Governor visits Gilpin County

Gov. Polis visits Gilpin County

Polis talks with Eric Douglas, chair of the Gilpin Democrat Party while Commissioner Isenhart and Susan Beruman listen in. Beruman is running for commissioner.

Gilpin County Sheriff Kevin Armstrong greets Gov. Jaron Polis. Armstrong is running for Sheriff this year to retain his seat.

Brief meet-andgreet prior to ribbon cutting

By David Josselyn

Governor Jarod Polis traveled to the City of Black Hawk for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of the newly remodeled Monarch Casino on March 4. The renovations began at the Monarch in 2013 and, with the opening of the Monarch Chophouse in November 2022, were finally completed. The Polis 2022 campaign team and the Gilpin Democrats took advantage of some extra time. The governor quickly set up a meet and greet at the Central City Courthouse before the opening ceremony. A brief campaign speech and questions were made during the short 45-minute window beginning at 6 p.m. that Friday.

The Governor arrived to speak with a small crowd of Gilpin Democrats, including Commissioners Linda Isenhart and Sandy Hollingsworth, along with Assessor Anne Schafer, County Clerk Sahari McCormick, and Chief Deputy Clerk and Recorder Ashley Martin, who is running for County Assessor (Anne Schafer is not running for reelection in 2022). Also present was Gilpin’s Republican Sheriff Kevin Armstrong. Polis focused on five topics: health insurance, public schools, renewable energy, housing and substance abuse. He reported that insurance rates for those renewing their private insurance in the marketplace (primarily selfemployed) had been reduced by 24% across the state, with Gilpin

County enjoying 30% reduced rates. (Per the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, the actual overall rate is increasing by 1.1%. Information directly related to Gilpin County was not available.

However, Polis most likely referred to a 24% savings compared to purchasing private insurance without the program. He reported that funding for public schools increased by $30,000, which is up to districts to use that money. The State is working on a package to purchase electric school buses, saving the districts money on fuel costs and supporting renewable energy. He acknowledged that housing is an issue across Colorado but did not cite a policy or plan to help alleviate the crisis.

Creating two new sites as part of a substance abuse program was touted by Polis. The program includes a 500-bed residential substance abuse treatment facility for each location. The sites would also reduce homelessness while providing muchneeded care for addictions.

Questions were fielded by the Governor, ranging from the soft-ball electric vehicle charging stations to the more hard-hitting missteps during the pandemic.

The Infrastructure Act will allow Colorado to receive $800 million to $1.2 billion over the next four years will enable Colorado to expand broadband internet service to more than 99% of the state. This executive order signed by Polis on Feb. 17 accelerates initiatives to coordinate with state agencies to ensure broadband deployment is prioritized.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will allow Colorado to receive $800 million to $1.2 billion over the next four years and allow Colorado to expand broadband internet service to more than 99% of the state. By signing an executive order on Feb. 17, Polis accelerated initiatives to coordinate with state agencies to prioritize broadband deployment.

Former senator Jeanne Nicholson encouraged Polis to support Gilpin County’s Senior Housing initiative to develop the land near the Community Center next to the Gilpin County Food Pantry. Polis commented that he “would love to work on that” and would pass the information on for consideration.

A question regarding the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations came from Isenhart. Polis responded that there is current annual funding precisely for expanding the electric charging station grid through the Charge Ahead Colorado program. This awards grants to deploy electric charging (EV) stations across the state and, according to the Energy Office of Colorado, has awarded funds for more than 1,000 EV stations. Polis said there would be charging stations in every state park in the next couple of years. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Plan awarded Colorado $8.4 million in 2022 and an additional $57 million over the next five years to enhance the EV charging system.

As for what missteps Polis believe were made in handling the pandemic over the last two years, he commented that he was always frustrated that he didn’t know beforehand what information would be hitting his desk. Referencing Colorado’s 80% vaccination rate, Polis said he wishes it would have been more, including doing handstands to get the word out for people to get vaccinated.

Gov. Polis addresses the Gilpin County Democrats in the Central City Courthouse on Friday, March 4.

initial costs and “are now saving money.” Polis responded, “That’s a great idea” and continued that as they look at better forest management, “we use the wood… that’s exciting.”

“Water scarcity is going to be an issue, so much of Colorado’s water is shared to states downstream,

rightly so; however, more and more demand on water is ever-growing. What are you going to put into place to ensure we retain the water Colorado needs?” Polis was asked. Under a 99-year-old compact between the states, Nebraska has the right to divert some water from the South Platte River that flows into the Lodgepole Creek under the South Platte River Compact of 1923.

Polis acknowledged that “Nebraska is threatening to do some projects,” including creating canals to divert water from the South Platte in Colorado, but “we are in compliance with our centuries-old compact.” Colorado has a backlog of water and “more funding (is needed) than ever before for water projects,” Polis said.

“I will be thrilled to be governor, not in a pandemic for a while,” before heading out the door to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Governor’s seat is up for election this year, and he will be facing opposition from Dustin Rorex in the primary. The winner of the Democrat primary will move on to meet one of 13 Republican candidates and one of two Independent candidates.

Deputy Clerk Ashley Martin and County Clerk Sahari McCormick discuss issues with Polis. Martin is running for County Assessor.

“[We] respects people’s decision (whether to get vaccinated or not); some areas of the nation had vaccine passports, and we never did that. Some businesses could choose(to mandate masks), but it was never done (by the State). We didn’t require that because we respect as a basic value individual responsibility and decision making.” The actual vaccination rates for Colorado vary depend-

County Assessor Anne Schafer ing on age shakes Polis' hand. Schafer has chosen not to pursue another term. Photos by David Josselyn groups, from 95.7% for people over 65 down to 39.8% for ages 5-11 per the COVID 19 official website. Polis was urged to tour the Gilpin County Road and Bridge building heated with beetle kill wood for several years and the