Posted on: August 23rd, 2022

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Notes from the August 8, 2022, Zoom Meeting

Next Town Meeting is Monday, October  10, 7:00 p.m.

 The meeting was called to order on Zoom by Chair Emma Dirolf. Fifteen people attended:

Community members Emma, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Chrissy and Member at Large Dan Maedke, Karen Simmons, Heidi Kessler and Richard Roth, Sarah O’Brien and Sam Bennett, Emily Rose, Virginia Schultz, Deb Yeager and guests: Paul Beale with the Buffalo Bicycle Classic and Maya MacHamer and Lee Troop with the Boulder Watershed Collective.

Minutes – Because the June TM was not an official meeting due to lack of a quorum, we now approved the minutes of the April TM as well as the notes from the June unofficial meeting.

Treasurer’s Report – no report as Jay was out of town.

Agenda – Elections were scheduled next, but Virginia requested that our guests be recognized next and all agreed.  She reported that Maya and Lee had worked on the running race a couple of years ago, which provided the seed money for our mitigation work,  and wondered if the GHTM would be interested in partnering with them again on another in 2023.

Boulder Watershed Collective – Maya provided an update on our wildfire mitigation work.  With grants from the Community Foundation, we’ve had two different episodes, last fall and this spring, of collecting slash and altogether filled 7 dumpsters.  That’s a lot of slash removed from town.  Also, Teens, Inc. Youth Corps installed rock perimeters around 6 homes as well as slash and tree removal on 4 different homes – a lot of amazing work was accomplished with approx. $29,000 including flashing around several homes.

         She then presented one option for fund raising.  The 2019 running race through town and the Switzerland Trail raised $4200 just in admissions, which was the seed money to organize and raise thousands more for mitigation work.

         Lee added that the objective was to raise funds for the Fourmile Watershed, and he along with Maya and Joe Grant did a lot of talking to townspeople so everyone knew what it was all about and what it entailed.  All the kids from the school were included free in a 1K race, and there were 5, 10, and 50K races.  They worked to be sensitive to the townspeople not feeling overerun and looked at ways to minimize that.  They organized buses and charged racers who brought cars a fee for parking. People really want to do this race again.  They’re looking at 2023 towards the end of September and want it to be a partnership with the town.  Watershed people will give a talk on fire danger and mitigation, etc.

         Dan added that they did an amazing job and he thinks it’s a great idea.  Lee will be putting out a flyer.  They were proud of the effort and that everyone participated.  The plan is to replicate the first effort, come up and talk to people, promote health and fitness as well as help raise funds for mitigation work.  Dan agreed it’s important to explain where the money goes and to have someone to contact with questions – Lee Troop  lee@nullteamboco.com     720-532-5549

         Virginia stated she supported it as presented as did the rest of us.

Buffalo Biocycle Classic – Paul Beal reported that this race raises scholarship funds for Colorado High School graduates with 4.0 GPAs to go to CU.  It will be Sunday, September 11 – will come up Boulder Canyon to Magnolia Road, Nederland, the Switzerland Trail to Gold Hill and down Fourmile – they will have signs.  It’s called “The Dirty Epic” They’re looking for an aid station location – possibly at the Switzerland trail and Gold Run Road.  Several possible locations were suggested.  They will supply their own water and food.  This is a ride, not a race, and they won’t be speeding through town.  The typical rider averages 60 years old and they expect 50 – 100 people.  Electric bikes are allowed, but they don’t expect any. For questions contact Director of the Buffalo Bicycle Classic Jennifer Anderson (jennifer.anderson-3@nullcolorado.edu   303-898-8900

Mountain Stewards – Virginia reported there is no information yet on the bulk buy from the County for solar stuff– they will let us know sometime next year and then people can get on the list to participate.  Regarding the Community Foundation Grant, they have to spend the money by the end of the month and the report is due by the end of September.   Mitigation is importand and everyone should fill out the survey on the four district CWPP (Community Wildfire Protection Plan)  –   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSKTFCT   Questions? Contact Virginia, Maya or Marcus.

Forestry – Virginia reports that the mitigation work will be starting at the Ashley’s soon.  Also, there will be a ballot issue for Boulder County on the November Election to support County Mitigation work  see   https://goldhilltown.com/november-ballot-measures-for-wildfire-mitigation-emergency-response-and-transportation/

IMA – Pam sent an email “The IMA update is: 

we didn’t meet last month, but at this month’s meeting, we are looking forward to reports from Steve Silbermann, the Sheriff’s Office Communications director, on emergency communications in the mountains and from the Office of Disaster Management on their new Emergency “Train the Trainer” program”.

Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports that this year is the 149^th school year and she is already thinking about celebrating the 150^th next year around Labor Day.  Possibly the Museum might be interested in participating.

         This is Jojo’s first year as a teacher.  She’s excited and working hard already.  The Fall Fiesta is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16, and everyone is looking forward to it.  They are hoping for a good local applicant for the BVSD Principal assistant job.

         Chrissy wrote to the Town Council in the spring asking them to consider funding the school opening project.  This will be a leadership training focused on 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students to make it a nice transition back to school – like camp.  They will focus on the 7 habits of successful kids and look at one habit each day using it for the kids to explore what kind of students they want to be.  They will take a trip to the Colorado Mountain Ranch for team building exercises.  They are asking for $1000 from the GHTM because they haven’t been able to do fundraising for a couple of years.  This led to some discussion on ways to fund raise.  In the end, Emma looked at the last Treasurer’s report which indicated that we had $2900 in the general fund, and she made a motion to fund this $1000 request from the school for the school opening project.  Gretchen seconded and it passed unanimously.

         Chrissy added that the school district had used COVID money to bump up a staff member for the school to full time and, even though there is no more COVID money, they will continue to fund this full time position, which Chrissy feels is essential.  She is continually asked how many students are enrolled, are school closures a concern as all schools are losing populations because families are moving to more affordable places like Erie and the outskirts of Boulder.  The district is studying consolidating some schools, but they have assured us they would not do this to Gold Hill because our school is so important to the community.

Museum – Deb reports that we are in an anniversary era: the Gold Hill Inn has turned 60, the Ranch is 75, the Museum is 25 and the Gold Hill Club turns 100 in addition to the school being 150 next year.  She’s thinking it’s an exciting time and fuel for next years’ calendar.

         The Community Outreach is scheduled for Saturday, September 3 and will present a talk on the Sand Creek Massacre.  They will have a Native speaker and the event will be at the Yeager’s house out of doors.  See https://goldhilltown.com/event/museum-community-outreach/

They are also planning a longer season and the museum will be open through the end of September – Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 2.  They have enlarged the board and have lots of new ideas and a new website.

Community Planning and Fundraising – Dan reports that after the elections we’ll see who is interested, but he has set up a tentative date with the Inn to have the Gold Rush on Sunday, September 11th.

Cemetery – no report

Community Center – no report

SafeLink/NeighborLink – Deb reports that, after the last near evacuation, the OEM and Everbridge (the County reverse 9-1-1) notified everyone very quickly.    Deb also rports that Pam has raised the idea of a siren to help notify everyone in an emergency.  They will look at possible locations and other questions.  Chrissy just read an article in the Camera that Longmont is getting rid of its siren system because of advances in phone notification systems and advances in technology.  She’s curious about maintenance and costs.  There are a number of questions to be considered.

Weed Management – Deb reports that she and Max have their party on the ridge the Sunday before Labor Day, but the space is now infested with invasive daisies.  They are hoping for volunteers to help pull them – “Daisies and Draughts”?

Historic Zoning – no report

Fire Department – Sarah also wanted to encourage everyone to do the CWPP Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSKTFCT  And to check out the Fire Board Meetings the 3^rdTuesday of each month at 7:00.

Elections – After much discussion among the 12 members present about who would agree to serve in what position, Chrissy nominated Dan to continue as Member at Large, Emma nominated Sarah O’Brien to move from Vice-Chair to chair,  seconded by Gretchen,  Deb nominated Chrissy Maedke as Vice Chair, no one else seemed at all interested in replacing  me as Secretary, so I’m still here, Sarah nominated her husband Sam Bennett as Treasurer.  Deb moved that we vote on all these positions, Dan seconded, and this whole slate was approved by all the voters, with many thanks to Emma Dirolf for doing such a great job the last two challenging years as Chair.

So, our new board consists of:

         Chair – Sarah O’Brien

         Vice Chair – Chrissy Maedke

         Secretary – Gretchen Diefenderfer

         Treasurer – Sam Bennett

         Member at Large – Dan Maedke

Dan has tentatively scheduled the Gold Rush (some combination of Bake Sale, Music, Food, rummage and crafts) for September 11th and issued a plea for help.  Deb Yeager, Gretchen, and several others assured him they would assist.  We talked about the collaborative nature of the Council, that we’re all here to help each other, and that we all should feel welcome to ask for help when we need it.

 

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary