Posted on: July 26th, 2021

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the June 14, 2021 Town Meeting

Next Town Meeting is Monday, August 9, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Emma Dirolf.   Present were Emma – Chair, Marielle Sidell – Vice Chair, Sarah, O’Brien, Virginia Schultz, Marcus Moench and Elisabeth Caspari, Joanne Cole, Pam Sherman, Martha Knapp – Treasurer, Deb Yeager, Peter Swift, Poppy Copeland and Bear Carlson, Emily Rose, Charles Steinberg and Torkin Hibbard, Rick Sheingold, Christina Akers, Heidi and Richard Roth, Gretchen Diefenderfer – Secretary.  If I missed anyone, please let me know.

Minutes – of the April 12 meeting were approved as published

Treasurer’s Report – Martha submitted the following report:

At the previous regular Town Meeting in April 2021 our bank balance was $16,725.90 Our current total cash assets remain at $16,725.90.

Revenue: none; Expenses: none; Fund transfers: none

Current fund totals by earmarked account:
General Fund $3321.44; Cemetery $3,205.21; Safe Link (combined funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $300; Forest Management $0 (zero); Community Relief $2,375.20; COVID-19 Response $1,057.26; Water Harvesting/Ag Education Grant $4,000.

Anticipated general fund and other expenses for the remainder of 2021 total $3525 as follows: $350 for liability insurance; $525 for website hosting and maintenance, $800 for Town Cleanup; $1600 for fundraising expenses; and $250 for additional misc. expenses including bank fees, office supplies and port-a-potty maintenance.

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING, INC. TREASURER’S REPORT
June 14, 2021
Activity Spreadsheet and Summary
DATE	ACTIVITY / DESCRIPTION	Earmark ACCT	CREDITS	DEBITS	BALANCE
	Report Balance Forward				$ 16,725.90
	No Activity Since April 2021 Town Meeting
	Ending Balance	Total	$-	$-	$ 16,725.90
	BALANCES / ACTIVITY by Account	Beginning	Credits	Debits	Ending Balance
GF	General Fund	$ 3,321.44	$-	$-	$ 3,321.44
CF	Cemetery Fund	$ 3,205.21	$-	$-	$ 3,205.21
SL	Safe Link (SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink)	$ 2,466.79	$-	$-	$ 2,466.79
CP	Community Planning/Fundraising	$ 300.00	$-	$-	$ 300.00
FM	Forest Management	$-	$-	$-	$-
CRF	Community Relief Fund	$ 2,375.20	$-	$-	$ 2,375.20
COV	COVID-19 Response Fund	$ 1,057.26	$-	$-	$ 1,057.26
H2O	Water Harvest/Ag Education Grant	$ 4,000.00	$-	$-	$ 4,000.00
	TOTAL	$ 16,725.90	$-	$-	$ 16,725.90

Gretchen added that the dumpster cost is in the $600 range this year and we think we will be able to cover it with donations.

Marcus reported that a grant from the Community Foundation for $29,000 should be coming in soon and we should inquire if it doesn’t turn up soon.

Martha clarified town property expenses.  We file an annual report at $75 per report for required for each of our tax exempt properties consisting of the meadow and two more.  Our small property at the top of Lickskillet only costs $65 in property taxes, so it’s cheaper to just pay the taxes rather than have it declared tax exempt and have to file the report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mountain Stewards – Marcus reports that they have been awarded two grants from the Community Foundation:  approx. $29,000 for fire mitigation and environmental enhancement, prioritizing the Pine Street area and surrounding properties to reduce fire hazards and to help people who need assistance with mitigation work,  plus $4000 for a water harvesting project, which needs a bit of thinking for how it’s to be carried out.  They may have to do a revision of purpose, in order to fit in better with the Fire Mitigation work.

They have also worked with the GHFPD on a grant for $12,000 for a UTV, which would be a good piece of equipment to help with mitigation work as well as firefighting.  And, they’ve been supportive of the grants totaling $300,000 that Maya MacHamer has submitted for the Ashram and Ashley properties mitigation work.

Virginia added that she’s really excited to see so much happening.  She added that Cat Russell is working on solar ideas and energy efficiency.  Bulk buying possibilities are still in the works.  The CSA is going well.  The weed pull that Maya organized in the meadow Joanne Cole can speak to.  The County can do some testing for PFOS in fire retardant and possible effects on our water quality.

Forestry and Forest Management – Wildfire Partners is still interested in evaluating properties and free chipping is available if you’ve had the  evaluation.  Bear added that Lazlo had a bunch of stuff chipped and 3 bags are available across from their driveway.   There is a place – Biochar in Loveland, that produces charcoal like stuff that can be used as a way to keep carbon and moisture in the soil.

Gold Hill School – no report

Museum – Deb reports that they’re excited to be open this year.  The board has 3 new members: Anna Poisson, Jane Maslanka, and Jay Clark, in addition to Boyd Brown, Norm Skarstad, Joan Few and Deb.  Hours will be 11-3 Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day.  They have new exhibits and June 25^th will be the Community Outreach event based on COVID and conversations arising about personal care (since toilet paper was in short supply).  Anna created a large banner, she’s writing a book on outhouses, Joan has been doing research, and it all dovetailed into the idea for the community event.  It will be a cocktail party starting at 5:30 to look at the exhibit (including a mock outhouse that Anna and Paul built) and browse the museum, plus board members will be available to answer questions.  Anna and Joan will make presentations.  In addition to weekend hours, tours can be arranged during the week – contact Deb.  The museum collections started on 1998 and now 99% is Gold Hill stuff.  Torkin thanked the board and expressed that it’s fantastic that our little community has such a great museum.

Community Planning – no report

Cemetery – Torkin reported that there will be a clean up – slash removal and painting the new shed on Saturday, June 19.

Community Center – Survey updates – Mari reports that they have 65 responses so far.  The committee is led by Jojo and she is hoping for 100.  There is a link on the town website goldhilltown.com under Gold Hill Town Meeting on the left sidebar and paper copies at the Store.  Deadline is July 10^th.

SafeLink/NeighborLink – Deb reports that they continue to give out newcomer Welcome Buckets.  Sarah has added a form and explanation of NeighborLink for new people, how to sign up for the town emails, etc.  They continue to fine tune the NeighborLink lists in order to be ready to engage in an emergency.  Virginia suggested sending this form out to everyone.

Food Pantry – Deb reports that the first food pantry information came to us from the Nederland Food Pantry and she linked up with Gold Hill People to help run it here.  It began with twice a week, and then reverted to once a week, moved from the GH Store to the Bluebird Lodge porch so as to not impact Store business. Our team consisted of a large group of volunteers and all performed many jobs incredibly well.  We were fortunate to engage with Boulder Mountain Food Rescue.  They feel they have now accomplished their goal to provide food in the time it was really needed.  Now the majority of people are more settled and financially not so in need of food rescue.  The last day will be Monday, June 25^th.  Thanks so much to everyone – Rick Sheingold, Johanna Gangemi, Anya and Mirelle, Sarah and Sam, Brieda and Rick Geesaman, Sheila Maloney, Brian Tomas, Jamshid and Kathleen who volunteered to store canned goods between weeks, Norm Skarstad from Lefthand and all others who pitched in – thanks everybody so much.  It was a great community effort.  We are invited to the Jamestown Food Pantry to shop and/or to volunteer.

Emergency Preparation – Sarah reported 35 responses to the survey about how to contact people with town news.  The majority requested town news through the email list and the town website (goldhilltown.com).

AirLink – Pam reports that they will having another repeater day soon and there is a lot of good ham radio stuff going on.

Pam also reports that she will be teaching a permaculture  class with the Gold Hill School kids, incorporating forest management, ecosystems, water supplies and protection, how to read the landscape.

Weed Management – Joanne Cole reported that Cat Price with the Boulder Watershed Alliance put us in touch with an Atteryx Community Service Group.  Jo had walked the cemetery loop and assessed our needs  – mostly concerning Oxeye Daisy (behind the Inn really needs attention) and volunteers with Atteryx will come up on July 15^th to help pull weeds.  Pam reported that the Feds and the State have mandates for us all to take care of invasive weeds because they will take over areas – usually disturbed land – although they usually aren’t as bad at higher altitudes.  Pam will send a document in email of the Boulder County and State weed sites with good pictures and information.  Here’s a link  https://goldhilltown.com/gold-hill-invasive-weeds-q s-and-as/

Historic Zoning – Bear reports that we are now 60 days more historic than at the last town meeting (!). What’s new is that they now have a bunch of new members.  In addition to Bear, Marcus , and Michelle Bar-Evan, Greg Buis, Rick Sheingold, and Terry Walters have joined the committee.  They will all get together in a week or so.

Martha introduced Christina Akers, who is the owner of the log cabin across from Martha.  Christina is Richard Regnier’s granddaughter.  Christina thanked Martha for being so welcoming and helpful.  She wants to disassemble the cabin, fix the foundation, and re-assemble it all.  She’s looking into grants.  This will need to be sponsored by a non-profit agency – perhaps the Gold Hill Town Meeting.  Bear volunteered that the purview of Historic Zoning s not really restoration, but they would be excited to work with her and do whatever they can to help.  Christina doesn’t really know what this might require of any sponsoring group, but this year’s deadline is July 1, so it will not be happening this year.  Bear said he would help research how to help get it together.  Deb added that Historic Gold Hill, Inc. (the Museum) is also a 501(c)3 and could maybe help, too.

Fire Department – Gretchen reports that the Board meets the third Tuesday of each month and will be meeting July 20^th.  Joanne Cole has called Sheriff Pelle to beg for a fire ban and wants the Fire Department to support it.  Emily Rose wants signs posted saying No Fires and spoke with Jared Smith of the Boulder Ranger District requesting a Stage 1 Fire Restriction be put in place because she is very concerned about fires.  See https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/boulder-county-enacting-stage-1-fire-restrictions-2/ for the status of fire restrictions in Boulder County).  Illegal campfires are the responsibility of the Boulder County Sheriff.  Martha added that she and Edie used to go out to the camping areas out west and check fire rings to see if they were still hot and call them in if so.  Richard Roth added that the BoCoFire.org website is updated daily with fire danger ratings, etc.

OTHER TOWN NEWS

Speed Study – Emma reports that it will be happening later – end of June or early July.  Emily has been asking for reflectors along our roads because it can be so hard to see the road in fog and snow.  Emma also asked for a contact person to come to the GHTM after the Speed Study to report to us.  No details yet.

GHTM Future Meetings – Emma questioned whether we want our future meetings to be in person or continue on Zoom.  The consensus seemed to be to do both – a combination.  The question arose if we need to amend the bylaws – unclear, but probably not.  For the Fire Board meetings, Rich has had a laptop and turned it to whoever was speaking – not entirely satisfactory. Emma thought we might need to purchase equipment to do both well.

Town Clean Up – Gretchen announced that it will be June 26^th from 9 to 2 and we need more volunteers.

Wildfire Mitigation Week – TBD

Next GHTM will be our elections on August 9^th – Martha announced that she will not be seeking to be re-elected as Treasurer for next year.   Bear expressed everyone’s thanks and added that we never had to be worried about a penny with Martha as treasurer.

4^th of July – Bear suggested that we should have a parade like last year – didn’t need to be an official fire department affair – and anyone interested should show up at the Firebarn at 11:00.  In the discussion most people wanted a small, informal parade.  Addendum: The Fire Department later made the decision to sponsor their regular parade with fire trucks, etc., in response to several other fire departments.

Porta Potty – was purchased by the town for the use of the town and should be available – right now it has become turned so that the door doesn’t open properly.  Martha said that there are two locks on it  right now – its own combination lock and an additional padlock.  Addendum: at the next Fire Board meeting, Chris Dirolf straightened it out and it should be fine now.

 Bocce Tournament – Bear announced that the Poggio D’Oro will be held at its regularly scheduled time – the Saturday before the 4^th of July, which turns out to be July 3^rd this year!

Respectfully Submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary