Gilpin County goes after more Limited Gaming Impact Fund grant money

Zoning code revisions, Forest Service agreement By Lynn Volkens Gilpin County Commissioners Buddy Schmalz, Connie McLain and Gail Watson considered numerous Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant applications the County and other entities will submit this year. Gilpin is being more aggressive in seeking the gaming impact funding than in previous years. As always, Commissioners were asked to number the applications in order of what they see as priorities for the County. Their prioritization is informational for the Limited Gaming Fund Advisory Commission who will hear the applicants’ presentations next fall. Commissioners considered several zoning issues and reviewed the annual agreement between the County and the Forest Service related to patrolling Forest Service roads and campgrounds. As the voting and failures to second motions indicate, Commissioners were not always in consensus on all matters. DOLA Grant Priorities Listed below, in order of priority as stipulated by Commissioners, is a summary of the DOLA –Limited Gaming Impact Fund grant applications that will be submitted this year. Commissioner McLain moved to approve this list; Commissioner Watson declined to second as she preferred the Sheriff’s Office Detentions application be top priority; Commissioner Schmalz provided the second; and the motion passed unanimously. Mountain Family Health Centers will request grant funding of $232,977 to cover personnel and operating costs. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Detentions – requesting $1,192,632 to cover 70% of staff wages and benefits, to be matched by $511,129 in County funds. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Communications – requesting $345,522 to cover 60% of staff wages, to be matched by $230,349 of County funds. Jefferson Center for Mental Health will request grant funding of $53,047 mainly to cover the salary of the Gilpin County RE-1 School-Based Counselor. Gilpin County is to match that with $9,000. Eagles’ Nest Early Learning Center will request grant funding of $114,900 mainly for administrative salaries and personnel. That amount would be matched by the County. First Judicial District Attorney’s Office will request grant funding of $485,231 to pay for personnel. Gilpin County matches that with $196,808. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Victim Services – requesting $38,021 to partially cover the salaries and benefits victim advocates as well as the cost of a vehicle and radio, to be matched by $60,923 in County funds. Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Law Enforcement Personnel – requesting $30,992 to add one full-time office assistant, to be matched by $12,121 in County funds. Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder’s Office – requesting $48,176 to scan, digitize, and index property records dating from 1966-1994, to be matched by $20,647 in County funds. Prioritization by Commissioners does not insure funding for any of the grants, nor does it necessarily influence the advisory committee’s recommendations. Ultimately, the decision of which applicants receive funding and in what amount falls to Reeves Brown, Director of DOLA. Law Enforcement Annual Operating Plan Commissioners approved the Cooperative Law Enforcement Annual Operating Plan and Financial Plan agreement between the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. Under this agreement, Gilpin County will patrol the following U.S. Forest Service roads: Upper Apex, Apex Valley, Mammoth Gulch, East Portal, Rollins Pass and Missouri Gulch. They will also patrol the Us. Forest Service residences on Forest Service Road 105.1 and the following campgrounds: Cold Springs, Pickle Gulch, Columbine and Kelly Dahl. There is no set schedule for the patrols but enough time will be spent in each area to demonstrate regular law enforcement presence. In return, Gilpin County will be reimbursed the estimated cost of the patrols, $9,200. Sheriff Bruce Hartman noted that there was nothing different in this agreement from previous years and that the funding helps maintain the vehicles used for patrols. Should there be a large event, such as a wildfire, Sheriff Hartman said the Forest Service could provide supplemental funding to the County. The agreement runs through December 31, 2013. Clerk and Recorder’s Report Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Colleen Stewart was absent, as was the Deputy Clerk, so County Manager Roger Baker presented the Clerk’s April report showing that office had taken in revenues of $150,068 last month. Of that amount, $74,922 was disbursed to the state; $55,106 to the Gilpin County Treasurer; $4,115 to Central City; $117 to Black Hawk; $25 to Police Officers Standards and Training fund (POST); and the Clerk’s Office retained $15,785. Uninsured Motorist Fees raised $369 and Motor Vehicle Late Fees, $800. Passport fees raised $165. Coyote Circle Variance Lawrence Krug, Jr. had requested a variance, back in March, to construct a garage/workshop four feet from the east property line at his home at 1147 Coyote Circle. That is a 26-foot reduction from the County’s required 30-foot setback. After considering the original request, Commissioners continued the variance hearing to April 9, April 23, and then to this meeting. They had asked Krug to return with a site survey and a written acceptance from the neighbor on the east. Krug provided the survey and said he had also decreased the size of his proposed garage so that it would be located ten feet from the property line. That is still a 20-foot variance, Commissioners noted. The next door neighbor was not supportive, Krug said, because of resale concerns. County staff recommended denial of the variance because there were other sites on the property where a garage could be located. Commissioner Watson moved to deny the variance; Commissioner McLain declined to second the motion; Commissioner Schmalz provided the second; and in a split vote (Commissioner McLain’s the “Nay”), Commissioners passed the denial. Zoning Code Revision Upon recommendation of County Attorney, Jim Petrock, Commissioners continued the hearing regarding Resolution 13-05, a revision to the County’s Zoning Code. The resolution proposes revisions to removing areas of duplication, add an appeal process, set structural height requirements, amend certain Special Use requirements and define special events that qualify for a temporary special use permit . It also proposes prohibiting re-filing a zoning permit application for 12 months from the date of County Commissioners’ action. There are still issues to be worked out regarding some of these revisions and how they will affect non-profit groups. Gloria Gaines of the Gilpin County Historical Society, said she would need to inform her board of directors immediately of the proposed revisions as they could affect the annual Cemetery Crawl which is already being planned. Two Gilpin residents also addressed Commissioners and expressed concerns about some of the revisions and the clarity of the language in the code. Additionally, the proposed changes are tied to permitting fees and those fees have yet to be set. Petrock advised Commissioners to consider what the fees will be and hold another public hearing before considering final adoption of a revised code. That hearing is now scheduled at 10:00 a.m. on June 11, 2013. Departmental Reports The Public Health/Environmental Activities April report showed two permits issued for Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS). Thirty-six warnings had been issued for expired ISDS maintenance contracts; 25 maintenance contracts were received. Fourteen retail food establishments had been inspected, resulting in nine critical violations. Six of these were corrected on the spot and three scheduled for follow-up inspections. As of last month, there were 86 retail food establishments operating in Gilpin County. Three swimming pool inspections had been completed with no follow-up inspections needed. The Public Health/Population-Based Activities April report showed five clients in the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) and one client in the Nurse Family Partners program. Fourteen health education programs had been completed, as well as two cardiac risk assessments and one senior citizen presentation. The department handled five residential radon testing kits and nine residential water tests. At Human Resources, the April report showed two new hires and two people who had left the County’s employ. The County had a total of 180 employees at the end of last month. All of the Property Tax Work Off Program participants, except one, had completed their hours with the remaining participant’s hours scheduled to finish by May 10 th . A salary survey had been completed for a proposed Facilities Project Coordinator and a Maintenance Technician position in the Facilities Department. The Parks and Recreation Department’s April report noted 1,177 individuals had visited the Community Center a total of 4,200 times in April to use the facility, attend classes, or just observe. Of those, 967 were Gilpinites and they accounted for 3,406 of the visits. Drop-in revenue raised $2,000 and membership fees brought in $4,115. Youth Summer Camp registrations are in progress. The camp will be held at the Community Center rather than shuttling the children to Clear Creek as has been done in previous years. Little League practice was scheduled to begin in May. Extension Office Advisory Board Julie Shaw applied for, and was appointed to, a position on the Gilpin County CSU Extension Advisory Board. She is a twelve-year Gilpin County resident with a background in managing non-profit organizations and recruiting and managing volunteers. Country Store Wine Tasting Event Commissioners approved a Tasting Permit for the Rollinsville Country Store to have a wine tasting event on May 27, 2013, the same day as the Veterans Memorial Walk. Wine will be served one ounce at a time (a taste) and each person is limited to four ounces, total. Commissioner Watson suggested the approval be conditioned on serving food and non-alcoholic beverages in conjunction with the wine tasting and Commissioners Schmalz and McLain agreed. This is a first time for this type of event in Gilpin County, although such tastings are done routinely in other jurisdictions, usually by liquor stores as a treat for customers. The hours for this event, which is meant to be a nice gesture to veterans and residents, were originally set from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. but may be moved to occur closer to the time of the Walk, which ends at noon. Stage Stop Liquor License Change Change in managers at the Stage Stop in Rollinsville required Commissioners to approve the liquor license with the name of the new manager, Heather Hatwan. Ownership of the Stage Stop has not changed, it is just under new management. Commissioners accepted the change and approved the license. Attorney’s Update County Attorney Petrock informed Commissioners that Brannan Sand & Gravel has about ten days left in which they could appeal the latest court findings (in favor of the County). “Assume they will appeal,” he told Commissioners. Petrock also advised Commissioners that they will probably need to make a decision regarding the County’s stance on recreational marijuana sometime next fall. The legislation has passed and rules and regulations should be forthcoming from the state by July 1 st , he said. Commissioners will then need to decide how Gilpin will handle the issue. Public Comment A Russell Gulch resident asked Commissioners if there was a way to apply a special assessment to the taxes of mine claim owners who do not clean up their properties. He was concerned about the fire danger, describing the area of Pewabic Mountain as “a disaster waiting to happen.” A special assessment could be used to cover the County’s costs of cleaning up the properties, if the owners didn’t do it, he said. Commissioners expressed the same concerns about fire, but pointed out that unlike the municipalities, the County is not home-rule and must abide by state regulations. Work Sessions Following the business meeting, Commissioners conducted two work sessions, one regarding proposed revisions to the zoning code and the other dealing with public health issues. Heads Up Gilpin County Commissioners meet next on June 11, 2013.

Gilpin County goes after more Limited Gaming Impact Fund grant money

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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Gilpin County goes after more Limited Gaming Impact Fund grant money

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