, substance and sexual abuse treatment, etc.) could add to family dysfunction resulting in more cost to counties due to additional out-of-home placements and increased court filings, and therefore the counties should decide whether or not to charge for the services. This action was spurred by a report of the State Auditor, “Foster Care Financial Performance Audit” which states that county human services departments must assess fees for all child welfare programs based on Child Support Enforcement guidelines. Using that guideline, a family with one parent working and making minimum wage would be assessed a monthly fee of $377 for Core Services, said Human Services Director Betty Donovan. The County receives approximately $91,000 annually from the state to fund Core Services and contributes a match of $1,200. Donovan said at least 40 Gilpin children used Core Services over the last twelve months, mainly for mental health services. Commissioners ranked this issue their top priority for CCI lobbyists, relegating their earlier issues of Motor Vehicle fees to the County Clerk and Recorders Association.
Appointments
There were two applicants for the vacancy on Gilpin’s Planning Commission. The seated members of that commission recommended appointment of Lance Jones and future appointment, should a vacancy occur in the next six months, of Jim Wailes. Commissioners complied.
Steve Miller was appointed as Hearing Officer for the County’s upcoming Board of Equalization hearings.
The County will advertise for citizens interested in serving on the newly formed Gilpin Ambulance Authority Board of Directors. That Board will begin reorganizing the business end of the ambulance service in July.
Plotter Purchase
Commissioners approved spending $2,730 to purchase a used plotter machine from Office Stuff. The County’s current machine, used to create maps and signs, is twelve years old and wearing out. There are no longer parts for it. A new plotter would have cost over $6,000.
Attorney’s Update
County Attorney Jim Petrock said he thought the County was close to reaching agreement with Brannan Sand and Gravel on the certification of the record. A recording device failed during last year’s public hearing for Brannan’s proposed quarry and the County had to reconstruct the record from written documents. If Brannan agrees to the reconstructed record, a judge will review it and decide if there’s enough evidence to support the County’s denial of the special use permit. If that’s what the judge determines, the case is all but done, said Petrock, noting Brannan would likely appeal.
In the water storage lawsuit brought by Dory Lakes Property Owners Association, Petrock said next up is the deposition of the attorney who represented DLPOA in the original 1996 lease agreement.
Following the public session, Commissioners and Petrock met in Executive session.