The Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) held a work session on February 17, 2026, covering several operational and regional partnership topics.
Employee Handbook Amendments
Commissioners reviewed proposed amendments to the County’s Employee Handbook. The edits are intended to clarify policies and ensure alignment with best practices along with making adjustments based on changes in law. The proposed updates will now be shared with senior leadership for feedback and will be presented at a future BoCC meeting for formal consideration and approval, most likely, on March 10.
Mountain Pine Beetle & Slash Site Operations
Commissioners discussed the significant and growing impact of Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) activity throughout Gilpin County. The increase in beetle-kill trees presents two major concerns:
- Spread of infestation: If infested “hot logs” (trees currently hosting live larvae) are not properly mitigated, the beetles can spread to other trees during their flight time which occurs between July 15 and September 15.
- Fire risk: MPB infestations almost always kill the tree, causing a temporary increased wildfire risk until the needles drop.
With an anticipated increase in residents cutting and disposing of infested trees, the County discussed potential strategies for managing higher volumes at the slash site. Options considered include possible modifications to operating dates and hours, exploring public and private partnerships, and exploring the best means to effectively address increased slash and log volume. Additional information is being gathered, and the topic will return at a future work session.
Learn more about Mountain Pine Beetle.
Joint Work Session with Clear Creek County
In the afternoon, the BoCC met jointly with Clear Creek County to discuss regional partnerships and shared interests.
Charlie’s Place
County leadership is working collaboratively with the Clear Creek County Manager to explore ways to make Charlie’s Place more financially sustainable. Two potential alternatives within Gilpin County and one in Golden are being evaluated. This topic is expected to be revisited in July or August.
Recreational Sport Shooting Range
The shooting range is expected to open in April. Both counties are exploring potential incentives for Gilpin and Clear Creek residents.
Bellevue Mountain Resort
Commissioners discussed concerns regarding potential impacts of the Bellevue Mountain Resort on Gilpin County roads and first responders. Conversations will continue as more information becomes available.
Additional discussion on these topics is expected at future work sessions.