Commissioners approve Boulder River Ranch Fishing Lodge in Lincoln Hills
County to coordinate election with Black Hawk and BVSD
Gilpin County Commissioners Buddy Schmalz, Jeanne Nicholson and Forrest Whitman resumed their weekly meetings on August 24th, after a two week break. There were several public hearings for special use applications, plus the routine business and staff updates.
Tax Refund Petition
Walter and Annabelle Steiger petitioned for a tax refund on grounds their 271 Rocky Ridge home had been overvalued. Steiger estimated the value of the property at $150,000. Commissioners denied the abatement and upheld Gilpin County Appraiser David Kurronen’s valuation of $208,130 ($110.83 per square foot) based on comparable properties.
Chalet Drive ISDS
Craig Sanders, Program Manager for Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS), presented an application for a site in Chalet Park (Lot 33) owned by Dr. Hugh Murray who plans to build a 4-bedroom home there. Because the new ISDS would be located within 200 feet of adjacent wells and is on a parcel of less than 2 acres, the application is subject to Commissioners’ review. The proposed ISDS is a pre-treatment system requiring an ongoing operation and maintenance contract with annual reporting for the life of the system. Commissioners approved it.
Sanders said he will have an updated ISDS procedure ready for Commissioners to review in the next couple of weeks. Then there will be public hearing(s) prior to adoption.
Treasurer’s Report
Gilpin County Treasurer Alynn Huffman presented her July report showing 96.30% of County taxes had been collected at that time. County coffers contained a grand total of $5,035,170 which is better than last year’s July balance of $4,617,720. Huffman also provided a first quarter report of all the $5,918 she has collected and disbursed as the County’s Public Trustee. Those funds are disbursed to the Public Trustee Salary Fund ($4,689) and to the Public Trustee Reserve Account ($1,229). As Public Trustee, Huffman conducts the foreclosure sales. The balance sheet for that shows a beginning fund balance of $54,381; income of $89,563 for sales, releases and interest; expenditures of $97,576 for redemption/refunds, fees and advertising; and a first-quarter ending fund balance of $46,368. The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) had requested information regarding Gilpin foreclosures via survey which Huffman had completed. There were 14 foreclosure filings in the first quarter; 14 sold; 57 deeds of trust released; and 7 withdrawn. Huffman said there are now four ways to defer foreclosure and her work load has increased significantly. She previously said she thought 2010 would be a bad year for foreclosures and noted she expects to have 90-95 foreclosures by the end of the year. Last year there were 83-all residential, she noted.
Coordinated Elections
In a split vote (Nicholson voting “No”), Commissioners approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Black Hawk to have their election coordinated through the County Clerk and Recorder. Black Hawk will reimburse the County for election expenses at a rate of $1.50 per registered voter at the time of the election.
Commissioners unanimously approved the IGA for a coordinated election for the Boulder Valley School District Re-2.
Bald Mountain Road-Generator
Bank of America (BOA) took possession of a partially built house located on the Del Monte Lode on Bald Mountain. There is currently no power to the site. BOA planned to install a solar system with a back-up generator and requested approval to operate a propane back-up generator for 2.25 hours per day. The Planning Commission recommended approval with the condition the generator is operated only during daylight hours and mitigated noise pollution is at a level below 45 decibels at the property line. To do so, requires a special use permit. During the hearing for that, a neighbor told Commissioners BOA wanted them to allow the generator so they could avoid the more expensive alternative of running power lines to the house-a savings of about $30,000 he said, and BOA disguised their intent by calling their plan “green.” It isn’t (green) if it requires a generator,” he said. Commissioners denied the special use.
Robinson Hill Road-Yurt
Robert and Linda Brougham requested a special use permit for a generator at a 60-acre parcel they own on Robinson Hill Road, where they plan to erect a yurt for seasonal use. The PC had recommended approval of the generator with conditions regarding operating hours and noise. Commissioners also denied that request, saying they need to work out temporary vs. permanent structure status as it applies to yurts. The situation is too similar to one regarding mobile homes in past years, they noted, and that required more thought and specific regulations.
Pactolus Lake Road-Fishing Lodge
Matthew Burkett applied for a Special Use Review (SUR) permit to construct a 5000 square foot all-inclusive fishing lodge and event center located in the center of a 35-acre site along South Boulder Creek in the Lincoln Hills area. The County’s Planning Commission (PC) had previously reviewed the application and visited the site. They recommended that facility be allowed, limited to no more than six guest rooms; one utility/classroom/employee efficiency building of no more than 2000 square feet, limited to one employee efficiency apartment; ten permanent parking spaces with overflow parking of at least 20,000 square feet (112 spaces) for special events and no off-site parking allowed; overnight camping limited to 15 persons and not to exceed 5 nights per month (camping is for organized youth programs-no open public camping for fee or free); onsite occupancy, including youth campers and lodge guests is not to exceed 24 persons, total; and offsite road improvements to remove approximately 15 trees and to relocate one utility pole. Up to 200 guests will be allowed for special events (weddings) held at the new lodge, an increase in traffic on Pactolus Road of up to 150 additional cars. The PC found no significant traffic impact, based on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s traffic estimate formula. Additionally, the PC found the applicant had been, and would continue to be, improving water quality, wetlands, flora and fauna restoration and, minimally, the local tax base.
Two residents of the area, unable to attend the public hearing at this meeting, but who had attended the public hearing at the Planning Commission, submitted letters registering dissatisfaction to the way in which that Commission had conducted the meeting and objecting specifically to allowing, to an increase in the number of guests for special events (held five weekends from spring to fall) and to the amount of traffic that will be brought into their neighborhood. Letters of support were received from then Nederland organizations of TEENS, Inc. and Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center. During the public hearing, four people spoke in support and one person spoke in opposition to the project. Commissioners said the positives outweighed the negatives, asked Burkett to include Gilpin children in programs and suggested some compensatory program (discounted rates, perhaps) be offered for local residents. They then approved the special use.
Monthly Departmental Reports
Human Resources Director Susie Allen reported two new hires in July and two persons who left the County’s employ. At the end of July, the County was employing a total of 201 persons, including 111 full-time, 60 part-time (53 with no benefits), 4 temporary and 26 Property Tax Work Off employees.
At the Parks and Recreation Department, there were 1,192 individual Gilpinites who used the facility in July. An additional 300 non-residents logged in as well. Drop-In Admission raised $4,350 and Memberships raised $1,844 for last month. The Silver Sneakers program which was being explored has been abandoned, for now, due to funding changes. Softball season has concluded and youth soccer is in progress. Eric Costillo won the local Rockies Baseball Skills Challenge competition for the 12-13 year-old category.
The Community Development Department’s June report showed revenue of $21,956, mainly in grant funding. There were 34 cases handled with the bulk being in building, however only one case was for new construction and the rest was for additions, remodels, etc. to existing structures.
At the County Jail, Captain Tonia Kapke’s July Detentions Division report showed 74 new bookings (60 male) with an average daily population of 34. Of those arrested, 6 were Gilpinites. Twelve of the arrests were domestic/victim related. There were 42 arrests related to gaming. The Sheriff’s Office made 38 of the arrests: Black Hawk Police Department, 18; the Division of Gaming, 11; Colorado State Patrol, 5; and Central City Police Department, 2.
Gilpin County Public Library Director Larry Grieco reported 2,794 items circulated during the month of July. DVD’s and children’s materials are the most popular items checked out. There was an average of 78 people per day visiting the library for the 23 days it was open last month. The summer poetry event had been well attended and the Musician-in-Residence programs are ongoing. Purchases made at Barnes and Noble, across from Colorado Mills, on the evening of September 22nd, will directly benefit the Gilpin library, so early holiday shopping is encouraged.
Finance Director Clorinda Smith is seeking proposals from certified public accounting firms to provide the 2010 audit of the County’s finances.
At Human Services, the May 2010 report showed 376 Gilpin households had used assistance programs funded jointly by the federal, state and county governments. Programs funded solely by the County include Emergency Assistance (3 households served); Food Bank (132 individuals served); Senior Services (Meals on Wheels, 10 individuals; Congregate Lunch, 72 individuals; Transportation, 26 individuals; and Medicaid Transports, 1 individual); and Veterans Services (figures not available). 244 persons used the County programs, in total, in May.
Winks Lodge Restoration
On August 28th, noon – 4:00 p.m., a benefit will be held at Winks Lodge in Lincoln Hills to raise building restoration money. In its heyday, Winks was a hot spot for famous jazz performers (Duke Ellington, Louie Armstrong, Zora Neale Hurston, Lena Horne and others). The benefit celebrates Lena Horne’s life and music and includes food and entertainment, featuring Lionel Young. Call 303-320-4848 for more information.
Attorney’s Report
County Attorney Jim Petrock said the County’s answering brief had been filed the previous day for the Brannan litigation and that Black Hawk and SacWest had also filed their answering briefs. Each is nearly 40 pages long and contributes to approximately 1,000 pages of documentation the judge (Berryhill) will have to review. Before the judge makes a decision, however, Brannan may file a reply. After that, the judge will consider the case and maybe render a decision around November.
Public Comment
Planning Commission member Jim Wailes, noting Commissioners had just denied two special use permits the PC had recommended for approval, asked Commissioners for direction and, specifically, their concerns about the yurt. Commissioner Nicholson suggested a meeting with all PC members and Commissioners be scheduled so they can consider what is needed to address yurts. “We anticipate there will be more (yurts),” she said.
Head’s Up
Gilpin County Commissioners meet next on August 31, 2010.