BOARD OF COUNTY PRESORT STANDARD COMMISSIONERS U.S. POSTAGE PAID GILPIN COUNTY CENTRAL CITY P.O. BOX 366 CO PERMIT NO. 3 CENTRAL CITY, CO 80427
GILPIN COUNTY
Inside this issue: NEWSLETTER
Ghost Stories—A Film Series 2
Slash Site Reopens 2
Home Sale May Generate 3 Appraiser Visit Household Hazardous Waste 3 4th Quarter New Rural Development 4 Exemption 2005
2005 Notice of Sale of Tax Liens 5
Replace Those Outhouses! 6
Exercise Your Right To Vote 7
Extension Agent News 8 After-School Programs 9
Aquatic Programs 10 Make and Take Christmas Crafts 10
Sports Clinic & Youth Programs 11
3rd Annual Winter Arts Festival 11
County Numbers & Addresses 12 Photo courtesy of Carol Takahashi GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter Page 2 2005 Ghost Stories—A Film Series
GILPIN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 15131 HWY. 119, (AT MILE MARKER 15.5), 303-582-5777 FILM VIEWING AND DISCUSSION SERIES: SATURDAYS AT 1:00 P.M. WITH WALTER CHAW, FILM CRITIC SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Oct. 29 The Haunting (1963) Directed by Robert Wise—starring Julie Harris: Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. With him are the skeptical young Luke, who stands to inherit the house, the mysterious and clairvoyant Theodora and the insecure Eleanor, whose psychic abilities make her feel somehow attuned to whatever spirits inhabit the old mansion.
Nov. 5 The Sixth Sense (1999) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan—starring Bruce Willis: Malcolm Crowe is a child psychologist who receives an award on the same night that he is visited by a very unhappy ex-patient. After this encounter, Crowe takes on the task of curing a young boy with the same ills as the ex-patient. This boy "sees dead people".
Nov. 12 The Others (2001) Directed by Alejandro Amenabar—starring Nicole Kidman: A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.
Nov. 19 A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) Written and directed by Ji-woon Kim—in Korean with English subtitles: Two sisters, after spending time in a mental institution, return to the home of their father and cruel stepmother. Once there, in addition to dealing with their stepmother's obsessive and unbalanced ways, an interfering ghost also affects their recovery.
SLASH SITE REOPENS OCTOBER 29, 2005 Gilpin County would like to take this opportunity to thank all of its residents for their patience with the closure of the slash site during the month of October. It was closed to allow the County to chip and dispose of the large amount of slash that has been taken there over the past months. Due to the huge success of this program, the Board of County Commissioners plans to continue the program into 2006. The slash site is located at MM15 on Hwy. 119 just south of the Library. Please call 303-582-5214 or check the Gilpin County website for further information on the hours or size restrictions. GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter 2005 Page 3 Home Sale May Generate Appraiser Visit
by Anne Schafer, Assessor
Have you recently purchased or sold a home? Are you planning to? If so, anticipate a visit, letter or call from one of the Appraisers in the Assessor’s Office to verify information concerning the sale…
The Assessor’s office is responsible for determining fair and equitable property values countywide. In order to do this, it is necessary for us to find out as much information as possible about each sale. Does the sale represent the market? Will we be able to use it to determine market trends and market value?
The definition of market value, from the International Association of Assessing Officers, is “The most probable price (in terms of money) which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and the seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus.”
To determine if a property is sold at market value, and is therefore representative of our market area, we utilize a sales confirmation program. The sales confirmation process includes a physical review of any sold property as well as information from the real estate agent, buyer, and/or seller. Accurate, well-organized sales information is one of the essential components of a successful assessment system.
Some of the questions that may be asked are: • How did you find out about the property? • Did you know the property owner when you purchased it? • Did you receive special financing or incentives which influenced the purchase price?
Sales confirmation is one of many sources we utilize to ensure accuracy in county valuation. Again, it is important for us to review and update the property records throughout the year. So please welcome us when we stop by or call!
HOME PICKUP OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE IN GILPIN COUNTY 1-800-449-7587
Getting rid of your unwanted motor oil, filters, paint, batteries, pesticides and chemicals is as easy as picking up the phone. Household hazardous waste (HHW) now can be picked up right at your doorstep all year. All you have to do is call 1-800-HHW-PKUP (449-7587) and ask for the next available pick-up date in Gilpin County. A $5 co-pay and some material restrictions apply. GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter 2005 Page 4 New Local Use Review Process Encourages Sustainable Development By Tony Petersen, Community Development Director Past land development patterns in Gilpin County are dominated by the nearly 60 relatively small-lot subdivisions platted between 1920 and 1999. If future development patterns emulate those of the past, our rural character and natural resources could be at risk. In an effort to encourage a viable alternative that would create economically feasible and sustainable development, the Board of County Commissioners recently approved a new review process designed to expedite the review of low-density residential development proposals. This process, called a Rural Development Exemption (RDE), encourages development with maximum densities of 1 unit per 20 acres on tracts less than 1000 acres and 1 unit per 15 acres on tracts greater than 1000 acres. The RDE process also mandates a minimum of 67% dedicated open space. Low residential density and dedicated open space are arguably the two most important components of sustainable development in a rural setting.
Sustainable development can be defined as that which would not deplete the natural resources of the area into which it is placed. The natural resources of Gilpin County that are most precious, and therefore most at risk, include water and wildlife. These two precious resources will benefit from the RDE process as follows: • Water resources: Based on Jefferson County studies conducted in fractured bedrock nearly identical to that found in Gilpin County, it is estimated that a RDE development would consume on average 15% of the available water in a fully charged aquifer. This figure does not consider return flows or natural recharge. By comparison, developments averaging 5 acres/unit and 1 acre/unit would consume approximately 61% and 306% respectively. • Wildlife Habitat: The RDE process employs an ecosystem approach. Dedicated open space in the form of conservation easement serves to protect the majority of natural areas including those most susceptible to encroachment.
Conservation easements also aid in maintaining healthier natural communities. For example, through conservation easement enforcement, forests can be managed for fire and disease, but they cannot be logged for profit. Forest management is a key component in preserving habitat, preventing wildland wildfires and maintaining water quality by preventing soil erosion. Conservation easements would also serve to protect unique natural areas such as wetlands, meadows and scenic view corridors.
Gilpin County approved its first RDE this year. Roosevelt Ridge, a 550-acre development will result in no more than 27 single-family homes (1 unit/20 acres) and will preserve 90% of the site through conservation easement. Fire mitigation is in progress, all wetlands will be preserved in their natural state, and all building envelopes will be located away from ridgelines. The site will recharge the underlying aquifer at a rate far greater than the project could consume, and wildlife will benefit from habitat preservation. Roosevelt Ridge exemplifies good conservation development and would not have been economically feasible were it not for the RDE process.
As illustrated by the Roosevelt Ridge rural development, Gilpin County’s RDE process offers a viable alternative to conventional subdivision. An alternative that will assist in sustaining Gilpin County’s rural character and natural resources into perpetuity. GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter 2005 Page 5 TAX LIEN SALE! ALL UNPAID TAXES FOR 2004 ARE NOW DELINQUENT. The list of delinquent taxes was taken to the newspaper October 5, 2005. If your taxes have not been paid, the amount due will now include advertising costs. Payment must be made with certified funds or cash. Please call the Treasurer’s Office at 303-582-5222 for the amount owed. The Delinquent Tax List is published weekly for three (3) consecutive weeks and no deletions will be made. An updated copy of the advertisement will be posted in the Treasurer’s Office as well as on the Treasurer’s page on the County website at http://co.gilpin.co.us/Treasurer/default.htm.
The Tax Lien Sale will be NOVEMBER 16 at 9:00 A.M., on the 2nd floor of the old Courthouse in Central City, 203 Eureka St.; parking is available across the street in the Teller House lot.
You must sign in and obtain a number the morning of the sale. PLEASE PRINT NAME exactly as you wish your certificate to be issued. Address should be the address where the payment for redeemed certificates will be mailed. We must also have your social security number if we do not already have it on file.
Bidding starts at the combined amount of taxes, interest, advertising and fees due at the time of sale. Any bid in excess of this amount is called a Premium. The PREMIUM IS NOT RETURNED IF THE PROPERTY IS REDEEMED, NOR DO YOU RECEIVE INTEREST ON THE PREMIUM AMOUNT. The person paying the highest amount is issued a Tax Lien Certificate of Purchase, which is a lien on the property. The Gilpin County Treasurer will accept payment by personal check. However, if for any reason a check is returned, the certificate will automatically go to the County and no attempt will be made to collect the check.
Buyers may pay subsequent year’s taxes for endorsement onto their certificates. These endorsements earn the same rate of interest as the original certificate. We do mail notices to certificate holders in August, after taxes become delinquent. However, the owner may pay current year taxes and not redeem the tax certificates. This does not affect your certificate.
If you wish to transfer a certificate, this can be done by completing the assignment on the certificate. The Treasurer’s Office must be notified when a certificate is assigned so that we know where to send the notice if the certificate is redeemed. Also, please remember to keep us informed of your current address.
If the property has not been redeemed within three (3) years from the date of sale the certificate holder can apply for and receive a Treasurer’s Deed to the property. We need the original certificate, Form 132 and a deposit for expenses. After a title search, advertising and notification of all interested parties, a Treasurer’s Tax Deed is issued (if there is no redemption). If the property is redeemed during this period, any of the deposit that has been used must be reimbursed by the party making the redemption.
(Continued on page 6) GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter 2005 Page 6 Tax Lien Sale—Cont. (Continued from page 5)
Employees and officials of Gilpin County and members of their immediate family are not allowed to purchase at the Gilpin County Tax Lien Sale.
REMEMBER, your Tax Lien Sale Certificates of Purchase are important documents. We keep the original Tax Certificates in our office (1996 and after) and provide a copy of each to the lien holder with an affidavit that the documents are on file in the Treasurer’s Office. Certificates before 1995 were given to the lien holders.
It is important to remember the element of risk involved in the purchase of tax sale liens. It is impossible for this office to identify all potential problems with each parcel. Please conduct your own investigation to reduce the possibility of loss to you. Alynn K. Huffman, Gilpin County Treasurer
Time To Replace Those Outhouses!
Driving through Gilpin County, you may have noticed the numerous small buildings with a crescent moon and/or stars on the door. Those are the county’s numerous outhouses. While some are kept for historical purposes or were long ago abandoned and today are being used as storage sheds, a fair number of them are visited regularly. Although those buildings have been around longer than many residents and conjure up an image of quiet, peaceful, mountain living, they should not be used any more. Those excavations in the ground are called non-vaulted privies. According to Gilpin County Individual Sewage Disposal Regulations, Section 3.09 A, “Use, construction, and or existence of …non-vaulted privies …is prohibited”. They need to be replaced with an Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS), if the residence is to be occupied year-round, or a vault if there will be occupants for 90 days per year or less. A vault simply holds all wastewater generated from the residence and requires pumping when it reaches 60-80% of capacity.
An ISDS consists of a septic tank plus a leach field and requires more room than a vault. The overall size of the system depends on how many people can live in the residence and the rate at which water is absorbed in the leach field.
If you are currently using an outhouse, please realize that it is not grandfathered in and it needs to be replaced. Additionally, it may be negatively impacting any wells or waterways nearby. By replacing those historic holdovers you will be doing yourself, your neighbors and Gilpin County a great favor.
For additional information please contact Public and Environmental Health Service at 303-582-5803x2. GILPIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER 4th Quarter 2005 Page 7
Exercise Your Right To Vote!
Every vote counts and every vote can make a difference – whether it is for the office of the School Board Director, the vote to change TABOR for Colorado, or local issues – this is an important election.
Important November 1st Coordinated Election Dates:
Mail Ballot packets mailed to EACH ACTIVE voter: October 7th – 17th
Early Voting: October 17th – 28th
Last day to apply for absentee ballot to be mailed: October 21st
Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person: October 28th
ELECTION DAY: November 1st
Should you need an absentee application, you may call the Clerk and Recorder’s office at (303) 582-5321 and we will mail you one OR you can download one by going to http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/absentee_voter_app.pdf Absentee applications can be mailed to: PO Box 429, Central City, CO 80427.
We are now hiring Election Judges and Student Election Judges to work the Coordinated Election; for information please call Connie at 303-582-5321.
Don’t Forget! First-time voters who registered to vote by mail are required to provide proof of identification with their ballot. Below is a list of acceptable identification: