Colorado teen vaping has reached epidemic proportions

Gilpin County to receive $32K reimbursement from state for Human Services By Randy Beaudette The Gilpin County 2018 Tobacco and Health Survey results and the 2020 Cost Allocation Plan dominated the conversation at the Gilpin County Commissioners (BoCC) regular meeting held on Tuesday July 23, 2019 at the Gilpin County Courthouse. Madam Chair Linda Isenhart opened up the meeting promptly at 9:02 a.m. with Commissioners Ron Engels and Gail Watson. Also present were County Attorney Jim Petrock, County Manager Abel Montoya, and Deputy Clerk to the Board Sharon Cate. 2018 Tobacco and Health Survey Results Gilpin County Public Health Representative Katie Lavar presented the 2018 Tobacco and Health Survey results to the Commissioners. In the survey it is reported that 53% of Gilpin residents have at one time smoked cigarettes verses the 41% Colorado rate. Residents are 21 % currently cigarette users verses 15% statewide. The survey was conducted in 2018 by randomly selected households in Gilpin and Jefferson Counties. The survey also highlighted that teen vaping has reached epidemic proportions across Colorado according to the 2017 Healthy Kids Colorado survey. 27% of Colorado youth are currently using vaping devices. Youth vaping has been identified as a priority to focus on in the next five years in the Gilpin County Public Health Improvement Plan. Public Health is currently planning an educational campaign to be presented at Gilpin County School for parents and staff to inform our community about the dangers of vaping. For tips on starting the conversation with teens and a fact sheet about vaping, visit www.tobaccofreeco.org/know-the-facts on the web or contact Gilpin County Public Health at 303-582-5803, or online at www.co.gilpin.co.us/departments/public_health_agency. Cost Allocation Plan MGT Consulting Group Financial Services Analyst Ellie Hennes presented the 2020 Cost allocation Plan to the Commissioners. The purpose of the plan is to identify indirect costs in order to get reimbursement from the State for Human Services. The completed 2020 Plan is based on information from the 2018 actual expenditures. Highlights in the Plan Overview included significant variances from the Gilpin Clerk and Recorder’s office to include an increase of $37,000 in allocations for an additional administration position, $52,000 from the Sheriff’s department for maintenance and increased costs in Finance function, an increase of $41,000 from Parks and Recreation for maintenance, and Solid Waste reported an increase of $33,000 for maintenance. Other than these variances, there were not a lot of any other changes to the 2020 plan. Based on the information in Plan, Colorado will provide a 32% reimbursement for Human Services that will total $36,054 for indirect costs. Finance Reporting Software Business Analyst Cindy Carter presented a request for approval of contract between Gilpin County and OpenGov for Finance Reporting Software. Requests for Proposals (RFP) opened up on June 14, 2019 for qualified individuals and firms to create, coordinate, and conduct the implementation of an integrated document management software solution. ClearGov, Questica, and OpenGov all responded to the RFP. ClearGov offered their services for $16,350 year 1 and $12,750 annually, Questica offered theirs for $36,000 year 1 and $24,400 annually, whereas OpenGov offered their services for $36,950 for year 1 and 26,950 annually. The Selection Committee recommended OpenGov because they submitted a clear, concise proposal that included all the modules requested in the RFP, competitive pricing, training of County Personnel, and an implementation schedule. The other two firms did not meet all the RFP requirements. Gilpin County Commissioners approved the contract unanimously. Liquor License Renewal Madam Chair Isenhart adjourned the Commissioners meeting at 9:57 a.m. and opened the Local Liquor Licensing Board to review the Retail Liquor License Renewal Application for Pickle Liquors located at 661 Highway 46, Black Hawk, Colo. as presented by Deputy Clerk to the Board, Sharon Cate. The Board reviewed the application and approved the renewal unanimously. Madam Chair Isenhart adjourned Local Liquor Licensing Board and re-opened up the Regular Gilpin County Commissioners Meeting at 10:00 a.m. Clerk & Recorder’s Report Gilpin County Clerk & Recorder Sahari McCormick and Chief Deputy Clerk Elaine Lewers presented the Clerk & Recorder’s monthly report for the month June 2019. Ms. Lewers stated that Gilpin County’s general revenue is down $24,000 from the June 2018 report. The County absorbed that loss in revenue and the county allocation was down approximately $26,000 with the State allocation up $1,600. Ms. Lewers continued that she is working with a deputy comptroller at the State Department of Revenue to investigate this drop in revenue. The state is addressing this issue by looking into the methodology in which the raw data was compiled and how that data is processed. Commissioner Watson asked, “Is this a Gilpin anomaly or is this a statewide issue?” In which Ms. Lewers replied, “This seems to be a Gilpin anomaly.” The possible reason, according to Ms. Lewers, is that this is attributed to the conversion from the old DOS system to the new system. Since the new system was implemented in August of 2018, if the numbers in August of 2019 show the same anomalies, this would discount such theory. The Clerk & Recorder’s office along with the County Manager and the State’s Comptroller’s office will continue to investigate this matter to find out the root cause of these anomalies. County Manager’s Report Gilpin County Manager Abel Montoya presented three reports to the BoCC. The Detentions report, the Human Resources Report, and the Parks & Recreation Report. In the June 2019 Detentions Report, Total Bookings went down form 149 in May to 109 in June with a slight rise (52.86) in average daily population. The only gain in the report was the seven residents that landed in the pokey as opposed to the five that went in during May. The Human Resources Report showed that the County is down eleven employees as compared with the June 2018 report and those numbers are reflected in the Job Opening Report. There are a number of positions available. For a complete listing go to: https://co.gilpin.co.us/employment . The Parks & Recreation report shows that with the rainy weather, comes a higher usage of the Rec Center. Residents had 2,313 visits to the Rec Center in June along with 118 non-resident friends. Notice of Public Meetings --July 29, 9:00 am: BoCC Work Session - Review DOLA Grant Application for PH/HS Building at the Apex Facility, 495 Apex Valley Road --July 30, 5:30 pm: Community Meeting with Excel about pipeline project, at the Gilpin County Community Center, 250 Norton Drive --August 1, 9:00 am: BoCC Regular Meeting and Board of Equalization, Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street --August 8, 9:00 am: BoCC Work Session, Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street --August 13, 6:30 - 8:00 pm: Joint Meeting: BoCC, Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, Location TBD --August 15, 9:00 am: BoCC Work Session, Gilpin County Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street --August 21, 6:30 - 8:00 pm: Conversation with Commissioners (Coffee, Road Trip), Gilpin County Community Center, 250 Norton Drive US Forest Service Environmental Policy The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was one of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment. NEPA requirements are invoked when airports, buildings, military complexes, highways, parkland purchases, and other federal activities are proposed. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), which are assessments of the likelihood of impacts from alternative courses of action, are required from all Federal agencies and are the most visible NEPA requirements. (Source epa.gov) With 52% of Gilpin County being public land, Commissioner Watson stated that the government is changing the requirements for local input. She suggested that the Commissioners send in a letter during the comment period for these changes that would contain the importance and value of the opportunity for local government to weigh in on decisions that will directly affect those local government and residents. NoCo Places 2050 - DOLA Grant Match Commitment Gilpin County Commissioners made a motion and approved the authorization of Gilpin County Manager Montoya to negotiate and create a letter showing support of Gilpin County for the DOLA grant and a County Match for 2020 up to $50,000. As describe by Commissioner Watson, NoCo Places 2050 is a land management group focused on managing recreation. According to the Clear Creek Chatter, This work (from the planning grant) will include local recreation and natural resource stewardship plans at a county level, a regional recreation and natural resource stewardship plan that includes the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest (ARNF), and a forest plan update for the ARNF. These plans will include strategies to share in the management, infrastructure development, and maintenance of public lands for better and more efficient stewardship of natural resources and public lands. Shout Out Commissioner Engels requested to give a shout out to Sharon Cate for her assistance in correcting a questionable access from the road to the driveway of a resident in mid-Gilpin County. Public works reshaped the road to the owner’s satisfaction then contacted Commissioner Engels to make sure Ms. Cate got the recognition for initiating the process. Approval of Meeting Minutes Gilpin County Commissioners approved the minutes from the July 9, 2019 Regular meeting with no corrections. Adjournment Gilpin County Commissioners adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Executive Session The Gilpin County BoCC adjourned into Executive Session to receive legal advice on specific legal matters per CRS 24-6-402(4)(b) and to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators per CRS 24-6-402(4)(e). Next Meeting The next Gilpin County Commissioners regular meeting will be August 20, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Gilpin County Courthouse at 203 Eureka St. Central City, Colorado. For more information visit the Gilpin County website at https://gilpincounty.org .

Colorado teen vaping has reached epidemic proportions

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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