Little League, adult softball schedule compromise
For 2010 season per Gilpin Commissioners
Gilpin County Commissioners Forrest Whitman, Jeanne Nicholson and Buddy Schmalz dealt with numerous Parks and Recreation issues at their meeting of July 14, 2009.
Community Service Grant
Betty Donovan, Human Services Director, prepared the Community Services Block Grant Agreement. The grant is stimulus money awarded through the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Through a partnership with the Jefferson County Workforce/Tri County Workforce Center, eligible Gilpinites can receive training, transportation, educations supplies and tools or clothing for employment. Persons must be at or below 200% of poverty guidelines to receive funding. For one person that guideline is $10,830 so 200% is $21,660; for a family of four, the guideline is $22,050, 200% is $44,100; and so on, topping out at $37,010/$74,020 for a family of 8. Donovan is applying for $4,222 in grant funding. It wasn’t clear, from the application, whether matching funds are required. Acting as the Board of Human Services, Commissioners approved the application.
DOLA Meetings
DOLA has requested use of the meeting room at Gilpin’s Community Center for the Gaming Impact Grant hearings to be held on October 22nd and 23rd. To accommodate the DOLA commission, the congregate lunch for seniors would have to be canceled on the 23rd. Commissioners decided to have the hearings at the Courthouse in Central City, instead. Gilpin and Teller Counties, which are both homes to gaming, take turns hosting the commission’s annual hearings.
Little League/Softball Schedule
In an effort to accommodate both Little League and adult ball players, Commissioners directed Parks and Recreation staff to limit next year’s adult games during the first ten days of July. That way, Little League players can complete their season without having to start the adult season later. Little League will be asked to postpone their turn at hosting the tournament until the County has more ball fields. Commissioners said they are aware of the problem and are looking at a long-term solution, possibly building another field on County-owned land or trading for a suitable site.
Swimming Pool Drain Cover
The Virginia Graeme Baker Act, named for the seven year old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker, is a Federal safety law regarding swimming pools was enacted in 2007. It required all public pools to have anti-entrapment drains and/or devices installed by December 19, 2008 (opening day of 2009 for seasonal pools). Baker’s granddaughter was trapped against the bottom drain of a hot tub and held there by suction until she drowned. Drain covers and suction limiting devices are now installed in the plumbing of pool systems which cause the pool’s motor to shut off when it senses a blockage. Compliance with the law has been complicated by the unavailability of large enough covers for some of the older drains. If a drain cannot be covered, it is to be replaced. Non-compliance carries penalties, including fines and imprisonment. A grant program was established with the legislation with $2,000,000 appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010. $5,000,000 was appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008-2012 to carry out education programs for pool manufacturers, pool service companies, pool supply companies, pool supply retail outlets, pool owners and operators and a national media campaign. Drain covers to retrofit older pools are now being manufactured. Although Gilpin’s pool drains have no suction, the drains must still be covered to comply with the law. Kipley, presented a bid for $5,736 for eight anti-entrapment drains at the Community Center. She asked that Commissioners not limit the amount, in case she needed more funding, however Commissioners noted they could not approve open-ended funding. They approved up to $6,000.
Trail Opening
The new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian (no horses or bikes) trail at the Community Center will open on July 25th. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 11:00 a.m. with celebratory refreshments offered until 1:00 p.m.
Clerk and Recorder’s Report
Gilpin Clerk and Recorder, Jessica Kays (formerly Lovingier), submitted her June report. It shows revenue for that month at $135,592. Of that, the Clerk retained $12,761 and disbursed $45,303 to the State; $65,601 to the County Treasurer; $11,475 to Central City; and $105 to Black Hawk. Revenues, year-to-date, total $665,388. Compared to June of 2008, the month’s revenues are up $19,734. Expenditures from the Motor Vehicle Late Fee Fund included: $32.86 for cable television in the break room, $290 to Teryx for website updates and technology back-up and the Treasurer’s fee of $13.70, leaving a balance of $3,710. The Uninsured Motorist Fund contained $7,904 with only the monthly Treasurer’s fees (1% of monthly revenue) deducted. There were no expenditures from the eRecording Fund in June. That fund balance stood at $4,102.
Commissioners had previously asked the Clerk to speak to the Colorado County Clerks Association to push for legislation clarifying how money in the Motor Vehicle Late Fee, Uninsured Motorist and eRecording funds could be spent. Kays spending had been called into question by a Denver television news program. Commissioner Schmalz had taken the matter to the lobbying organization, Colorado Counties Incorporated (CCI) who found the issue is not that important to other counties. In some counties, the money is funneled directly into the General Fund and spent as needed, rather than held in separate accounts with monthly reporting as is Kays’ practice. Kays will see if her organization would support creating a spending guideline, rather than a legislative mandate.
Monthly Departmental Reports
At Gilpin County Public Library, Director Larry Grieco reported 2,954 items circulated in the month of June. That’s an increase of 18% over June 2008. Estimated attendance in June was 1,701 for the 21 days in which GCPL was open, an average of 81 per day. That’s an increase of 23% over last month. The artists-in-residence program is in full swing with weekly workshops filling up or now with waiting lists. The Summer Reading Program is also in progress. Meadow Gold will once again donate the ice cream for the culmination party. A night of poetry, featuring Greeley poet Robert King and three local poets, has been scheduled for July 25th.
Service Berry Lane
During public comment, two residents of Byron Hacker’s Lots Subdivision asked Commissioners for help with a neighbor who had blocked Service Berry Lane closing off a long-time access to Highway 119 for the neighborhood. The party who has blocked the road, doesn’t live in the County, they said, and the situation is escalating, affecting the entire neighborhood. As Service Berry Lane is not a County road, Commissioners referred the men to the Community Development and Road and Bridge staff to gather information needed. Since Commissioners have no authority, the neighbors will have to address the matter in district court.
Rollins Pass Road
Gilpin Commissioners had received a copy of a letter sent by Grand County Commissioners to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grand County is echoing Gilpin’s request to begin repair of the Rollins Pass Road to allow two-wheel vehicles to drive from Highway 119 to U.S. 40. The restoration of the road was part of the James Peak Wilderness and Protection Act (Section 7B) designated in 2001. Grand County Commissioners have invited those from Gilpin and Boulder Counties to meet to move the project forward.
Head’s Up
Following the public meeting, Commissioners met with County Attorney Jim Petrock in Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.
There is no Gilpin County Commissioners’ meeting on July 21st. They meet next on July 28, 2009.