Posted on: June 6th, 2020

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the Monday, April 13, 2020 Town Meeting

Next Town Meeting will be Monday June 8, 7:00 P.M. by Zoom

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Marielle Sidell.  23 people attended via Zoom: Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Rick Sheingold, Emily Rose, Luzie and Bob Mason, Rich Lopez, Candidate for County Commissioner Claire Levy, Marcus Moench, Elizabeth Caspari, Steve Barnard, Debra Yeager, Virginia Shultz, Val Crist, Member at Large Dan Maedke, Chrissy Maedke, Bear Carlson, Poppy Copeland, Chris Finn, Dina Elder, Jojo Morrison, Vice Chair Emma Salmon, Chris Dirolf, and, Marielle Sidell.

Minutes of the February 10 meeting were approved – Thank you, Emma for filling in!

Treasurer’s Report- Martha reports that at the previous regular Town Meeting in February 2020 our bank balance was $12,925.60. Our current total cash assets are $12,689.60.

Revenue Summary:  None

 Expense Summary: State filing fees $236.00

 Fund transfers: none

 Current fund totals:                                                                                                  

General Fund $1556.01; Cemetery $6,339.85; Safe Link (combined funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $0 (zero;) Forest Management $0 (zero;) Community Relief $2,326.95.

 Anticipated operational expenses for 2020: General Fund $105.00 for bank fees and porta-potty maintenance plus an estimated $800 for town cleanup dumpsters.

Special Guest Clair Levy- Clair Levy introduced herself.  She was formerly House District 13 State Legislator and is now running for District 1 (our district) Board of County Commissioners. She has been interested in Gold Hill for some time (has come to our 4^th of July Pancake Breakfast) and is now particularly interested in our Sustainability Grant and how that’s going.  She was our past HD 13 Representative during the Pine Beetle epidemic and she worked to help Communities with Wildfire Protection Plans (WPP) obtain aid, which spurred Gold Hill to put together out original WPP. Then after the 2010 Fourmile Fire, she worked for resources for the affected communities and for no increases in property taxes and to aid in insurance claims.  She understands that rigid enforcement of land use regulations may not work as well in the mountains as in the flatlands.  Both Gretchen and Rich Lopez spoke in her support as a very smart, responsive representative.

 Corona Virus Town Response- Monday and Wednesday Food Bank – Deb reported that the Wednesday Food Bank (from noon to 2:00 pm on the patio in back of the GH Store) began with a call from Chris Current of the Nederland Food Pantry (If anyone would like to make a donation, the website is nederlandfoodpantry.org). Any leftovers go down to the Fourmile Fire Department and they have a Food Bank on Fridays from 3-5.

Deb then worked with Amie Weinberg in Ward to set up another on Mondays (3:00 to 4:00 – same location) to help anyone needing supplies in our mountain community.  Addendum: The food comes from Boulder Food Rescue which includes prepared and perishable foods from Whole Foods, Ideal Market, Lucky’s Market and sometimes Sprouts.  Amie Weinberg is our contact and coordinator.  Johanna Gangemi, Anya Brown, Mirelle Brown, and Rick Sheingold have been doing the picking up and driving up of items for the pantry.

 

All are welcome and we do work on social distancing, asking everyone to wear masks, and be safe.  Jojo expressed thanks to all the volunteers on this beautiful community effort.

            Personal shopping – Johanna Gangemi along with her daughters Anya and Mirea are going to Boulder on Mondays and will do some personal shopping – contact them at 303-444-3774.  Also, Val, Elon Bar-Evan, and Liz Vanek have set up an excel spreadsheet to connect people who are going shopping with those who need something – send a simple email to Liz V. at coloradogirl777@nullgmail.com or here is the link to see the needs list: bit.ly/gold-hill-ordering

            Assistance Fund – Marcus asked if everyone is aware of the Gold Hill Emergency Assistance Fund.  Gretchen attached the form to the last GHTM minutes and has put out the form again.  See the town website under Gold Hill Town Meeting (https://goldhilltown.com/10905-2/) or contact me for a copy.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mountain Stewards – Renewable Energy Report – Marcus reports that we got the Energy Efficiency grant we applied for from the state.  It went to Boulder County, as we are not an incorporated town, and they have been working with us on the major planning issues.   The current contractors are trying to figure out how to move forward, given the Coronavirus.  Sarah Davis with the county has been the main person they have been dealing with.  The grant goes through the end of the year when they are hoping to put us in a position for the implementation phase. The core issues our group is really focusing on are the technical issues of communication and security.  They’ve been looking at issues around a lighting microgrid to cover Gold Hill, heating, battery back-up, and solar across the area. Excel has been very supportive. Please fill out the survey at

https://www.resilientgoldhill.com. 

Input is still very useful -particularly on what folks think really needs to run.  Questions?  Contact Marcus at 303-667-8327.

Forestry and Forestry Management – The Memo of Understanding (MOU) to improve forest health in forested communities is finished.  See the town website (goldhilltown.com under Forest Management – https://goldhilltown.com/memorandum-of-understanding/) for the entire text and explanation.   Virginia moved that we show support for the finished MOU. Mari seconded the the motion, which carried with none opposed. There is no financial obligation – the vote is to support the issue and to move forward on mitigation efforts.

Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that the kids will probably not be back in school this schoolyear – there is talk of summer school – they’ll wait and see.  They have been having school online running virtually. It’s been an interesting time. Capital improvement projects have been approved and are planned for this summer.  This means moving everything out to facilitate this work.  Dan is doing a little gardening with the greenhouse and keeping the flowers, etc. going.

Museum – Deb reports that we’ve been doing and will do a lot more prep work for our planned opening date of Memorial Day – addendum: Opening has been postponed until Governor Polis declares Museums open. We’re now playing it by ear.  Outside painting and general maintenance are ongoing.  Whitey at the GH Store gave us the old display cabinet originally from the old Salina Café (Ms. Gussie’s pies are fondly remembered), which required some work. Boyd has almost finished the shed on the west side, which will house our donated composting toilet, making us ADA compliant, as well as providing some storage.

Marcus and Elisabeth have donated the chassis of an old 1923 White vehicle, which includes the engine, etc., (like the old Bluebird bus of Tim Walter’s).  Reportedly this vehicle drove into their garage (the old Weaver place) sometime in the 1980s.  The plan is to restore it for permanent display. 

            The Community Outreach event on the Snowbound Mine is tentatively scheduled for August 14^th.  Playing that by ear, too.

Community Planning and Fundraising – Dan does not think any real planning is happening on the bike race right now.  The Gold Rush (bake/rummage/crafts sale) is also on hold for now, waiting to see what happens.  The Inn is not opening until further notice.

Cemetery – no report    Community Center Committee – no report.

SafeLink/AirLink/NeighborLink – Dina reports that AirLink is still active on an ongoing basis, and now OEM is also activated.  They have an AirLink practice once a week and have 5 more people interested in Ham Radio training – they’re looking into how to do this.  They’re doing maintenance on the repeater.

            Deb reports that the school is still available on an emergency basis for SafeSite very temporary housing.  NeighborLink is looking to help support the Food Bank at the Store. They would like a small freezer to store food that needs it.  Virginia has a small freezer to donate!  Whitey and Jay are happy to house it. Addendum: The freezer was picked up last week from Virginia and Steve’s house and is living in the Safe site tuff shed on the west side of the fire barn where we house our emergency supplies.   We have permission to use the electricity in the fire barn, as needed. 

 Deb would also like to have the Food Bank under the auspices of the GHTM as a 501(c)3 for insurance issues.  Addendum – we now have an insurance certificate covering this. 

 Upcoming Meetings/Events –

 Next GHTM is June 8.  Virginia wondered if we need to buy a Zoom level.  We’ll see. Zoom has been pretty flexible with the timing in our Coronavirus situation

Other Town News

            IMA (Intermountain Alliance) – Dina reports that they have not been meeting since Amy Hardy resigned as Chair and no one else has stepped inn.

            CSA- Deb reports the CSA is still on beginning June 6.  Jessie Brookhart, Virginia and Deb are working on it. There are 5 whole portions, so it’s grown.  New people could probably still be added.  Much of the food comes from Black Cat, which also has a

farm stand on Jay Road.

            Historical Zoning – Bear reports no activity at this time.     Fire Department – no report

Mining – no report

            Town Clean Up – Gretchen reports that the County is looking at possibly an August/September time frame and Brian Finn said that sounds reasonable to him – to be decided.  Val reports that the Nederland Sort Yard is free for 2 personal garbage bags, and slash – not for large amounts.

            Bocce Tournament – scheduled for June 27.  We’re hoping to figure out how to manage this given social distancing.

Respectfully Submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer

If you know of anyone who is not receiving the town emails and should, please let me know.