Posted on: November 22nd, 2010

Next Town Meeting:  Monday, December 13, 2010, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.

Chair Amy Hardy called the meeting to order.  44 people attended: Edie Eilender, Chrissy McCaul, Sue Kidder, Teresa Roberts, Rich Fakelman, Vice Chair John Sand, Barb Barnard, Arthur Few, Dirk Arnold, Mark & Dina Elder, Luzie Mason, David & Stefanie Wilson, Richard Roth, Heidi Kessler, Karen Simmons, Jim Smith, Michael Albes, Member at Large Debra Yeager, Lewis Harvey, Cherry Sand, Martha Knapp, Caroline Ashley, Kurtis Leverentz, Mary Ryan, Deborah & Nathan Steinmann, Jerald J. Reames, Michael Montgomery, Paul Jones, Peter Swift, Chad Miltenberger, Dina Huber, Pam Sherman, Val Crist, Matt & Stefanie Legg, Paul Riciputi, Bear Carlson, Lisa McConnell, Jeff Combelic, Emily Rose, and Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer.  By the way, on the sign-in sheet, member means Voting Member of the Gold Hill Town Meeting.  For the requirements and bylaws, see the website: https://goldhilltown.com/ under Gold Hill Town Meeting.

Amy stated her intentions for our town meetings – to have clear communications, take the time to hear each other, stay on topic, and end by 9:30.  She added, “It is awesome to see all this participation!”

Minutes of the August 9^th meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report – Gretchen read Adriana’s email report in her absence: Our balance at the end of August was 5901.10.   The total US Bank account balance as of today is $17,688.26.  It is safe to assume that the Fire Fund has at least $11,500.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Planning/Trails – no report

Historical Zoning – Cherry reports that one historical structure burned in the fire – the Homestead House.  Laughlin’s sauna/office also burned. .  She has heard that they do plan to rebuild, but no plans have been received yet.

CWPP – Kris reported that a meeting had been planned for the week of the fire and hasn’t been rescheduled yet.  The County has hired someone to organize a Countywide CWPP and help districts with current CWPPs integrate with neighboring districts.  The next meeting will be to assess mitigation and rehabilitation needs.

Amy added that she’d heard from Rick Geesaman that people on Pine Street are still concerned that the Forest is too thick on the North side of town.  Emily Rose concurred and added that there are huge slash piles and branches there, too.

Kris said that money needed for mitigation depends on fuels, slope, and the value put to per acre mitigation has become steadily more expensive.  Sometimes a match is also required and often now communities have to come up with a bigger percentage.  She also added that the fire hazard is different with slash piles versus overcrowded forest – fire through the piles won’t move like a crown fire.

As far as the beetle infestation, science is having a hard time keeping up because the beetles are adapting.  It’s hard to keep up with global warming and climate change.  Ryan Ludlow sends out the Forest Health information emails and Kris added that we need more folks to get involved.  She will post CWPP meeting information – contact her at: kgkeewee@nullnetzero.net

Fire Department – Val reports that there is always an open invitation to come to trainings.  Classes are the 4^th Thursday and practical trainings are the 2^nd Saturday.   There was some discussion about people who had wanted to volunteer in the past but got the impression that they weren’t needed, but Val said, “Now is the time.”  We need new blood and support and people who will make the commitment to train and follow protocols.  Contact her at: vjcrist@nullhotmail.com with any resource to offer.

Edie asked about the big trailer behind her house and how long it would be there and Kris said she’d find out.

Emily then said that she lives in gratitude to all who helped on the fire.  She gives her personal thanks to everybody who stayed here and protected and took care of the town.  Everyone cheered!

Weeds – Susan Fernalld and Cheryl Warner have been working on grass seed sources for the town.

Historical Gold Hill – Edie reports that the Museum is closed for the season mainly because there is no heat.  Contact board members for an appointment.

Mining – Jim Smith reports that Aurora Gold has taken over the mine and mill operations.  He introduced Mick Montgomery, Chief Operating Manager, Paul Jones, Interim Manager, and Louis Harvey, Project Manager/Geologist. The core-drilling program is underway.  Mick said that they intend to be part of the community and are all about transparency.  They suffered minimum fire damage – very lucky.  The first samples from the core drilling have been sent off.  They’re working to re-establish all the permits – not a quick process – and hope to be fully operational in the fall of 2011.

Gold Hill School – Deb Steinmann reported on the Fall Fiesta school fundraiser.   Due to the fire a lot of families are spent and overwhelmed and many just want to gather and share a meal and not have the silent auction although there have been significant budget cuts in the BVSD and The FF raised almost $9500 last year.  The PTO will meet later this week and make a final decision on tickets or just donations and the final date. Martha wondered about possible grants and the PTO is looking into grant applications.  Amy has the organization grant application for the Boulder Mountain Fire Relief Fund for them.  Sue reported that the School would eventually have the honey sale from their hive.

Amy asked about integrating the kids into the fire process and Chrissy responded that they are already looking at building a science project on fire recovery and the ecology of fire and service projects/tree planting, etc.  There is a lot going on – counseling for the kids with emotional needs, the personal needs of the families.  They’re working on art projects, too.

Kris Gibson added that there is a page on the Website on Community Projects that she would love to have somebody take on – she can’t keep up with it.

Deb Steinmann is in touch with the Jewish National Hospital about getting information on the debris and ash and effects on health.

Pam Sherman reported that Project Learning Tree is a good resource for teaching kids about fire ecology.

OLD BUSINESS

Bake Sale – Lisa McConnell reports that she has talked to lots of people about whether we should try to have the Bake Sale this year.  She’s heard that people are tapped out financially and emotionally, as well as there being some traffic concerns when we’ve been seeing so much traffic.  Some people also have storage concerns for stuff they’ve been collecting.  She sees two choices, 1) squeeze in a sale inside somewhere without the craft tables or 2) postpone it and perhaps do one in the spring before the Town Clean Up.

Martha moved that we postpone the sale and any decisions about it until a future meeting.  Edie seconded it and, after some discussion, it passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Amy reports that there is approximately $12, 000.00 in the GHTM fund from the PayPal account which Adriana set up after the fire on our website for people to contribute to town efforts following the fire. The Ward Community contributed $700.00 and the GH Sesquicentennial Fund contributed their profit of $411 also. Now we need to decide how to deal with the money collected. The Union Congregational Church in Ward is a 501 (c)3 and can set up an account for us and distribute money to individuals for us (which we can’t do because we’re a 501 (c)4).

The Victim’s Assistance Center is still pumping out money for rental assistance and giving out check cards in the short term. Robin Bohannon has been working with the County to identify families that most need help. The Boulder Mountain Fire Relief Fund will also be distributing funds as well in the future.

Emily wondered who, in general, decides about town funds (the GHTM).

Debra Yeager asked who should Max request reimbursement for fuel used on the Fire from (the Fire Department and they will be receiving funds from the BMFRF, too)

Martha suggested we might want to funnel these funds through the BMFRF, but then the money would go to the greater community affected by the fire and many expressly wanted their donations to go to the Gold Hill community.

Kris Gibson said that, when she worked at the Victim’s Assistance Center, they had a discretionary fund for the employees – not a lot of hard criteria employed and it was given in a spirit of generosity – simple giving to those who needed it

Steffie Wilson wrote thank you notes to those who gave and a lot of people specified Gold Hill.

Kurtis moved that we put 50% of the donated funds into a Discretionary Fund, funnel it through the 501 c3, and distribute it to individuals in the GHTM area.  Edie seconded it.  John Said we need a process to be equal and fair – we need criteria.  After more discussion, including a proposal to put 100% into the discretionary fund, which failed, the motion passes.

Criteria suggested were that there be a maximum an individual could receive – $500, there should be an imminent need, people should be GHTM residents, the need should be fire-related (broadly interpreted), and we should let the Town Council decide – any three members could agree, and they have to keep it everything confidential.  Caroline thinks it’s going to be very obvious, true needs will float to the top.

Kurtis moved that we leave it to the Town Council –any 3 members could meet and it would take 2 of the 3 to agree – to make the decisions on distributing the funds based on the criteria discussed.  The motion was seconded, there was more discussion, the question was called and the motion passed unanimously.

It was decided that we would evaluate the need for the other 50% at the next meeting – individuals still in need, CWPP mitigation work, and the Cemetery, which was also impacted by the fire as the shed, the sign, and quite a bit of the fence burned were suggested.

Advertising on the Website – Amy brought up the possibility of accepting advertising in some form and charging a fee to make some money to support the website.  There is a page of local businesses presently.  We could add to that, etc.  The motion was made to table this issue, and take the time to do this right, if at all.

Wildlife – Someone brought up the observation that more wildlife, including mountain lions, can be seen because of the fire – watch your cats and dogs.

Neighborhood Watch – Someone else (it was getting late and I failed to write down the names) suggested that if we see suspicious people who don’t belong up here, we should call the Sheriff.

Respectfully submitted,  Gretchen Diefenderfer,  Secretary