GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the April 14, 2014, Town Meeting and notes on the Fire Board Meeting of April 15

Next Town Meeting is Monday, June 9, 2014, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

Peter Swift, Chair, called the meeting to order.  Eight people attended: Peter, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Member at Large Tony Vrba, Mary Ryan, Bobby Vrba, Chrissy McCaul, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer and Kiko Simpson.

Minutes of the February Meeting were approved as published.

Treasurer’s Report – Martha Knapp reports: At the last Town Meeting in February our balance was 20,512.69. Since then, $3,709.33 has been disbursed resulting in a new balance of $16,803.36. Expenses include the following:

$709.33 in checks was written out of the General Fund resulting in a new balance of $2,238.47. Expenses included payment of $88.33 for website work, $270 to BVSD for facility use for the MERN training, $100 to the State for the Annual Report filing, $225 to the CO Dept. of Local Affairs for property tax exemption reports, and $26 to Auto-Owners for adding BVSD as an additional insured.

The Fire Fund, now known as the Community Relief Fund, transferred $3,000 to the Union Congregational Church for Fire Relief Disbursement bringing that account to $10,482.54. As a side note, $1500 has been distributed from the Church for Fire Relief and $1500 remains with them.

All other accounts remained the same: Cemetery $3,110.21; Forest Management $275.22; Weed Management $526.70 and Safe Site $170.22. Community Planning, Historic Zone, and Trails accounts remain inactive and “zero” balance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Planning/Trails – Gretchen and Tony reported on the Neighborlink exercise on April 5, which was our first attempt to test the system to see how long it takes.  It began with a call from Debra Yeager to the rest of the Pod leaders (Teresa Robertson in the Subdivision, Dina Elder out West of Town, Gretchen Diefenderfer East End of Town), who called their group leaders, who called each person in their group, and then reversed the process so that Deb and the other Pod leaders all knew that the communication had been completed.  Of course, we did not get a hold of everyone, but making all the calls we could took only 22 minutes.  In a real emergency, we will do the best we can, with whatever time we have, to notify everyone and go from there. This is a back-up process in case the reverse 9-1-1 doesn’t work, as well as to keep us all in touch, that evolved after the Fourmile Fire.  If you are not already included in a group and would like to be, please contact Deb Yeager at 303-449-0454, deb@nullmountainvisions.net or any of the other Pod leaders.

Historical Zoning, Forest Management, Weed Management – no reports

Fire Department – Bobby reported that there was great wildland fire training on Saturday that was well attended.  The Fire Board will meet next Thursday, April 17, 7 pm.  Here.

Historic Gold Hill – Gretchen reports that the calendar is moving right along and will be out by Memorial Day.

Mining – Gretchen reports that there are rumors that the Mill and mines may be opening up again, possibly within the year.  She has seen some activity up there, but nothing is certain.

Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that our school is a project based experiential learning school.  They have received a couple of grants: one STEM grant from the CO Dept. of Education for Mountain Schools with which they’ve purchased 12 Chrome Books (simple laptops), which help them keep track of their projects.  The school kids are studying pollinator health with a focus on butterflies and honeybees.    They have thirteen hives up and running.  The school plans to house one hive this summer in Kris Gibson’s yard.   The remainder of the hives are on the Black Cat organic farm in Niwot.  Between the risk of bears and a suggested carrying capacity of approximately 10 hives for the Gold Hill area, it has been decided that leaving the majority of the bees in Niwot is the best option because there are approximately this many hives already in the our area.  The students will also be using their fundraised monies from the Run-a-thon to plant a pollinator-friendly garden in the Gold Hill Cemetery.

The big event is the 140^th Anniversary of the School Year (the first year was 1873/74) and they are really hoping to pull people back for it – alumni and their families – and to raise money.  They have been trying to be mindful of how often they ask for money and didn’t try to raise as much at the Fall Festival (approx. ½ of the usual amount) because of the impact of the flood and everyone was sort of overwhelmed.  So the 140^th will be on Memorial Day Weekend with an Inn event, a School event, an afternoon Hike and asking for donations of $14, $140, etc.  They hope to raise enough to help for the next 10 years with the trips and extras that the School District doesn’t cover.  See  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/gold-hill-school-140-year-anniversary-registration-11238728339   for the schedule of events.

The Dads are taking grades 3, 4, and 5 to the Sand Dunes in May.  And the 5^th graders will make their last trip to A-Basin.  There will be the last big musical before Spring Break.  Mishi and Chrissy wrote it and they’re very excited about it.

OLD BUSINESS

Update on Community Relief Fund – Tony reports that the qualifying criteria are still being worked on.  So far they see two avenues to apply for assistance – one would be emergency aid because of a disaster and the second one would be a family emergency.  She still needs some more people to help put together the protocols and the application.

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

MERN Update – There was a request for a $100 contribution to MERN (Mountain Emergency Radio Network) to provide more radios, but plans are still evolving.  The motion was tabled until the plan is put together.  MERN is part of SAFELINK, which is the umbrella name for Neighborlink (the phone tree), Safe Site (our emergency shelter homes), and MERN.  Martha pointed out that Safe Site has $170 in the town funds, and they can use that and make a proposal for more if needed.  She also suggested that the name of the fund should be changed to Safelink.  This was moved, seconded and passed. There was quite a discussion of how the radio people can help in an emergency and this is still being worked on, too.

Peter suggested that we pass a resolution that the Town Meeting supports the continuing effort to support and improve Safelink, which includes Safesite, Neighborlink, and radio communications programs.  It was so moved, Kiko seconded, and it passed with one abstention.

Town Clean up – Scheduled for Sunday, June 8, from 9-3 – that’s when the Blue Bird parking lot is available.  We anticipate it will be essentially like last year: 2 dumpsters for trash, one for metal, and one for wood.  Also, think about raking up pine needles, etc., and getting disposable bags – we’ll take those down, too. We will accept electronics, and small appliances for a fee (since they will be charging us) and take them to C.HARM.  See http://www.ecocycle.org/charm for what’s acceptable.  The County pays for two dumpsters, the metal one usually pays for itself, at least mostly, and we ask for donations to help pay for the 4^th one.  And we’re looking for volunteers, of course.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary

Update from the Gold Hill Fire Board Meeting May 15, 2014 – attended by President Rich Lopez, Secretary Dave Sturtz, Rick Geesaman, Treasurer Bobby Vrba, and citizen Gretchen Diefenderfer.  Chief Chris Finn was absent due to being needed at the Inn.

Latest training was evacuation across creeks with ropes, etc.  Chris will be asked if the department needs additional equipment.

The board voted to sign the basic County Emergency Operations Plan.

Bobby has checked and there are surplus latrines from Iraq, which would solve the rest room need for the Community Center.  He will check with the Health Department and volunteered to go and pick one up at Ft. Carson.

The Board has received a request for fire extinguisher training, which brought up the question of encouraging everyone to have fire extinguishers, as well as smoke detectors and those chimney fire gizmos (no one could remember what they’re called).  The Board would like to know:

How many HAVE fire extinguishers?_______________  Smoke and CO2detectors?____________

How many WANT fire extinguishers? ______________ Number wanted?_______________

Smoke/CO2 detectors? ______________  Number wanted?_______________

The department will look into getting a deal on them and let people know availability.  Please respond to this email, so we can get a count.

The Firebarn badly needs weatherization (caulk, weather stripping, etc.), which was discovered because the repeater has been erratic – crystals in it apparently need a reliable temperature and the barn leaks like crazy using a lot of propane.  Bill Van Matre from down in Lefthand has volunteered to organize a work party to work on it and volunteers are needed to help with this project.  The first order of business would be to get a group together and brainstorm the project and then come up with a list of material and a cost estimate for the job.            Please respond to Rich Lopez at (rvlopez@nullaol.com) or to Bill Van Matre [nuggethillrd@nullgmail.com] if you are willing to help.