The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners held a work session on September 17, 2024, at 9 a.m. to address key issues outside their regular meetings, including discussions on conservation efforts, changes to solid waste management, and updates on recruitment and retention incentives.
John Hannon, the NoCo Places Program Manager, presented on the collaborative efforts of eight public land agencies from north-central Colorado. These agencies are working together to tackle the challenges posed by increased visitation and a growing population in the region’s mountains and foothills.
Their goal is to promote sustainable land management, equitable practices, and long-term conservation of Colorado’s public lands while enhancing the visitor experience. The Board expressed full support for the agreement.
John Combs, Director of Public Works, and Sam Bower, Administrative Analyst, proposed the addition of a position in the solid waste department, which is already included in the proposed 2025 budget. The Board endorsed the move, encouraging Combs to post the job.
The discussion also touched on landfill pricing, revealing that Gilpin County’s rates would align with those of Clear Creek. To bolster the transportation of trash and recycling, the County is also sending one employee for formal training to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
While the Board approved the new fee structure, they postponed decisions on the need for a replacement roll-off truck.
Undersheriff Greg Demo and Division Chief Sean Wheeler updated the Board on the County’s incentive programs aimed at attracting and retaining employees.
Since the program’s inception, $65,000 has been disbursed to employees in safety-sensitive roles. By the end of the year, a total of $36,250 is expected to be spent in retention incentives, with an additional $2,000 in hiring incentives.
Despite these efforts, six dispatcher positions remain vacant, and staffing shortages are often covered by overtime.
County Manager Ray Rears emphasized the need for incentives to fill critical roles, stating that the County has allocated funds specifically for these positions. However, not all commissioners agreed on the approach.
Disagreements arose over the effectiveness of the current incentive levels, with Demo arguing that reducing incentives would not help reach staffing goals. Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson and Rears stressed the importance of maintaining incentives to attract new hires, though concerns were raised that the program could become a “revolving door” without careful evaluation.
The commissioners agreed to assess the effectiveness of the incentive program over a full year to determine its impact on staffing and applicant attraction. The total cost of the recruitment program for 2024 is projected to remain under $100,000, with a current estimate of $88,250.
As the session concluded at 12:29 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the Board for their continued support of the incentive programs.
The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for September 24, 2024, at 9 a.m. and will be held in person at the Historic Courthouse, 203 Eureka Street, Central City and online via Zoom.
