Posted on: March 27th, 2018

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the February 12, 2018 Town Meeting

 Next Town Meeting will be Monday, April 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Tony Vrba. The meeting was attended by ten people: Marie Brookhart, Debra Yeager, Rick Sinner, Member at Large Dan Maedke, Amara East, Chair Tony Vrba, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Rick Geesaman, Maggie Simms, and Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer.

The Town Meeting was preceded by the Town Pie Party, and Tony expressed how happy she was to see so many people turn out. The pies were great, too!

Minutes – Maggie moved, Deb seconded, and the minutes were approved as published

Treasurer’s Report – Martha reported that at the previous regular Town Meeting in DECEMBER 2017 our bank balance was $15,631.75. Our current total cash assets are $15,645.57.

Revenue since the December meeting includes donations to the cemetery fund and pint glass sales. Expenses include postage, insurance and property taxes.

Earmarked fund totals are as follows: General Fund $1442.91; Cemetery $6,857.78; Community Relief $3,326.95; Forest Management 0 (zero); Safe Link (funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $3,785.25; Community Planning $232.68.

COMMITTEE REPORTS – Tony read reports submitted by email:

Weed Committee – Pam Sherman emailed: Hopefully our weeds will be UNDER SNOW until after then (presuming she meant after this town meeting). Fingers crossed

Cemetery Committee – Maggie emailed: Maggie will train with Bob for the next couple of months, meeting with people who wish to designate and pay for their grave-sites early, as well as meet with families wishing to bury their loved ones who have passed. Chellee Courtney will continue to record, research and codify both the history and the future burials.

            Maggie added that it is strongly suggested that people be cremated. If cremated, Maggie and David will be able to dig a hole. If a full casket is desired, you will have to arrange for it and it is suggested that you consider the annex for a full casket burial – it is more level and easier to navigate with a machine. She also reported that Bob had said, tongue firmly in cheek, that Republicans should be buried in the Annex and Democrats in the main cemetery, although she pointed out that Bob is no longer the Chairman. Rick added that his dad, Richard Geesaman (who was a Republican) donated the Annex property to the town when the subdivision was created, so that is where Rick intends to be buried. Deb suggested that we consider creating a very large headstone for anyone who wants to be included on it that would say, “The party continues down under.”

Friends of Fazoo – Jojo Morrison emailed: Friends of Fazoo meeting was held on Jan 21^st. Jojo is working with Boulder County Open Space to finalize adoption paperwork. Once adoption paperwork is completed there is a plan to conduct a historical survey of Rancho Fazoo. This creates a historical map of artifacts, foundations and other historically significant landmarks. The historical survey must be done before any major cleaning or mitigation can take place on the property. The historic survey will be led by Joan Few with any interested community volunteers. The survey days will take place in May. Dates to follow and weather permitting. All are encouraged to join in the learning process of what a historic survey entails.

Forestry – Virginia Schultz emailed: We can set up a date in July for chipping and BC anticipates there will be grant money. I will contact Fourmile to get on their calendar. Also we have an opportunity to send a postcard and/or letters (funded by Wildfire Partners) to inform all residents about mitigation resources to support their own safety and property, and the safety of the entire community. I will contact GHFPD to see how this could support their mission then bring it back to GHTM for discussion. Tony added that Virginia is also looking into organizing other volunteer efforts, perhaps helping f people who cannot do their own mitigation, as well as contacting the USFS about mitigation on the north side of town.

IMA – Tony reported continued work on communication plans. There will be an IMA Potluck with community leaders to network and talk about “mountain” difference as much in BC is focused on the city or eastern area. Dina is working on additional means of communicating in emergencies – perhaps walkie-talkies strategically distributed.

Mining – Tony has talked with Mike Cunningham from the State (michaela.cunningham@nullstate.co.us) and he said there are lots of delays related to the Mill and the possible water line, which may go on for a while. It will not be happening soon. Gretchen added that she has checked the State Laserfiche for updates on the Mill permit M1994-117. To get to the laser fiche list of requirements not met as of 1-26-18, go to http://drmsweblink.state.co.us/drmsweblink/0/doc/1239736/Electronic.aspx?searchid=ea6a64a8-80c3-436d-a239-4a89e4d0eeae. And, on Feb. 5, there is a new extended decision date of April6 .

 Gold Hill School – Dan reports that the big play will be in March. The skiing program at Eldora started last week and continues for 3 more weeks. Everything is going well.

Historical Zoning – The proposed Robinson house has gone from a shed roof to a peaked roof accommodating a second story – no one is here from Historical Zoning so we have no more info.

Historic Gold Hill – Deb reports that the Museum Community Outreach program is scheduled for June 22 and will be on the Switzerland Trail. The speaker will be Larry Dorsey. This is a Gold Hill event and there will be a cocktail party beforehand. The board has been renovating the office – principally Joan and Norm. They had a great year last year and will have new exhibits this year.

            Gretchen added that the 2018 calendar sold out, but they have ordered 30 more – contact Marie. Also the Committee for 2019 has begun meeting and always welcomes old and new pictures, drawings, poems, ideas, and additional committee members – contact Gretchen, Marie, or Marilyn.

OLD BUSINESS

 Budgeting/Forestry/Moving money for chipping – Martha reported that last year the cost of the chipping program to Gold Hill was $600 something (the County paid ½ and the property owner paid ¼), with a small portion going to someone outside the town meeting boundary.  The largest portion went to the Ashram. She doesn’t know what the plans are for the Ashram this year, but we only have $1400 in the General Fund and if we move $1000 to Forestry (as was proposed at the last town meeting), that will not leave enough to cover known expenses coming up. Martha suggested that we find out how much interest in chipping there is for this year before moving money and then perhaps limiting it to a certain amount.

            She added that there is quite a bit of money in the SafeLink/AirLink account (which came from our Community Relief fund) for communications, but they got a grant so that money is just sitting there. Maybe we could use that? We will need to check with Dina and other AirLink members to see what their plans are. Maybe we should consider that, if we designate money to a cause/committee and it is not used within a year, we could revert the money back to the General Fund of there are no immediate plans. Marie asked about the Cemetery money, but that is specifically designated and they may need to get a survey, as well as pay for the portion that is on county land. Rick Sinner suggested that maybe the Fire Department should participate in mitigation and he advised that someone go to the Fire Board meeting.

            Tony said that these are good ideas – capping the amount to be matched for mitigation and possibly returning the AirLink money to the General Fund. She is very happy that Virginia agreed to take over the Forestry/mitigation project and that things are happening. Rick Geesaman likes the idea of mitigation and thinks the Fire Board may consider participating.

Fire Cisterns – Rick Geesaman reported that they are closer to making the cisterns happen to fulfill the need for additional water storage in closer proximity to the town. They have bought 2 frack tanks – like semi trailers – at 20,000 gal each – dimensions 10’ x 10’ x 40’, and had them cleaned and painted. Installation in the town meadow will supply Hill Street and down to Main Street and east Gold Hill. They will have to do significant excavation and move a lot of dirt/rock. There will be two lines – one between Clint and Mary Kay’s and Janos and Rebecca’s, approximately 15’, then due south to a fire hydrant on Hill Street right near Buckner’s. The second will go due east, paralleling the private lands down to the Cemetery Road, which will have tremendous water pressure because of the 100’ drop to the hydrant from the tanks uphill.

            It will be very disruptive this summer – chaos for probably a month – but will be an incredible benefit to the town in case of fire. Water will be hauled in to fill them. They will finish planning the first quarter of the year, finalize the engineering and find engineer the second quarter, and then do the construction the 3^rd quarter.

            The Fire Department has had a very good couple of years. They have installed dry hydrants in Lefthand Canyon, bought a new fire truck, and now this water supply project.

            In Bobby’s absence, Gretchen added that trainings continue, volunteers are always welcome – contact Chief Chris Finn or Donal Maloney.

 Strategic Planning/Community Center – Tony is asking for someone to take the lead on this.

NEW BUSINESS/Announcements

 Town Portrait – Maggie has copies of the old town portraits from the 70s and 80s and thinks it was a cool thing and that it would be good to do another – maybe around the 4^th of July when lots of people will be here. She has been looking for a photographer, a location and a date. Jojo has said she will help organize. Deb suggested Kim Huggins, who used to live here. Maggie thinks it would be good to include an old building in Gold Hill – maybe the Museum – and charge enough for a stipend for the photographer. The idea was received warmly.

Town Noise – Rick Sinner submitted a short statement: At the December Town Meeting, it was suggested and Rick and Karen Sinner meet with Brian to talk about town noise. So, upon their suggestion, Karen & I met with Brian Finn in mid December to discuss the issue of noise coming from the Gold Hill Inn. We talked about the many solutions to the problem that the December Town Meeting people suggested. None of those talked about solutions seemed to interest Brian and the Sinners left the meeting disappointed with no solution in sight.

Amend Bylaws Discussion – The Committee has not met

Guidelines for website postings – Gretchen passed out the guidelines from Jennie Rice that she generally follows.  

Upcoming Meetings – Tony announced that she has scheduled a Town Soup Party on Monday, March 6^th at 6:00, and invited Sheriff Joe Pelle up for people to meet him, along with a couple of the mountain deputies, to ask questions and just generally get to know each other.

April 9 – Gold Hill Town Meeting

June 11 – Gold Hill Town Meeting

July 4^th – GHFPD Annual Pancake Breakfast and Parade

July – Community Mitigation Event – More details to come

            Town Clean Up – date tbd

August 13 – Gold Hill Town Meeting and Elections

 

Respectfully Submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary

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