Posted on: November 29th, 2025

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the October 13, 2025  Zoom and in person meeting

 Next Regular Meeting will be Monday, December 8, 2025, in person at the Community Center, and by Zoom

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Kelly Veit.  Present were Kelly, John Herrich, Vice Chair Kaitlyn Barthnel, Elisabeth Caspari and Marcus Moench, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Boyd Brown, Leslie Finn, and Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer.  Attending by Zoom were Maggie Simms and David Brigham, Member at Large John Hatelid, and Deb Yeager.

Minutes – Marcus moved that minutes of the September 8 and 24^th Special Town meetings be approved.  Boyd seconded and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report – Martha reports that the attached Report includes revisions — an additional $2000 moved to Mountain Stewards. It had been marked as “undesignated” but further research after Marcus brought it to my attention revealed an August check. 

The other revision is to the Community Event committee after I was advised that this committee expenses/revenue includes the Town Cleanup. It was adjusted down $389.90 due to the cost of dumpsters over the amount brought in. 

All revisions are noted in the attached document text as well as the spreadsheet.

Hopefully all will be fairly simple from here on out.  

 Report: GHTM Treasurer’s Report October 13, 2025

** 10/27/25: Revised to correct the following funds per members input regarding fund designations: 1. Community Events from $2500 to $2110.10 (ref: Town Cleanup); and, 2. Mountain Stewards from $1500 to $3500 (to credit $2000 check). Marcus has questioned the Mountain Stewards transactions from BWC and this includes the corrected allocations.

 

OTHER NOTES:

1. Our current total cash assets are $16,727.07. This reflects two inactive accounts that were closed and combined into the primary bank account for the Town Meeting.
2. There may be some funds in Paypal. I am working with Chrissy to obtain access.
3. Final accounting: Town Cleanup revenue in July was $1038. Expenses for dumpsters totaled $1427.90. Profit/Loss -$389.90. ref: Community Events fund.
4. The September Gold Rush brought in $1250.94. No expense receipts were submitted.

 

Revenue Summary:  Cemetery Fund donation of $100 pending deposit. General Fund additions of $1374.52 from Venmo and Gold Rush

 

Expense Summary: No expenses.

 

Fund transfers: none

 

Current fund totals:

General Fund $4267.91; Cemetery $2498.06; AirLink $1,000; Community Events $2110.10 (revised from $2500); Community Relief Fund $1250; Fundraising & Merchandising $500; Mountain Stewards $3500 (revised from $1500); Neighborlink $1600; Senior Alliance $1.00.

 

Anticipated expenses for the remainder of 2025: General Fund anticipated year-end expenses total $505.00 as follows: Annual Bank Safe Deposit Fee $30 ; Liability Insurance  $400; Porta-Potty maintenance $75.  

 

Respectfully submitted, 

                          

Martha Knapp, Treasurer, Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.                      

10/13/2025 (corrected 10/27/2025)

 OTHER NOTES:

1. Our current total cash assets are $16,727.07. This reflects two inactive accounts that were closed and combined into the primary bank account for the Town Meeting.
2. There may be some funds in Paypal. I am working with Chrissy to obtain access.
3. Final accounting: Town Cleanup revenue in July was $1038. Expenses for dumpsters totaled $1427.90. Profit/Loss -$389.90. ref: Community Events fund.
4. The September Gold Rush brought in $1250.94. No expense receipts were submitted.

Revenue Summary:  Cemetery Fund donation of $100 pending deposit. General Fund additions of $1374.52 from Venmo and Gold Rush

Expense Summary: No expenses.

Fund transfers: none

Current fund totals:

General Fund $4267.91; Cemetery $2498.06; AirLink $1,000; Community Events $2110.10 (revised from $2500); Community Relief Fund $1250; Fundraising & Merchandising $500; Mountain Stewards $3500 (revised from $1500); Neighborlink $1600; Senior Alliance $1.00.

 Anticipated expenses for the remainder of 2025: General Fund anticipated year-end expenses total $505.00 as follows: Annual Bank Safe Deposit Fee $30 ; Liability Insurance  $400; Porta-Potty maintenance $75.  

 Respectfully submitted, Martha Knapp, Treasurer, Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.                      

10/13/2025 (corrected 10/27/2025)

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 Business District Committee – Kelly reports that the committee includes Rick and Karen  Sinners, Joanne Cole, Cat Russell, Janos Wilder and at this meeting Leslie Finn and Marcus volunteered, too.  The plan is to create solutions to the growing pains for the community – noise, congestion, parking, tailgating.  They’re creating a Google doc to track progress.  She wants to bring in the business leaders in a collaborative effort to reach agreement as a community.

Intermountain Alliance (IMA) – This was formed after the Fourmile Fire and included the mountain community leaders.  Kelly has attended a meeting and volunteered that, after the Nederland fire, one of the best places to donate is the Nederland Food Pantry

https://www.nederlandfoodpantry.org

Gold Hill School – Leslie pointed out that open enrollment starts soon and the school is actively recruiting.  The Fall Fiesta is Nov. 12, the Halloween festivities are Oct. 26 and they’re expecting Joe Neguse and the Mountain Ear.  Deb saw a TV clip on BVSD.com as a great place for your kids and the last part was on the GH School.

Mountain Stewards – Marcus reports that lots of applicants signed the letter supporting the grant proposal, which would include home hardening, more resiliency planning and a focus on satellite internet connection – should hear by November (Addendum, the proposal was turned down).  Also got information from Meg Holford of Boulder County on becoming a Firewise Community – applies to clusters of houses as well as businesses.  Will be sending out more information.  Includes identification and improvement of evacuation routes.  He noted that Jeff Fishbaugh has had a lot of work done and it would be good to know who did the work to inform others. Leslie added that a student group is working on the CenturyLink problem when there are power outages. Boyd pointed out that the power outage problem is not Excel but Lumen/CenturyLink.  Chief has been working on it and offering solutions we could help with, but they don’t want anyone else accessing their boxes.  We’re now trying political solutions – Joe Neguse and the press.  The PUC and FCC are responsible to provide emergency access, but are not making it happen.  The Fire Department just spent $30,000 for a generator and associated expenses so the Station will be operational in a power outage.

 Fire Department – Boyd reports that the new truck is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

 Cemetery – Maggie emailed this report:

Cemetery Committee Report for the year 2025

Town Clean up – 

• There was no cleanup this year, however the Committee sponsored two Barbed Wire removal days where we removed 2 tuck loads of Barbed Wire from Gold Run Road leading down to the Cemetery. We got help from Paul, Kris, Steffi, Jamie, Jeannette, Deb, Andrew, David, Maggie

 

Requested/Received plot donations during 2025:     3 @ $100

Plots dug:     2 total plots dug. 

Burials:     2

 News:

• Received $300 donation from the Balsley Family
• We are in the process of having an inexpensive headstone made for a woman buried in the cemetery in 1893 but has no headstone. We were contacted by the family, and they have asked that we put a marker in to acknowledge that she is buried somewhere in our little “Bury Patch.”  We expect to be finished with this project by the end of December 2025.

Accounting looks like this:

2024 end of year total:                   $1898.06

2025 Expenses:                                                     none

2025 Donations:                                 $ 300.00

2025 Plot donations                         $ 300.00

Leaves us with a balance of:      2,498.06

(Thanks to Martha for her help with the numbers.)

 Future Plans:

• The Gold Hill Town Website now has a page dedicated to the Cemetery. On it, we have posted pictures of improvements and photos taken of the cemetery from history. We plan to post news items and requests for Cemetery clean-up and other projects to benefit the cemetery. We encourage members of the town to visit our little cemetery.  It is a tranquil place regardless of season or weather.

The Cemetery Committee has approved this report.

Respectfully submitted,  Maggie Simms

Gardens and Ecology (Formerly Weed Management) – Kaitlyn reports that she’s looking to form a weed whackers group to go after noxious weeds.  They’ve scheduled a fall seed collection outing.  She’s been working with the GH School kids and it’s been really fun.

 Historic Gold Hill – Deb reports that the Museum had a wonderful season and have ideas for lots of future projects.  They’ve decided to do the Community Outreach on a Saturday (instead of Friday) in June.  She will send out a list of holiday gifts available – there is a new t-shirt, ornaments and towels.  Thank you to everyone for the support!  At the end of April they will be hosting the Lincoln Hill Project (the GH Museum belongs to the Colorado Museum Group) on railroads and the Switzerland Train.

Mining – Gretchen reports that she hasn’t seen any activity up there, but knows they’ve applied for a new permit, which will be a lot of steps and time.

SafeLink/AirLink/NeighborLink – Boyd reports that the Fire Department has a strategic Plan, which includes an evacuation plan, but they want the community to connect with each other through NeighborLink as the FD will be responding to the emergency.

            Deb adds that NL hands out Welcome Buckets to newcomers, which include booklets with lots of town information, plus some gifts.  The NL alert system is basically a telephone tree and everyone is encouraged to communicate with their neighbors.  There is a list of suggested preparations in the booklet.  Martha pointed out that there is $1600 in our NL account.  Deb uses that account to buy the welcome buckets and included items, plus that $ includes funds from Fourmile.  Martha also asked about the $1000 in the AirLink account for batteries and maintenance for the repeater.  Airlink is a separate 401(k) and expects to use those funds in time.  SafeLink was set up as a result of the flood and is a list of people who could house evacuees in case of emergency need.  It’s only been used once.  Leslie suggested maybe combining SL and NL – no issue per Deb.  Deb suggested they continue the conversation in Dec. regarding the funds in the NL account.

BYLAWS –  

Leslie stated she learned during the previous discussions that the many proposed changes are attempting to change the town meeting decision making format to a town council decision making format.  Marcus pointed out one problem with the bylaw discussion was that it didn’t proceed from a broad discussion of what the town wanted for the future before proposing changes.  We put the mechanics before the horse – top down not bottom up.  There seems to be a need to re-vision – get broader input.  Leslie agreed we need more input before proposing to change the entire structure.  Marcus added that we need to include how non-profits run.   Martha suggested that we have a big community outreach next year sometime – have a big potluck kind of gathering to engage more people.  It was again suggested that we send postcards to the entire list to let everyone know.  After much discussion it was the consensus that we finish up the bylaws presently in the works and pause future proposed changes until the Big Community Outreach. 

Article V, Town Council, Section H Town Council Meetings – Proposed Changes. Voted against adopting proposed changes – In favor of adopting 0, opposed 9

 Article V, Section I – After some discussion (against this proposed addition) Leslie moved we adopt the Article V, Section I, Martha seconded.  In favor 0, apposed 9, abstaining 4.

Article V, Section J – Proposed Addition was voted down on 9-24

Article VII, Financials, Section A. Contracts – Leslie moved that we change the wording to

The GHTM may authorize any council member(s) or agent(s) of the Town Meeting to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of or on behalf of the Gold Hill Town Meeting.  Boyd seconded.  The vote was 9 in favor, 1 abstention.  The final vote will be in December.

Section B. Loans – Proposed Changes: No loans shall be made or accepted on behalf of the GHTM, nor shall any evidence of indebtedness be issued in its name, except as authorized by a resolution of the GHTM.  Marcus moved we accept, John seconded.  The vote was 9 in favor, 1 abstention.

John Hatelid suggested we propose the outreach and postcard sending at the December meeting.

Marcus made a motion and Boyd seconded it to change the wording Gretchen suggested in the 9-24 meeting for Article III: Members Meetings back to the original wording in the bylaws adopted in 2020 with the addition of a change the quorum to at least 5 members of the town meeting as well as 3 of the 5 members of the town council

Section A, Regular Meetings Regular meetings of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held six times each year: February, April, June, August, October, and December on the second Monday of the month at such time and place as may be determined by the Town Council.

Section B, Annual meetings: The annual meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held on the second Monday of August each year.  The election of Town Council members shall be held at the annual meeting.

Section C, Budget Meeting: The annual budget meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held annually at the October Town Meeting. The GHTM Treasurer shall submit estimated income and expenses for the following year.  Requests for funding from the general fund may be made by the various Committees or any constituency of the GHTM at this meeting, and at any regularly scheduled meeting.

Section D, Special meetings: Special meetings of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. may be called by the Chair:

1. At the request of at least three members of the Town Council.
2. By petition requesting a special meeting signed by at least twenty members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.

Section E, Written notice: Written notice of all members’ meetings shall be posted to the town website (goldhilltown.com), emailed to all members, and sent by U.S. Mail to those who request them at least two weeks prior to all regular, annual, and special meetings.

Section F, Quorum: A quorum for a member’s meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall exist if three of five members of the Town Council and at least five other members of the Town Meeting are present to transact any business to be presented in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation or Code of Bylaws.

9 in favor, 1 abstention – will need to be finalized in December

 Article III, Written Notice – Martha moved to change the wording of the original bylaw to add “by electronic means.  It will then read: Written notice of all members’ meetings shall be posted to the town website (goldhilltown.com), emailed to all members, and sent by U.S. Mail or by electronic means to those who request them at least two weeks prior to all regular, annual, and special meetings.

9 in favor, 1 abstention – will need to be finalized in December

We discussed residency requirements at the Sept 24 Meeting, but we failed to address the proposed changes in the October 13 Meeting.  Gretchen stated that we have always had a residency requirement and changing it to include all property owners (who may never have even been to Gold Hill) would be a major change and needs further discussion.  Martha suggested we go back to the original (2020) bylaw with any necessary changes like voting by electronic means

 

Original Bylaw (from 12/14/2020)

Article II

Membership

Section 1, Eligibility: Those residing in the following area are members and may vote at town meetings, provided they fulfill the voting requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2, Qualification.   This area is identified as that included in the boundaries of the Gold Hill Fire Protection District (GHFPD)

Previously adopted changes

Article II: Membership

Section A, Eligibility:

All residents and property owners within the Gold Hill Fire Protection District who are over the age of 18 are members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting and have voting rights. Each member is entitled to cast one vote on any issue that requires a vote by the GHTM membership, regardless of the number of properties owned.

 Proposed changes

Article II: Membership

Section A, Eligibility: Those residing in the following area are members and may vote at town meetings, provided they fulfill the voting requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2 (would change to Section B), Qualification.   This area is identified as that included in the boundaries of the Gold Hill Fire Protection District (GHFPD)

Section 2, Qualifications: In order to vote, a member of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. must:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. Have lived in Gold Hill for sixty days during the twelve months prior to the meeting or for sixty days during the previous five years with no less than five days in any one year.

We would delete the following (3 and 4)

1. Be registered with the Secretary at the meeting.
2. Be present at the meeting to be certified to vote at that meeting.

 

And include Article II: Membership

Section B (would change to C): Membership Voting Procedures:

Article II: Membership

Section B, Membership Voting Procedures:

The GHTM shall establish procedures and methods to ensure that only eligible members participate

in elections, that all members are properly notified of the election, and that the nomination and

voting processes, including all relevant deadlines, are clearly communicated in advance.

Election procedures may allow for voting to take place over a period of up to three (3) days,

beginning with the date of the annual meeting.

The Town Meeting (changed from the Town Council) shall determine the methods of voting, which may include any combination of:

• In-person voting by show of hands;
• written ballot;
• Voting by electronic means

 

Big Community Outreach Meeting to Discuss Future Direction of the GHTM – Leslie suggested May and have it at the Gold Hill Inn to make sure we have a large enough meeting space.  It was also suggested that we send info out to educate people on the history and issues in advance.

NEW BUSINESS

October 26, 10-3  Open House/Halloween at the Gold Hill School –

November 12, 5-8:30  Fall Fiesta at the Gold Hill Inn

 

December 8, 7:00 GHTM In person at the Firebarn and on Zoom

 

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefendeerfer, Secretary

 

P.S. I will put out the current state of the bylaws, including those in process that need to be finalized at the December GHTM soon.