Posted on: January 23rd, 2015

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the December 8, 2014, Town Meeting

 

Next Town Meeting is Monday, February 9, 2015, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Peter Swift. Thirteen people were present: Teresa Robertson, Bobby and Member at Large Tony Vrba, Pam Sherman, Dina & Mark Elder, Debra Yeager, Lacey Storey, John Berzner, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Peter, Vice-Chair Bear Carlson, Treasurer Martha Knapp.

 

Minutes – were approved

 

Treasurer’s Report – Martha submitted her report

 

At the previous Town Meeting in October our bank balance was $17,209.09. Since then, $100 was disbursed from the General Fund for the Welcome Basket project and $2500 was moved to the Ward Church for anticipated disbursement through the Community Relief Fund project. The current bank balance is $14, 609.09. Total funds held for us at the Ward Church is $4000 bringing our total cash assets to $18,609.09

 

Current individual fund totals are as follows: General Fund is $3855.56; Cemetery Fund is $3610.21; Community Relief Fund is $7491.95; Forest Management is $94.52; and Safe Link is $3,547.25.

 

Respectfully submitted, Martha Knapp, Gold Hill Treasurer

 

 

Community Planning/Trails – no report

 

Historical Zoning – Bear reported that Martha is proposing to raise her house ~18” to improve the foundation. The Committee has met at the site and approved the plan.

 

Forest Management – Peter would like to talk to Ryan Ludlow, County Forester, about the area north of town and get his advice about fire mitigation and possible sources of funding available. There is a lot of clutter back there and it’s probably the most vulnerable area. Deb reported that we’ve talked about using community funds for matching for grants and she remembers that it costs ~$2500-3500 per acre. Kris Gibson might know the acreage. Also at the last IMA meeting they visited the Sheriff’s sand table/map deal that Jay Stallnaker has worked on and looked at the most vulnerable areas. Maybe they could reconfigure it for our specific region. Peter will talk to him. Pam has a fire map of the area.

 

Fire Department – Bobby reports that we’ve had two calls – one a rollover in Lefthand, and another Cadillac pulling a trailer that jackknifed in Lickskillet and blocked the road. The burning car training will be this coming weekend (Dec. 13) and the Firefighter’s Ball is Wednesday, the 11^th. The Fire Board approved the Budget.

 

Weed Management – Pam has volunteered to chair this committee and has a good list of people who will help, including Susan, Cherry, Dave Steinmann, Deb and others. She will make up a chart of management options.

 

Historic Gold Hill – Deb reports the 2015 calendars are gone. We have a wonderful new Member of the community named Laurie who has a degree in Art History and a Masters in Museum curating and is happy to help the museum. The museum board has joined a group that covers from Wyoming to Trinidad and think they will learn lots of new exciting stuff.

 

Mining – Peter has seen a flyer indicating the Mill, etc., is for sale, but Gretchen has heard they have new investors who are working toward re-opening. Tony thinks we might be able to check with the County Mapping Department.

 

Gold Hill School – no report

 

SafeLink/AirLink/NeighborLink, etc. –AirLink is working on a memo of understanding between AirLink and BCARES regarding communications in an emergency, etc. Mark reports that the FCC has very specific regulations on what happens in an emergency, and BCARES has a seat in the EOC, so this is an agreement on how we work with them. Once this is worked out, we will get the frequency we need that was originally assigned to the non veryfunctionsl repeater at the Firebarn, which our new repeater is replacing. Bear suggested an MOU between AirLink and the Town Meeting clarifying that the TM owns the repeater, etc. Mark reported that our project has gotten a lot of recognition by Boulder County and the State that we have an engineered system that works with the FCC for our community. Lacey says that we’ve created successful templates that can be replicated in other communities. Deb added that NeighborLink is also being used by many other communities. Peter thanked everyone for all the work that has gone into these projects. All the NeighborLink POD leaders have Weather Radios, which will alert us in weather and other emergencies here in the Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI).

 

OLD BUSINESS

Deb reports that the SafeLink shed will be moved very soon – Max is catching up.

Peter reports that Jared Polis’s office has been very busy with the election, but he will be getting back to them about potential sources of funding for our possible new Community Center/SafeSite and will report back in February. We now have title to the piece of land off Lickskillet and Pine Street, although the Iron and Cohen mining claims may cross them. Peter will talk to the Finns about this. Then we’d have Boulder County to deal with – septic, etc. He’s been sort of working off the Community Center design that the graduate students from Denver put together when they did their architectural survey of Gold Hill some years ago, but we will have to see what’s possible from a civil engineering standpoint given the site, etc. John Berzner wants to be on the committee and help with fundraising. Deb said that Max recommends holding tanks and a cistern versus a well & septic since it’s not going to be in everyday use.

 

Porta-Potti for the Community Center – Bear reports that he hasn’t found one that seems to be affordable although he’s talked to Acme and Aerostar. Renting one from Aerostar would cost $100/month and it looks like ~$350 to buy a used one. Acme would charge $150 to pump it out although we wouldn’t have to do it very often. Teresa suggested calling Pastures of Plenty – they had some and have upgraded to bathrooms, so we might be able to buy one for not too much.

 

501(c)4 to 501(c)3 – Gretchen has done some research and we’d need to start with amending our original Articles of Incorporation. Lots of paperwork involved. Peter will call Rich to check whether buildings can be owned by a501(c)4 since we incorporated originally so that we could own the meadow, cemetery, etc.

 

Town Boundaries – The 1965 bylaws said “The Town shall have the following boundaries: West to the Mount Alto Road; East one- half mile from the Junction of Main and Boulder streets; North, one-half mile from the Junction; and South, one-half mile from the Junction.” This was roughly meant to include anyone who accessed our roads (Sunshine, Fourmile (now known as Gold Run Road), or Lickskillet) within those markers as well as everyone living around Gold Hill at the time. The Gold Run Subdivision was not there yet, but people lived on Rim Road. The boundaries as described in the Bylaws as last amended (see the town website under Gold Hill Town Meeting) now outline a specific area, which we have discovered excludes some areas, particularly on our southern boundary, that we have all considered part of Gold Hill. Since the council is responsible for administering the Community Relief Funds, we propose redefining the application to include these. Bear moved that we amend the criteria for the Community Relief fund to include Shining Star and Rim Road. This was seconded and passed. As far as amending the Bylaws to include people who live outside the present boundaries, but are really part of Gold Hill, this is an involved process and should probably necessitate a questionnaire to find out who would like to be included (we know some who specifically do not) as well as any other possible amendments. This was tabled for now.

 

National Guard Care Package – It has come to our attention that the Guard Unit that helped so much during the flood is now in Afghanistan and there is a movement afoot, started by the Sheriff’s Office, to send them a care package. Peter will come up with a list for a 35# package and would take a shopping trip, with Teresa’s help, to Costco. Anyone else who would like to help, please contact Peter (PHswi@nullaol.com).

John Berzner suggested that we consider a Gold Hill Giving Day – maybe an annual event?

 

Christmas Tree Donation – John has a 10’ tall tree in a stand with lights and guy wires that he would like to donate to the town since he is headed to California for a while. Peter will talk to the folks at the crossroads to see about hooking it into electricity.

 

Welcome Buckets – Deb is running out of cups and t-shirts for the welcome buckets and is thinking of a pint beer glass with a new logo – possibly having another logo contest. John thanked everyone for the great welcome to our community and wants to contribute – he’s a fundraiser, etc, works on issues like branding. Deb will confer with him. She says new items are especially needed for spring. Caroline and Leland have been donating their hot sauce even though they don’t live up here anymore!

 

Caregivers/Growers – Tony brought up a community concert: two local dogs have had to be taken to the vet because of poisoning from detritus dumped around the neighborhood – left over from something to do with growing pot. The Sheriff has been up. The Fire Department knows the locations and is aware of potential for any problems.

 

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary