County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1

County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1 By Don Ireland

$9 and $10, depending on the user’s age and whether they live in the county. The cost for one-month, three-month and annual passes also will increase for the remainder of the year, depending on the user’s age and residency status.

the rec center’s website and newsletter.

director said she sought rate increases to help offset the reduced income and make the facility more “self-sus- tainable.”

For 2024, Chisholm said the center had eliminated $100,00 in line-item pur- chases, reduced its part- time staff, and made other cuts. She noted that utilities for the building are estimat- ed at $230,000 this year. “It’s been really hard on us,” she commented. “We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. I don’t know about the future.”

Senior Reporter

Originally, Chisholm planned to discontinue sell- ing annual passes. However, she said she would follow the commissioners’ recom- mendations to continue the program after they sug- gested the passes should contain a line, “hours and days subject to change.”

The fees for some Gilpin Community Center pro- grams will rise by $1 or more starting on March 1.

She noted that many insurance providers sup- port Silver Sneakers and other programs that pay for seniors to use the rec center. In addition, the non-profit Friends of Gilpin Com- munity Center offers Heart Fund “scholarships” to help residents who can’t afford to pay for rec center passes and sports equipment.

By a 2-1 vote, the Gilpin Board of County Commis- sioners approved several increases for the community center at their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The dis- cussion brought on a larger topic – the future of the rec center in 2025 and beyond – into the spotlight during the meeting, too.

Prices for childcare for kids graded K-5 also will rise, depending on whether the children are attending full-day or after-school pro- grams. The registration fee for the program will be $30, a $5 increase. Those partici- pating in field trips will be charged $66, compared to the current $55. Parks and Recreation Director Gabri- elle Chisholm said the new rates will be available on

Commissioner Marie Mornis voted against the increases after her motion – to freeze the fees this year – failed to get a second.

Hollingsworth said the old mill levy means that casinos will pay about $700,000 less this year than if the property tax had remained in effect. Currently, the cen- ter will continue operating for the remainder of 2024. “I don’t have a crystal ball [to predict the future],” said the commissioner, who gave Chisholm kudos for seeking sponsorships and additional funding for the facility.

Chisholm said Gilpin’s rates continue to be lower than those in other counties. After county voters rejected a special millage levy in November to finance some of the rec center’s costs, the

Mornis said county lead- ers should discuss the rec center beyond the current year, noting the county’s budget paid for the facil- ity from when it opened in 2002 until the pandemic struck in 2020. At that time, the voters passed a three- year 2.56\ mill levy to fund the rec center. The money comes from the county gen- eral fund and user fees.

Commissioners Susan Berumen and Sandy Hol- lingsworth voted to increase daily drop-in fees by $1 for residents and non-residents. Punch cards for 10 admis- sions will increase between

Replied Mornis, “I’m a lot more optimistic about the future.” She recommended that county leaders meet to discuss the rec center operations for its long-term future.

Jefferson Academy enrollment With Jefferson County Schools closing the Coal Creek Canyon building this year, parents have organized a group that will run the school as part of the Jefferson Academy system, a private academy for preschool children and those in grades kindergar- ten through eighth.

This year, Gilpin County’s budget has allocated ap- proximately $2.7 million for the rec center, including $1 million for capital repairs. The recently ended mill levy resulted in the center receiv- ing $1.1 million less in 2024 compared to 2023. County leaders said approximately $600,000 remaining from the rec center’s budget last year will help defray the costs this year. When ap- proving the 2024 budget, the county commissioners reduced the operating days for the rec center from five to four days.

BRIEFS BRIEFS

Berumen said the rec center fees hadn’t increased for more than three years, adding many senior citizens don’t have to pay for meals and programs there. “I don’t think there’s anything that’s free,” she remarked.

The school is accept- ing information from parents who are interested in enrolling children for the upcoming year. It will serve families in the Coal Creek Canyon area and beyond in Gilpin, Jefferson and Boulder counties.

U.S. Forest Service continues pile burns Seeing smoke in Gilpin County? The USFS is asking residents not to report it to authorities because most of the smoke is coming from piles being burned north of Central City and in the vicinity of the Gross Reservoir near Pinecliffe.

For information on the rec center and Heart Fund grants available through the Friends of Gilpin Com- munity Center, visit www. gilpincommunitycenter. org.

The Forest Service said there has been an uptick in 911 calls to the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department. During burning, USFS partners from The Nature Conser- vancy, Timberline Fire Protection District and Lefthand Fire Protection District have been observing the burns. The service reports that the area has adequate snow cover, and there are no holding concerns. Resources remain on scene until the piles have burned down.

County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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County wil increase recenter fes begining on March 1

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