Posted on: January 8th, 2014

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the December 9, 2013, Town Meeting

 Next Town Meeting is Monday, February 10, 2014, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.

 The meeting was called to order by Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer in the absence of Chair Peter Swift and Vice-Chair Bear Carlson.  Eight people were present:  Pam Sherman, Nadyne Orloff, Bobby Vrba, Kiko Simpson, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Member-at-Large, Tony Vrba, Chrissy McCaul, and Gretchen.

Minutes of the October meeting were approved as published.

Teasurer’s Report – Martha reports that we have a total of $20,709.44 in our account.

Fire Fund                          13,434.29                        General Fund                        3,192.80

Cemetery Fund              3,110.21                        Forest Mgmt                           275.22

Weed Mgmt                             526.70                        Safesite                           170.22

At the Oct. 15 meeting, a motion was made and approved to move any remaining funds in the Community Planning, Historic Zone and Trails accounts back into the General Fund. The total transfer was $124.52.

A transfer of $103.26 was made from the PayPal account to the US Bank account and designated to the Fire Fund. Additionally, three checks for merchandise sales totaling $306  were deposited and credited to the General fund.

Expenditures during the past two months included $37.08 to John Sand for reimbursement for food for the Gold Hill Rummage Sale and $29.00 to the post office for postage.

 COMMITTTEE REPORT

 Community Planning/Trails – no report

Historical Zoning – no report

Forest Management/CWPP – no report

Fire Department – Gretchen reported that the November Fire Board meeting is principally to pass the budget for the next year and look at their priorities for the future.  Rich Lopez chaired the meeting in the absence of Chair Donal Maloney.  Present were Rich, Chief Chris Finn, board members Bobby Vrba, Rick Geesaman, Secretary Dave Sturtz, and residents, Peter Swift, Deb Yeager, and Gretchen.

During the public input segment, Peter raised the emergency communication issue.  It seems our phones go out in most emergencies and it’s a problem.  The Fire Board is also concerned and is looking into solutions.  Safesite is looking to get more people trained for MERN (Mountain Emergency Radio Network – hamm radio operators) – it’s a free training and the Hamm radio folks were essential during our fire and flood.  Flyers to follow.  Peter also brought up the Firebarn bathroom access issue with potential solutions: 1) have a fire department member escort            anyone to the bathroom downstairs to alleviate the security concern, with the Town Meeting sharing the pumping expense, etc., 2) rent a Porta-Potty at the expense of the Town Meeting.  It would be kept locked except during meetings when needed.  Deb Yeager added that Max thought the County would approve installing a privy on top of the holding tank (which would also be kept locked except for meetings).  Chris Finn thinks the holding tank leaked during the flood and they are looking into that – it was not leaking before the flood.  Rick brought up the idea of meeting at the School, but the town built the Community Center so that we would have our own place to meet.   Further discussion will ensue.

Gretchen brought up the minutes being published on the FD website – Dave is working on it (and, it has now happened! – you can check on www.goldhillfire.org).  Their minutes were approved.

They will be getting FEMA reimbursement for time spent and equipment used during the flood in the amount of $4882.00.  Peter is looking into the possible undermining of the slab and thinks that ground water will continue to be a problem.  He will look in to testing and follow up with the Board re: possible submission to FEMA for funds.

The Board approved the budget submitted by Chris at the last meeting.  Chris reported that the mill levy will be going down to 7.069 from 7.484 (it ratchets down with decreased valuation and doesn’t ratchet back up because of Tabor) – he thinks they are still doing ok.  Approx. 40 buildings burned and less than half have rebuilt.  He thinks if the mill levy drops below 7, they may have to think about an election to raise it.

New Business – Rich and Bobby attended a meeting regarding consolidating our FD, Sunshine and Fourmile.  They discussed advantages/disadvantages.   Economy of scale could help with purchasing/budgets, but there could be some loss of autonomy and we’d deal with a larger bureaucracy.  Rich stressed that it’s important to keep our mission in mind – to provide services in emergencies – and that our obligation to our citizens is to do this in the best way possible.    They will continue to consider the issue – expect it to be in the works for some time.  Rich met with the Sheriff while he was running for CC and there is a big concern with all these little districts.  Rich will go to a Town Meeting – maybe February – and present the pros and cons for consideration.

All the board members are up for election in 2014 except for Dave Sturtz – if a board member has been appointed since the last election they have to run in the next one (even years).  There will be notices put out.  They do only have actual elections if there are more people running than positions to fill.

So, check the Fire Department Website for their minutes: www.goldhillfire.org.   I did not attend the December meeting and you can read their minutes there.  Fire Board meetings are the third Thursday of every month, 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center.

Weed Management – no report

Historic Gold Hill – no report except that Gretchen noted that calendars are for sale at the Gold             Hill Store and the Inn until it closes.

Mining – Gretchen reports that there seems to be no noticeable activity recently.

Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that they’re doing great.  The Fall Fiesta went great and thank you to all.  They made about $4800 and gave $2300 to the Jamestown School.  They intentionally did not try to do a big fundraiser, knowing that everyone’s funds are stretched.  With tips that were left, they bought a Ball Python to add to their Bunny Mershi (?), the bearded dragon, the demonstration beehive, frogs, and small tortoise.  Chrissy, Mishi, and Jojo are doing great.  Next year will be the 140^th year of the school.  They do have a Facebook page now with pictures, etc. (I can’t find it, though).  They will be getting new fish as the old one froze because the propane ran out – much grieving.  Emily hopes to come back after Jan. 1.  They have heard from Sue Kidder and Paul and they’re doing great in the Philippines.  They’re in Manila and staying for 2 years.  They’ve been living in a skyscraper and are looking for a house.  Paul has a blog:  psbmakati.wordpress.com.

NEW BUSINESS

Dark Sky request – Hugh sent Boulder County outdoor lighting regulaions, which went out in a town email.  Bear replied in an email that he knows he’s a primary offender and they’re too bright for him, too.  He’ll address it when he gets back in town.  Hugh volunteered that he has blackout paint he will supply to anyone wanting to use it for the sides of lighting fixtures.  Chrissy replied that she hates her outdoor light, too.  Several people suggested dimmer bulbs, including Martha, but she wants a brighter one for the back yard so she can keep an eye on her dog when he goes out at night.  Hopefully everyone will be cognizant that their outdoor lights affect others and take some measures.

Grants from the Fire Fund – Gretchen reports that she and Peter know of people who still have needs related to the Fire.  After our Fire, the Town Meeting voted on October 11, 2010, to make $6,000 of our fund available for grants to those affected by the Fire. Criteria suggested then were that there be a maximum an individual could receive – $500, there should be an imminent need, people should be GHTM residents, the need should be fire-related (broadly interpreted), and we whould let the Town Council decide – any three members could agree, and they have to keep it everything confidential. We funneled our funds through the Ward Church because they are a 501(c)3 and can disburse funds, and we as a 501(c)4 cannot.   Peter sent an email stating that he would support an expansion of the upper limit for grants to maybe $1500.  A long discussion ensued. Chrissy made a motion to allocate an additional $3,000 from our fire fund for fire/flood/emergency/disaster related needs with the town council as the committee to disburse these funds, using the previously established protocols for our Gold Hill Discretionary Fund, which passed unanimously.   It was brought up that the Fire Fund was established to help people after the fire, but it was also decided to put it out in the Newsletter that the funds are still just sitting there and everyone liked the idea of a fund for helping our community neighbors out when they have emergency kind of needs. Tony brought up changing the name of the Fire Fund to the Relief fund and this was generally agreed on.  Pam made a motion that renaming the fund be tabled until the next town meeting, after all this news has gone out in the newsletter for everyone to consider.  Bobby seconded it and it passed unanimously.  We do want to figure out what to do with the remaining $10,000 – wildfire mitigation work? – or what.

Pursue Safesite Construction – In his email, Peter also asked for permission from the GHTM to pursue HUD financing for a Safesite building in town – possibly on the lot that it looks like we will be getting from the tax lien sale on the corner of Lickskillet and Pine.  Martha stated that we do not have the title yet (it apparently takes about 6 months) so it could still fall through.  We do own other lands – the Meadow, the People’s Park (off Dixon), and the cemetery annex that we could consider.  The meeting did support Peter looking into it.  Addendum: the deadline for submitting the paperwork was right after Peter returned from out of town and we ended up without enough time to do this.  Peter has now contacted Leslie at the County and she is going to go through the list of State and Federal grants available and see if there is something that we may qualify for.

Shooting Around Gold Hill – Nadyne reported that there is a new sign out at Rocky Point with rules and regulations, but she and many others are tired of hearing shooting all over town. She has been out at Rocky Point and had to put out fires 5 or 6 times, also. It was suggested that she call the Sheriff, but that doesn’t have any long-term effect.   Peter wrote that he would like the Town Meeting to request that Boulder County “establish a safe and well managed shooting range in the mountains.  The regulations for shooting on Federal lands (parks, etc.) will not change.  An area for shooters will bring a lot of shooters out of the woods.”  Martha replied that the County Commissioners are well aware of the need for a shooting range and are working with the USFS on this.  She doesn’t think it’s appropriate for the County open space and we could end up with one right here in our own open space.  Tony Vrba wondered about making our own sign like the one at the bottom of Sunshine “Wildlife Preservation area – No shooting, no fires.”  Pam added that that this is a concern for the whole IMA (Intermountain Alliance).  Most don’t want to eliminate guns (although some wouldn’t mind!), but want people to shoot safely and not too close to people/towns/houses.  We do have a new regional forest ranger, Sylvia.  Pam thinks a wide response from the IMA might have some effect.

WiFi in Town – Kiko, who is new in town, asked of anyone is looking into WiFi or cell towers for the whole town, since our land lines go out as frequently as they do.   Gretchen reports that the County looked into it after the fire, and were told that there isn’t enough population in the mountain areas to interest Centurylink, AT&T, etc. The store does have free Wifi.  Chrissy called Centurylink and was told that part of our problem is woodpeckers!  They are redoing a lot of cable and trying to fix our problems.   Kiko said he would look into the options for town WiFi for us.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary