Posted on: September 26th, 2019

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the August 12, 2019 Town Meeting

Next Town Meeting will be Monday October 14, 2019, 7:00 P.M. at the Community Center

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Tony Vrba.  Thirteen people attended: Treasurer Martha Knapp, Christine Maedke (+Gabe & Mike), Tony, Cat Russell, Ota Lutz, Member at Large Dan Maedke, John Sand, Vice Chair Marielle (Mari) Sidell, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Dwight DeBroux (Whitey at the GH Store), Debra Yeager, Chris Dirolf, and Emma Salmon.

Minutes of the June 10 GHTM – were approved as published.

Treasurer’s Report – Martha reported: At the previous regular Town Meeting in June 2019 our bank balance was $12,604.26. Our current total cash assets are $12,347.78.

Revenue Summary: Pint glass sales of $288, Town Cleanup donations of $841 and Cemetery fund donations of $200 for total revenue of $1329.

Expense Summary: Town Cleanup dumpsters $795, porta-potty maintenance $50, bi-annual webhosting $359.52 and printing of Welcome Bucket informational booklets $380.96 for total expenses of $1585.48.

Fund transfers: none

Current fund totals:  General Fund $614.19; Cemetery $5,939.85; Safe Link (combined funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $1000; Forest Management $0 (zero;) Community Relief $2,326.95.

TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS – Tony gave a brief outline of the duties of the officers.  She has been the Chair for 4 years and they have their house for sale now, so we need to consider the Chair position. She asked for nominations.

            Chair – Dan nominated Mari, Gretchen seconded, there were no further nominations, and she was elected unanimously.  Tony agreed to help her, which was gratefully received.

            Vice-Chair – Martha nominated Emma, Mari seconded, after some persuasion Emma accepted the nomination and, as there were no further nominations, she was elected unanimously.

            Member at Large – Tony nominated Dan, John seconded, Dan agreed to do it again and was unanimously re-elected.

            Treasurer – Martha was nominated by Tony, seconded by John and was re-elected unanimously after agreeing to serve again.

             Secretary – Gretchen was nominated by Mari, seconded by Dan, and, after asking if no one else would like to do it, was elected unanimously.  Emma volunteered to help with the website.

Gretchen expressed everyone’s thanks to Tony for doing a wonderful job and all clapped.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that school starts on the 14^th and they expect 20 students – 9 older, and 11 little ones.  Sue and Eli are back and the grounds look great thanks to Dan.  The Fall Fiesta will be Wednesday, November 13th. 

 Climate/Sustainability Update/Renewable and Clean Energy Grant – Tony reports that the committee and Marcus Moench are working on a clean energy grant to fund a feasibility study for Gold Hill.  The County would have to sponsor the grant since we are unincorporated.

Dina is also part of the sustainability group.  They have been working with Seth (hired by the County to help us) and he’s almost done with his final report on sustainability related to climate change.

Wildfire Partner Days for GHFPD/GHTM community – Tony reports that there is one week left to apply for free Wildfire Partners (WFP) assessments.  Postcards were sent out to everyone and they are still hoping for more people to sign up.

            Chris added that, as a wildland firefighter and forestry worker, he sees that there is a lot of fuel buildup.  He encourages everyone to please clean out their gutters and remove burnable material away from your homes.  He volunteered to give a presentation to the community on wildfire mitigation.

Email report from Virginia Schultz – WFP have had 4 responses so far – 3 in town and 1 Lickskillet/Lefthand. Overall WFP is up to 2,000 assessments – great news for the mountain communities!  WFP slash hauling program had many responses and they now have a waiting list.  See https:/www.wildfirepartners.org/slash-pick-up-program/

August 28 at Houston Room/Boulder Clerk and Recorder: update on USFS Projects in BC, Mapping, and GIS tools.

Gold Rush – Dan reports that the Gold Rush (bake/rummage/craft sale including food and music) will be held on Sunday September 15^th.  He will partner with all the previous people/helpers and will set a meeting with Joanne Cole to encourage more local arts and crafts.  He wants to order t-shirts, long and short sleeves, to sell. Whitey offered to help with the cost by purchasing some for the Store right away.  Tony made a motion that we move $600 to the Community Planning Fund.  Martha seconded and the motion passed.

            Chrissy made a pitch that the Gold Rush could and should do more.  She suggested that we grow the art show, stretch it beyond the beer garden.  She also thought that the rummage sale component could be moved to the Town Clean Up.  It was pointed out that many of the same people who are involved with the Clean Up also help with the Gold Rush and it might be too much to pull off both at once.  She thought we might add to the food offerings since what really makes money is the food and beer. 

Museum – Deb thanked everyone who came to the Community Outreach program on Tellurium.  The 2020 calendars are for sale, still $10.00.  This coming Monday (August 19), the Museum will host the ANFRM (Association of Northern Front Range Museums) meeting – they represent 140 museums

            Chellee Courtney has her new book for sale, Digging Up the Dirt, a history of our Cemetery with stories of the folks buried there. 

            Deb urged everyone to visit the Museum.  The final day is Labor Day, but if anyone wants a private tour, call one of us: Deb, John Sand, Joan Few, Boyd Brown, Norm Skarstad, Marie Brookhart, or Gretchen.

Mining – email report from Dick Cole who forwarded a link to a letter sent on 8/3 by MLRB to Colorado Milling Company:  Lots of information contained in letter—includes findings of fact-a sort of history of past few years and a finding that a violation has occurred. MLRB issued an order to CMC to cease and desist any mining activity, a fine of $7200 and a bond increase of $21000. Seems like final resolution of the proposed permit amendment may happen by end of September, we’ll see.  Thanks, Dick   https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/0/doc/1284349/Page1.aspx?searchid=c042ec8e-30af-4d53-b537-64660188904a

Weeds – Pam Sherman reports by email: Knock ‘em back, both for fire mitigation and invasiveness mitigation.  Mow, Pull!  If your weed is flowering or has gone to seed, cut off the seed head and save it for fire starter or put it out with the trash.  Same with roots if it spreads by root runners.  Bindweed is starting to flower.  Gotta get the whole thing – whack or pull as you are able – because it flowers along the whole vine.  For invasive weed ID, see the Colorado Weed Management Association website whose link is permanently on the Gold Hill website for the exact url or Google it or here it is again: https:/www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/noxious-weed-species

IMA – email report from Pam – Boulder County Mass Fatality Plan has just been finished after a lot of hard work by OEM, local hospitals, and other emergency partners.  In this plan, the Family Assistance Center, where families get information and are reunited with loved ones, is down at VIA, which is on the same road as Eco-Cycle in Boulder.  Some IOMA folks are trying to get another center designated in the mountains.

AirLink – email report from Dina: I’ve done a little testing with the goTenna devices – enough so that I know how to use them.  This is the device I bought (8 of them) with SafeLink funds in December last year.   I’m thinking I’ll ask via NextDoor for a couple of people willing to help complete the testing.  Then I’m thinking rather than look for more money right now I would see how many people might want to just purchase them so I can get a good quantity discount (~$80 each in a quantity of 8).  So far, looks like they’ll work well for us.  The testing will involve deciding where to put relay devices so we have the best coverage.  It will be nice to have texting service where there are no other services available.

Dina Elder  dina.elder@nullgmail.com

General Announcements – Deb reported that Fire Board Meetings are the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.  The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is running well.

Whitey thanked the community for all the support and we thanked him for buying the Store and keeping it going.

Gretchen announced that the Perseid Meteor Shower is tonight (August 12) and following nights.

Whitey asked about the upcoming race through Gold Hill – ADDENDUM: it was the Sunset Trail Running Festival on Sunday, the 22^nd, very successful, and the money raised will go to a Forest Restoration Fund shared by Gold Hill, Sugarloaf, Fourmile, and Sunshine communities (all part of the Fourmile Watershed).  Maya MacHamer, Watershed Coalition Coordinator, has asked to come to the next town meeting to follow up.

 

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary