Posted on: March 28th, 2024

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the February 12, 2024  Zoom Meeting

Next Town Meeting is Monday, April 8, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Meeting will be in person at the GH School as well as on Zoom

The February GHTM was called to order by Chair Dan Maedke, who wished us all Happy Spring/Winter.  Twelve people attended: Dan, Treasurer Chrissy Maedke, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Vice Chair Eli Zabielski, Kathleen Gilgannon, Virginia Schultz, Amy Fortunato, Shannon Lindow, Heidi Kessler and Richard Roth, Doug Parker, and Leslie Finn.

Minutes of the December 11 Meeting – were approved as published.

NEW BUSINESS

Town Directory – Chrissy is working on a digital as well as printed version – see https://drive.google.com/drive/home for the digital version – contact Chrissy (ghtmtreasurer@nullgmail.com) to add or correct any information.

Bylaws Committee – Chrissy and Dan have been working with Mountain Stewards to look at our bylaws.  If we are seeking and need to manage grants, our bylaws need some tightening up.  The town council will be meeting to consider this and would welcome input from the wider community

Treasurer’s Report – Chrissy presented the report

Starting date: 2/13/24
Opening Balances			Accounts	Amount
		General	3449	$9,628.68
		Grants	7018	$0.00
		Savings	7000	$2,724.65
		Total Opening Balances:		$12,353.33
Income	General 3449	Cemetery Donation		$100.00
		Total		$100.00
	Grants 7018
		Total		$0.00
	Savings 7000
		Total		$0.00
		Total Income:		$100.00
Expenses	General 3449
		Total		$0.00
	Grants 7018
		Total		$0.00
	Savings 7000
		Total		$0.00
		Total Expenses:		$0.00
Ending Balances		General	3449	$9,728.68
		Grants	7018	$0.00
		Savings	7000	$2,724.65
4/8/24		Total Closing Balances:		$12,453.33

 

 

She added that the $2700 in savings is from the Sunset Run put on by the BWC this spring.

Vision for 2024 – Chrissy presented the 2024 Vision – See Google Drive again – https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19wJSu1hs5M7uNWIKCY-LVQCn5Lun21fRJwcWRpU7R7w/edit#slide=id.p   She pointed out that we need to be able to show what we’ve been doing when we’re dealing with other agencies and potential grant applications. .  This is our first attempt and includes mission statements, goals, and activities of our committees.

 Roads – Dan has spoken to the businesses about putting information on their websites regarding parking, signage, and consciousness about emergency access.

 Historic Zoning – is working on creating a brochure to explain how it  works.

 Mountain Stewards – Virginia reported that, in interfacing with BWC (Boulder Watershed Coalition) and other agencies , they have three main goals: Fire Mitigation, Energy and Sustainability, and Forest Management.  She is serving on the CWPP Committee with the four agencies (https://bouldercounty.gov/disasters/wildfires/mitigation/community-wildfire-protection-plan/)

 Gold Hill Native Flora, Gardens, and Weed Management – Pam Sherman is available to consult.

 NeighborLink – is essentially an expanded phone tree established to facilitate communication in emergencies or evacuations.

 SafeLink – Chrissy is working on a written MOU with the BVSD for use of the school in emergencies.

 AirLink – is a collaboration with BCARES, MERN,  and ODM (https://boulderodm.gov) to further Ham Radio communication in emergencies.  There will be a Ham Class coming up, much of it online plus an in person portion.

 GHFPD – Dwight (Whitey) DeBroux is our Assistant Chief, Acting Chiefs are Bret Gibson and Chris O’Brien.  They are exploring hiring a part-time chief and working on a Strategic Plan for the future.  See the Fire Department website https://www.goldhillfire.org/

 Gold Hill School – Chrissy reports

Dear GHTM,

2024 is off to a great start at the Gold Hill School!  This time of year is a lot of fun, as we get to see so much progress in our students.  They are really cruising in their academics and their growth is evident in everything they do.

Shortly after our December meeting, we hosted the Town’s Holiday Party at the school.  It was a lovely evening with plenty of cookies to spare!  We also had a little holiday concert where the kids performed a selection of wonderful songs at the Gold Hill Store.  This great little event was put together by our fabulous music teacher, Kirk Kubicek.  Thank you to all of you who came to both events.  Having each of you there is what makes these events so special.  

After a nice, restful winter break, we’ve been hard at work at school with a heavy focus on the basics- reading, writing and arithmetic.  In the 345 classroom, we’ve also been studying civics and economics.  Not to worry though- we’re still having a great time.  In civics we’ve learned a lot about the structures of government and the words of the constitution through song and presidential stuffie figures.  In economics we’ve studied personal finance through an interactive simulation where we followed an avatar from age 18-25, making her financial decisions for her.  In the K12 room, they’ve especially enjoyed retelling stories through drama and writing how-to essays about peanut butter and jelly.  We’ve also been getting outside to play in the snow and do a bit of snow showing.  

We continue to benefit greatly from our grant through the Science and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).  While K12 was studying Japan in December, a couple of artists from the Lakewood Cultural Center came to our school to teach gyotaku, the art of Japanese fish printing.  The kids all made gorgeous prints.  In January, we went to the Arvada Center to see the Musical A

Year With Frog and Toad, which was incredibly entertaining (the songs are still stuck in my head).  In February, we went down to the Parker Arts Culture & Entertainment (PACE) Center to see the musical School of Rock.  This was a very different type of musical, and was incredibly well done.  The kids loved seeing so many amazing child actors on stage.  Last week, we had another wonderful guest, a polynesian dancer, this time brought to us by the Aurora Cultural Division.  She taught the kids a bit about Polynesia, the various islands and peoples, and performed dances from across the Pacific.  The kids ended by learning the Hukilau Hula dance.   We are going to try something a bit different this spring.  We’ve moved the date back for our annual school musical.   The play is now scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th at 10:30 and 6:30.  Please mark your calendars.  We’ll look forward to having you there!  We do not have any upcoming kindergarteners in the neighborhood for next school year.  We’d love to see a kindergarten class next year.  If you know anyone for whom the Gold Hill School may be a good fit, please give them our contact information.  We have students coming to school everyday on the Climb from Boulder, so consider talking to your Boulder friends as well.  In recent years we’ve also had students come to us from 4Mile, Sunshine, Ward, Nederland, Sugarloaf, Rollinsville, Black Hawk and all along the Peak to Peak.   As always, we appreciate your interest and support.  We hope to see you at the school in the months to come. Warm Regards,  Chrissy, Jojo, Rae, Dan & Jess Gold Hill School Staff   IMA – is a coalition of mountain community representatives.  They recently had a train the trainer workshop on “How to prepare for everything” and our Gold Hill representatives attended.  GH Community Relief Fund – Chrissy reports that we’re down to $500, which is often the amount granted.  We need to do some fundraising. GH Town Business – Outside Events – The Events Manager from Boulder County has been contacted and there will be more information and communication forthcoming about events that affect GH. Parking Issues and Traffic – Amy reports that putting up cones on Lickskillet when the road is impassable due to weather or stuck vehicles does not always work to stop people from driving over or around the cones.  Also, the very top gravel barrel has been plowed off its perch and rolled down – they’d like to have it back.  Dan wondered if more signs would help?  Boulder County has not been very helpful.  They are still working on the parking and roads report.  We’ve tried to get Lickskillet taken off Google Maps as a good way to get to Gold Hill, but have not been successful.  Dan will look into this further. UCOMING  MEETINGS/EVENTS The Democratic Caucus is meeting at the GH School on March 9 from 12 to 4.  The Republican Caucus is March 7 – see their website for location – last checked it said TBD.  OTHER TOWN NEWS/EMERGING ISSUES Gold Hill Mill is moving forward with their application.  Dan reports that they will be required to jump through extensive hoops by MLR as well as Boulder County (https://goldhilltown.com/gold-hill-mill-application-info/).  Doug Parker suggested that we need to stay aware, get a County contact, and be vigilent. Mountain Stewards – Virginia reports that they have received a Drainage Improvement Report from Todd Moses, a geomorphologist, which he donated to the town.  It’s a great report and could help us a lot on issues like onsite infiltration. Emergency information – Leslie reported that she’d like to have a document that people could look at to find resources to contact when you need to know what to do if you fall, get sick, or have to call an ambulance and need help, or other needs.    She’s talked to Pam Sherman who said there are a lot of County Agencies, plus a group of people willing to help.  There are privacy issues to address, but as Chrissy pointed out, we do have people who occasionally need community help with basic needs .  More often than not, someone has to know about what’s happening to get help to someone in need.  We don’t want to be invasive either.  Gretchen suggested we put together a list of community members willing to help who could be called on for various needs– think transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and so on.  Dan reports that the IMA is looking at Nederland and what they’re doing. Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary