BoCC approve Jail Based Behavioral Health Services grant

The Gilpin County Commissioners (BoCC) convened a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14. Commissioners Susan Berumen, Marie Mornis, and Sandy Hollingsworth all attended, along with County Manager Ray Rears, County Attorney Brad Benning, and other County staff.

Berumen called for a moment to honor Clear Creek County Commissioner Sean Wood, who passed away recently.

During public comment, Wes Isenhart spoke, and read a poem about hummingbirds.

Kathleen Balfour commented that the Black Hawk IGA is still on the table and she thinks it is wonderful, adding that several Gilpin residents are in support of the Black Hawk IGA. She asked if the BoCC is planning to raise taxes in the near future. She stated the County can fund the Community Center, and should fund it, but an extra million dollars a year would help.

Phillip Gibbs said he wrote a letter to the editor in the Weekly Register Call, saying the commissioners deserve credit for taking over the capital improvements and repairs for the Community Center. He said the budget is almost exactly the same as 20 years ago, accounting for inflation and population growth. He added that the budget for law enforcement has increased from 20% to 30% of the budget and wondered why. He also asked if taxes would be raised.

Greg Petty commended the effort of the BoCC to build the community and make Gilpin better, in ways like improving broadband, food insecurity, and investment into County infrastructure. He thinks the Black Hawk IGA would sacrifice the independence of the county and would give the City of Black Hawk control over the best interests of the county.

New employees were introduced: Lee Shneider joined Road and Bridge, and Janet Macdougal was hired as the Public Works Office Assistant. Finance Director Joe Allaire introduced former Clerk and Recorder Lyndsey Denton as the new Financial Analyst.

Melanie Bleyler, Community Engagement Officer, presented a Proclamation for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. All were in favor.

Sheriff Kevin Armstrong and Sergeant Stephen Mathews presented Resolution 24-83, Authorizing the Approval and Acceptance of a Grant for the Jail Based Behavioral Health Services (JBBS) Program.

In July 2023, the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with the Colorado Department of Behavioral Health to launch Jail Based Behavioral Health Services at the Gilpin County jail.

This initiative aims to assist incarcerated individuals by addressing mental health and substance abuse issues in order to decrease recidivism. The program is fully funded by a grant, ensuring no financial burden on Gilpin County or the Sheriff’s Office.

The initial grant of $180,000 enabled the jail’s medical department to acquire essential materials, update technology, and incorporate a state-of-the-art telehealth system and digital medical records.

The funding is part of a legislatively mandated scheme that ensures full reimbursement annually. The initial contract began on July 1, 2023, and ends on June 30, 2024. The subsequent contract for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, is proposed at $75,660, reflecting the current expenditure trends and projected needs for the program’s second year.

The program requires no financial matching from the County. Additionally, the State of Colorado has introduced a new reporting system through Chestnut Health Systems starting FY 2024/25, necessitating new contractual agreements for each participating county jail. This requirement has been integrated into the renewal of the JBBS contract by the Sheriff’s Office.

Mathews said that the cost of substance abuse treatment is very hefty, at $1600 per inmate per month. Counseling is also provided and has been effective, since inmates have not been re-booked.

All were in favor.

Public Hearing. Local Liquor Licensing Authority: Liquor License Application for Peak to Peak Music Education Association Barn Dance was put forward by Sahari McCormick, Clerk & Recorder. There was no public comment and all were in favor.

Public Hearing. Local Liquor Licensing Authority: Liquor License Application for Gilpin County Fair Liquor License. As a new addition to the entertainment, there will be an axe-throwing cage. McCormick said no one commented and recommended approval. The public hearing was opened and closed at 9:46 a.m. All were in favor.

US Forest Service Update on New Concessionaire. Patsy McEntee, District Ranger, introduced herself as the new Clear Creek District Ranger and gave an update on the Vista campground which will be re-envisioned for four to five additional campsites.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) Update. Sarah Graves, CDPHE Remedial Project Manager; Kyle Sandor, CDPHE Remedial Project Manager; Angela Zachman, EPA Remedial Project Manager; Laura Dixon, CDPHE Community Involvement Manager; and Branden Ingersoll, CDPHE Community Involvement Coordinator reported that CDPHE has been investigating “superfund” sites in Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties, and found heavy metal contamination emanating from several mining waste piles.

According to www.epa. gov/superfund/what-superfund, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) is informally called Superfund. It allows the EPA to clean up contaminated sites and also forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.

CDPHE is in the end process of the feasibility study. The waste piles have scattered residential ownership, so it has been a long process.

During the County Manager’s Report, Rears said this is the last regular meeting in May, and the next work session is Tuesday, May 21, at 9 a.m. in the Historic Courthouse.

A historic site tour is scheduled for May 21 after the work session.

Nine percent of open Gilpin County positions remain unfilled. Critical needs are for emergency communications and facility technician positions. He said they had a good level of response for IT positions.

Rears spoke about last week’s Town Hall on the building process in Gilpin County. He said there will be another one soon, and that changes are in the works with a debrief for employees coming soon.

Rears said the Tourist Map is gaining traction.

The joint meeting with Central City has been rescheduled for July 16 at 2 p.m. in the Historical Courthouse.

Gilpin exists in a Wildland Urban Interface area, and a workshop has been scheduled for June 8, 10 a.m.-noon at the Community Center to address issues that arise from that.

Balfour commented at the end of the meeting that the rec center should have been included in the Tourist Map. She said she is still in favor of the Black Hawk IGA. She asked about a supposed surplus fund in the Sheriff’s Office.

Rears responded that the Tourist Map was geared more for visitors rather than residents. He also said the limited gaming impact fund is controlled by the State, not the County.

Berumen said there is no plan to raise taxes. Berumen asked Don Ireland to issue a correction in the Weekly Register Call stating that a vote has not been taken on the Black Hawk IGA, contrary to his recent article.

Hollingsworth moved to adjourn the meeting into Executive Session at 10:59 a.m.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 11 at the Historic Courthouse at 9 a.m.