Turning back the pages

30 years ago – November 7, 1986

It’s over—for now. The only digging done for the Gilpin Quarry was for its grave. After weeks of deliberation and hours of public hearings, it took only 10 minutes Monday for the county commissioners to deny, unanimously, the quarry application. The proposal had generated a huge public outcry at the previous four hearings. Opponents had force a group that lobbied against the quarry. Although there have been some locals in favor of the quarry, only a handful of those have attended the hearings. The opponents have been vociferous. At times the discussions were heated, and Gilpin County Commissioner Leslie Williams is not at all pleased with the way people have acted. “I have been accused of everything but incest,” William said in a statement to the more than 30 people at the hearing Monday. She went on to say that people who know her knew she would go with what the people want. Williams said she has had threatening phone calls and added, “I’m ashamed of the people.” She said, “I am not your damn whipping boy.” The county is “hurting for money” and it is up to the people if the county goes down, Williams said. Input on the budget is needed. She does not know where else to cut the budget except for employees. The county has good employees, she said, indicating that she does not want to do away with any of them. The Siegrist Construction Co. quarry would have brought tax revenue to the county. Part of the debate has been whether or not that money would be worth putting up with traffic and other negative aspects of the operation

Building & Zoning Inspector Verl Jones reported that he has received many complaints about American War Games, a company that has been holding mock wars in mid-county. The land is zoned for forestry, so the company needs a special use permit for its activities. Jones wrote to the company and the landowner to tell them that. The landowner told the company to vacate the land by October 31, according to Jones. Then, a spokesman for the company wrote to Jones and asked what could be done to allow the enterprise to continue. Jones wrote back and said the county commissioners would probably not grant a special use permit due to all the complaints. If the war games continue, the county will find out about it because the neighbors are watching what happen, Jones concluded.