CENTRAL CITY - The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) convened a work session on April 22, 2025, at the Historic Courthouse in Central City, where they discussed fire mitigation in Rights of Way (ROW) with Chief Paul Ondr of Timberline Fire, and Jennifer Cook, CSU Extension.

Ondr said their goal is to do several chipping events each year in various neighborhoods. This year, they will visit Aspen Springs, Severance, and Bun Gun, which Ondr anticipates will cost about $11,000. 

The chipping program is helpful for residents who want to clear their property of slash or wood debris. It also mitigates fire risk on County land. 

The Chief and commissioners discussed other areas in the county with ROW land. They aim to target streets with fewer ingress and egress that form chokeholds on potential fires. 

Ondr noted that the neighborhood of Colorado Sierra needs mitigation of the trees in the 50-foot ROW throughout the subdivisions. He said they will attempt to tackle that next year and hold a chipping event simultaneously.

The County has paid $50,000 so far this year for mitigation, and Ondr said the funds will likely run out in six weeks. Ondr emphasized that Timberline bills the County at a discounted rate, primarily because they bought the equipment. 

Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth asked if Timberline could create some short educational videos for the County website. Ondr responded in the affirmative. 

“Remove the combustibles away from your home,” would be the message. 

Ondr said Cook and her team could help identify more County properties that need mitigation, such as around the rec center and the water tower. 

Commissioner Susan Berumen said it would be helpful for residents to know that the average mitigation cost for homeowners is about $1,200.

Hollingsworth asked Ondr about the size and cost of a cistern in Rollinsville. Ondr said they would need at least 30,000 gallons of water on either side of the highway. The rough cost estimate is $300,000. 

County Manager Ray Rears summarized the discussion, saying Timberline is potentially asking for an additional $100,000 to complete mitigation along the ROW, meaning they could continue work for another six months. The request will likely come in the form of a resolution at the next regular meeting.

The next regular BoCC meeting will be held on May 13, 2025, at the Historic Courthouse in Central City. A special meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on April 29, 2025.