Posted on: May 8th, 2011

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the April 11, 2011 Town Meeting

Plus report on the April 21, 2011 Fire Board Meeting

 

Next Town Meeting is Monday, June 13, 2011, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

In Chair Amy Hardy’s absence, John Sand, Vice-Chair, conducted the meeting.  Fifteen people attended: Edie Eilender, Dave Nordgren, Pam Sherman, Cherry Sand, Stefanie Wilson, Lisa Friend and James Wood (County Sustainability Planners with the Commissioners’ Office http://BoulderCountySustainability.org), Karen Simmons, Debra Yeager, Member at Large, Kris Gibson, Marie Brookhart, Adriana Galue, Treasurer, Gretchen Diefenderfer,  Secretary, John Sand, Vice-Chair, and Poppy Good.

Treasurer’s Report – John read Adriana’s report because she would be late.  We have a total of $22,470.00 in our account divided as follows:

Fire Fund                        16,045.10            Cemetery Fund                        3,562.20

General Fund                          2,136.30            Community Planning                             82.00

Forest Mgmt                               75.20            Weed Mgmt                                       526.70

Historical Zoning                   11.20            Trails                                                     31.30

Sustainability Presentation – Lisa Friend (lfriend@nullbouldercounty.org) distributed Zero Waste Newsletters.  If you did not get a copy, go to www.bouldercounty.org/find/library/gogreen/zwnewsspring2011.pdf. She reports that they have received a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to promote zero waste in Boulder County.  Their goal is to have zero garbage by 2025 and a 75% reduction by 2020.  What are our needs?  Bear-proof trash containers, recycling, composting were brought up.  Pam wondered about composting pesticides – Lisa replied that, in general, they break down.  GMOs?  Don’t know.

County Outreach Programs – James Wood is involved with more broad based aspects: social, economic, environmental, and public health issues.  Email him if you have any questions (jlwood@nullbouldercounty.org). He talked particularly about the Energy Smart program.  This is a free program, depending on your income, to retrofit your home for energy efficiency.  Call them at 720-564-2720, or email them at energysmartyes.com.  They will walk you through the process step-by-step, including weatherization.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Planning/Trails – Karen reports that she has been following the trails controversies in Boulder and expects that the restrictions will put more pressure on our area.  Eventually we will have to deal with horses and bikes.  Steffi Wilson wants to know when we meet again.

Historical Zoning – Cherry reports that the Laughlins have submitted plans to rebuild their office and sauna building that burned, just as storage and an office (no sauna).  It has to be rebuilt with fire resistant materials per County regs.  HZ had no problem with the plans.

Marie and Don Brookhart are maybe thinking of replacing/remodeling the 80-year-old porch and steps on their little cabin.

Steve Barnard is temporarily off the committee and Barbara is filling his spot.  Amy has resigned due to her United Way job, and they have appointed Richard Oxley.  Watch for a notice of the annual election in August – “your opportunity to kick us all off and nominate yourself.”  Present members are: Cherry, Bear Carlson, Richard Oxley, Dan Gretz and Steve or Barbara Barnard.  The HZ Committee meets on demand; let them know if you have plans or questions.

Forest Management/CWPP – Susan is working on the chipping grant application for reimbursing residents of Gold Hill Fire Protection District for chipping slash and transporting bigger trunks to sort yards.  Of course, it’s better to keep the chips here for mulching, since that’s the most effective way to prevent erosion.  She thinks we’re a shoo-in if we apply. Susan explained that the BoCo chipping grant would reimburse our local group of individuals 40% of the cost of chipping slash and hauling away any trunks to the Nederland sort yard up to a maximum of $4,000.  Proof of the work is needed – contractor receipts, etc.  We need 20 participants to qualify for the grant – let Susan know if you plan to participate.  Steffi and Deb are calling around.  Dave Nordgren did a lot of this chipping and hauling work at his own expense last fall after the fire, and he suggested that for this grant, to facilitate getting this work done in a timely manner, Gold Hill should contribute also.   After some discussion, Dave moved that the Gold Hill Town Meeting reimburse individuals another 30% (on top of the County’s 40%) for chipping (and, potentially, hauling) work done in conjunction with the County chipping grant – up to a total of $3,000.    Everyone agreed that the spirit of the Community is to be equitable in divvying up the money among the participants.  The motion was seconded and passed with no votes opposed.  The details of hiring a contractor, etc. are to be worked out. The plan is to stop chipping between June 15 and late September in order to not attract the pine bark beetles.

Addendum: We did get the chipping grant!! – contact Dave Nordgren  (303-417-0543) if you want to be part of the program.

Fire Department – Gretchen reported that Chris Finn stressed how important it is to cut your grass and weeds.  There is a fire ban right now (since lifted), and we’re expecting elevated fire danger due to lack of moisture.  Be careful.

Deb handed out her report on the last Fire Board Meeting.  The Board meets the 3^rd Thursday of the month at 8:00 and they’re worthwhile to attend.  John added that anyone who wants the official minutes of the meetings should contact Dave Sturtz, the FB Secretary.

Steffi reported crazy shooting activity near the Switzerland Trail and wondered if it’s a fire hazard.  Poppy and Steffi have picked up shells and trash and Steffi has reported this to the Forest Service.  It was suggested that it be reported to the Sheriff’s Dept. as well.

Weed Management – Susan reports that cheat grass is coming up and now is the time to start pulling it.  It goes to seed by the end of May and dries up, inviting fire.

The Verbenone supplier is offering a good deal for individual orders from anyone from Gold Hill.  Contact John Vanderhart at Forestry Distributing, a local distributor.  You may contact him at 303 747-6414 or john@nullforestrydistributing.com.  The discount he is offering to Gold Hill is 7gm verbenone pouches in any quantity over 10 units for $7.60/pouch.

Historic Gold Hill – Edie reports that Joan Few is hard at work archiving for the Museum and Heather Hilson is assisting.

Mining – Gretchen reports that there is little activity at this time.  They are still working on getting all the permitting and don’t expect to be doing any actual mining for some time.

Gold Hill School – no report.

OLD BUSINESS

Neighborlink – Deb reports that we are finalizing the forms and creating Pod lists to put together phone trees.  We won’t be contacting people again, but it is always open – contact your area person.

Emergency Preparedness – Pam reports that the Fire Department and the Town Meeting (plus Ward and Jamestown) are working on setting up Safe Sites to provide basic necessities for people evacuated in emergencies.  This is in response to the concern that the Fourmile folks may need to evacuate uphill to us in case of flooding/debris flow due to the fire.  Mike Chard of the Office of Emergency Management is directing this effort for the County.  Rebecca Lawrence called a Mayors’ Meeting to organize all the neighboring communities to develop plans to assist each other.  Streamlined communications are also part of their focus.  Contact Pam (pamsher123@nullgmail.com or 303-606-6803) if you want to volunteer for this effort.  Chris Finn asked that Fire Dept. people not volunteer, as they would be needed for the FD response.

Gretchen added that Elon had suggested that the town might want to purchase a big weed–whacker that everyone could use to help with defensible space.

Weather Spotting – John announced that the Weather Spotter training would be this Thursday at 7:00, here.

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Town Clean up – Gretchen reports that the clean up is scheduled for June 18 – Addendum – the date has since been changed to Saturday, June 25^th. Details to follow.  Please contact Gretchen (gretchend@nullmac.com or 303-442-3847) to volunteer.  As always, we need a lot of helpers.

Community Garden – Marie Brookhart and a few others have been working to get a town garden going. Please contact Marie (303-444-4691 mom.brookhard@nullgmail.com) if you’re interested.  Bob Mason has offered part of his yard and there are 3 raised beds there already.  Sinners have volunteered water.  Amy Fortunato says they have some land available down Lickskillet, but it might need a soil test.  Marie wondered if town funds could be used to develop the project. John suggested that they put together a brief proposal indicating who’s involved, possible expenses, email it to all the potential gardeners and bring it to the next meeting.

John announced that Amy Hardy is now the Fourmile Recovery Coordinator for the United Way.  Also, Historic Boulder has given a preservation award to Gold Hill and Indian Peaks (Ward) Fire Departments for saving Gold Hill.

Kris reports that the Roundtable Project is meeting on April 28.   The Front Range Roundtable is a coalition of individuals from state and federal agencies, local governments, environmental and conservation organizations with a commitment to forest restoration and fire risk mitigation along Colorado’s Front Range.

Gretchen’s Report on the Gold Hill Fire Protection District Board Meeting 4-21-11

 

(Official meeting minutes are available by emailing Secretary Dave Sturtz dave@nullsturtz.org ).  Fire Board Meetings are held the 3^rd Thursday of the month, at 8:00 p.m., at the Community Center.

Present were: Leslie Finn, Darrell McConnell, Dave Sturtz, Chris Finn, Chief, and Gretchen Diefenderfer, guest.  Darrell presided in President Dave Steinmann’s absence.

Chris reported that the County has a new video out on the Fourmile Fire – I think he meant this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iMU5BsoCRY&feature=player_embedded

The Minutes were approved.

Old Business

Chris reported on several matters.  He has sent the contract to AirVac for the exhaust system for the Firebarn.  The timeframe is not set yet – sometime this summer.  He has to send in a questionnaire first.

Jeffrey Combelic has taken out a permit to burn slash and been advised to wait until there is snow on the ground before any burning.

The brush truck we are getting from Timberline Fire (the new name for the combined High Sierra and High Country departments) is still in the works.

The Dept. Website is an HTML website and the search for someone to update it continues.  Leslie made a motion, and Darrell seconded, for Leslie to contact Rebecca Gretz and get a quote from her to revamp the website and make it easier for everyone to deal with.  Motion passed unanimously.

Chris reported that the old 1977 truck would probably be donated (because it has only a 250gpm pump as well as electrical problems) to the VFW (the folks who own Tahosa), or to the Silver Spruce Ranch next door to Tahosa, who are also interested in it.   The legal questions around donating it have been looked at, since it was paid for with tax money, and it’s ok to donate it to a non-profit.  It will be used in mutual aid to Indian Peaks.  Dave Sturtz moved that we approve donating it at the Chief’s discretion, Leslie seconded, and the motion passed.

Dave Sturtz reported that he will work on a contract/agreement between the Fire Dept. and the Town Meeting, which the FD lawyer has recommended, but the School agreement he’s looked at doesn’t really apply.  He will ask Dave Steinmann to contact the paralegal at Dick Lyons’ (the FD lawyer) for a generic form to work with.

 

New Business

Chris reported that he is helping Pam Sherman with setting up Safe Sites (places to convene for anyone evacuating in an emergency – particularly for the first 6-12 hours – probably the Firebarn/Community Center and the Inn) and coordinating between the Town Meeting and the Office of Emergency Management.  He has recommended that anyone working with the Safe Site issue take ICS 100 and 700 classes (establishes chain of command, etc).  Work is also underway to set up Safe Houses, for people who need places to stay for longer than 12 hours in an emergency evacuation situation.  Amy Hardy, GHTM Chair, will be back soon and be in charge for the GHTM.

There will be an 8’ x 10’ locked metal container next to the Firebarn (once the truck is moved/donated), which will hold emergency supplies for the FD, the Sheriffs Dept., the town, and the Safe Sites.

Chris asked Dave to get 20 more good chairs for the upstairs and then we will get rid of the old/falling apart/uncomfortable ones.  Full house in the Community Center seems to be about 40 now, judging from the Weather Spotter training.