30 years ago – March 9, 1990
When do one person’s rights have precedence over another’s? That question was the source of a heated debate that erupted between the Gilpin County Commissioners on Tuesday. Acting on the request of two non-smoking courthouse employees, Commissioner Ann Leffingwell made a motion that smoking be banned from the first floor of the courthouse. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Carroll Beck, resulting in a 2-1 vote in favor of the ban. Chairman Leslie Williams voted against it. Williams chided the employees for speaking only with the two non-smoking commissioners on the subject. She also pointed out that they chose their course of action without input from any of the smoking courthouse employees. Rose Hosmer informed Williams that she had been aware that employees wanted a stricter smoking policy at the courthouse and the commissioners had to date refused to set a policy. At this point, Williams, who was visibly upset, called for adjournment of the day’s meeting. The meeting was adjourned. Williams informed Leffingwell and Beck that for the past two weeks, she had assumed the role of administrative assistant since the resignation of Lorraine Crowe. Neither one had offered to help and now they expected her to quit smoking in the area where she has been working, she said. Leffingwell darted back that by definition of chairman pro tem, which she is, she is only required to fill in when Williams is absent at meetings. If she were vice-chair, she said, it would be a different matter altogether She would then come in to help staff that position until someone is hired. Half an hour’s worth of verbal barbs and retaliation were hurled back and forth. County Clerk and Recorder Judy Dornbrock entered innocently into the melee to question why the action was taken. She had not been informed that a smoking ban was to be discussed at the Tuesday meeting, let alone that a non-smoking decision would be made at the courthouse. Leffingwell proceeded to tell Dornbrock that employee input was not necessary, that the matter was brought before the commissioners and was enacted. The board of commissioners, according to her, has that right. Finally, Beck requested a truce by stating that the matter should be given more consideration. The meeting was reconvened, and the motion rescinded on the first-floor smoking ban. Williams and Beck voted to continue the smoking ban discussion and decision to the mid-month meeting of March 20. Leffingwell abstained from the vote. Williams asked for all smokers to voluntarily refrain from smoking on the first floor until the March 20 meeting.
Died: Jonathan Anthony Jordan, a resident of Gilpin County for eight years, died at the family’s condominium in Grand Lake, February 28th, 1990. He was 42 years old. Born May 8, 1947, in Iowa City, Iowa, Jon was the son of William Sandoe Jordan and Mary Elizabeth Quarton Jordan. He was reared in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, later attending the ninth through twelfth grades in Fountain Valley at Colorado Springs. He attended Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, for one year, transferring to Colorado University in Boulder, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science. Following his graduation, he served in the Army for 19 months and was stationed in Korea. He returned to Colorado University after military service and earned a master’s degree in finance. Professionally, Jon was a certified public accountant. In 1967, Margie and Jon were married in Deer Trail, Colorado. In the following years they became proud parents of Jennifer and Brook, as well as being guardians of Cindy. Before moving to Gilpin County, the Jordans resided in Boulder. Approximately five years ago, they purchased a condominium in Grand Lake. In 1983, Jon was elected by the voters of Gilpin to serve on the Gilpin County Re-1 School Board. During his four-year term on the board, Jon served as both assistant treasurer and treasurer, and as a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee. He had a strong interest in the quality of education provided at the school and felt Re-1 was one of the best schools in the state. Jon’s confidence in the school led him toward seeking two $25,000 gifts to the school from private individuals, and in 1986 allowed the school to receive a 77-passenger school bus as a gift from another individual. In more recent years, Jon became active in and strongly supported the Academic Decathlon program at Gilpin Re-1. Family and close friends knew Jon as a quiet but generous man. He loved Gilpin’s aspen trees and the outdoors, including boating and snowmobiling. One of his favorite pastimes was debating many various issues. Jon parents preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Margie of Gilpin County; children Jennifer, Brook and Cindy; and brothers Sandoe, Christopher and Jeffrey Jordan, all of Boulder. A memorial service was held March 5, at Drinkwine Chapel in Littleton. Officiating were Mr. Sutherland Cook, lifelong family friend, and Dr. Donald Bennallack, a close friend of Jon’s. Background music at the service included many of Jon’s favorite songs.
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