The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “Transparency” as “the quality or state of being transparent, viewed by light shining through it.”

In the world of journalism, our job is to provide the ‘sunshine’ that lets the public see in the dark.

Reporters, editors and producers spend their careers in an effort to shine light on the intentionally created darkness by governmental agencies, law enforcement, politicians and businesses that want to conceal information from the public.

Bottom line: It’s our job, as journalists, to hold those with ‘perceived power’ accountable. We’ve committed our lives to providing ‘sunshine’ to cut the darkness.

That is why it is especially disconcerting that Clear Creek County leaders decided to hold a meeting yesterday, June 15, behind closed doors, in the dark of the public eye.

We attempted to attend the meeting virtually, but were asked to leave.

What’s more, the meeting is centered around one of Clear Creek County’s shining jewels, Charlie’s Place animal shelter in Dumont, the same organization whose benefactor, Helen L. Buck, donated the land: “For any and all animals and a no-kill facility for any animals in need of sanctuary.”

The full story is below

I know this is getting long, but I want to make one more point I’ve tried to convey my entire career: Providing sunshine is NOT limited to journalists.

Any member of the public or community has the same rights, access and power to file an open record request.

It’s known as a Colorado Open Records Act request or CORA.

Resources like the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition have even made it easy with CORA request templates.

Do you want a list of public employees? Safety records for a specific public agency? Government expenses or payroll? Zoning, building or planning documents?

The CORA is in place to provide the public with answers to these questions and a litany of others.

Public agencies are legally required to provide the information.

[email protected]

🌄 Let the Sun Shine…

Clear Creek County officials held a high-stakes conversation about the "fiscal sustainability" of Charlie’s Place animal shelter on Monday, June 15, but they did so behind closed doors.

The meeting titled, ‘Charlie's Place Workshop #1’, was initiated by Clear Creek County Manager Colton Rohloff, who sent an email invitation to a list of people, including: 

The email from Rohloff, obtained by the Courant from a concerned citizen, states:

“Everyone participating in these meetings cares about the future of Charlie’s Place and wants to see the issue solved.” 

“Please avoid assumptions about hidden agendas or negative motivations. There will be a range of perspectives in the room, and all viewpoints are valid and important to the discussion."

“A formal agenda will be distributed closer to the meeting date. However, attendees should expect the workshop to begin with an overview of the current financial and operational realities, including:

Clear Creek County Public Information Officer Megan Hiler-Wilson made it clear in a text message exchange with the Courant that neither the public nor reporters were welcome:

Hiler-Wilson: “Meeting on the 15th is an internal meeting with staff and volunteers and Charlie’s place and isn’t open to the public.”

Courant Reporter: “Does this mean I’m not allowed to attend?”

Hiler-Wilson: “Correct it is not a public meeting.”

Rohloff’s email concluded with the statement: “Ultimately, the Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners and the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners will review the options generated through this process and serve as the final decision-makers regarding the future operational and financial direction of Charlie’s Place.”

A second meeting, Rohloff said, is scheduled for sometime in July: “To review and vet the proposals and ideas generated during these meetings.”

The long-time ‘no-kill’ shelter is facing serious fiscal issues, as reported by cash-strapped Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties in the Courant June 8.

During a city/county meeting on April 16, also reported by the Courant, the idea of eliminating the ‘no-kill’ portion of Charlie’s Place's mission statement was discussed as a cost-saving measure as the shelter moves forward.

During an interview with the Courant at that meeting, Charlie’s Place Manager Sue LeBarron voiced her opposition.

“Yeah, that’s a cheaper way to go, ‘Ok, all the dogs that are here for 10-days, if they’re not adopted or claimed, they’re going to be euthanized, that’s a way to go,” LeBarron said.

However, if the county decides the cost savings of eliminating ‘no-kill’ from the mission statement is the way to go, LeBarron said they’d be going it alone.

“If you’re going to do that and you're going to put time limits on dogs, you could make it work, but you’re going to lose me, you’re going to lose your staff and most of the volunteers,” LeBarron said. “You’re going to have to start from scratch.”

July 2027 will mark two decades for Charlie’s Place.

“We’ve had this structure for 20 years. What’s the next 20 years going to look like?” LeBarron asked.

If you enjoy our mountain coverage specific to Clear Creek County, please subscribe to Clear Creek Mountain Life, a free weekly newsletter sent to your email every Tuesday morning.

The new Virginia Canyon Mountain Park hiking and biking trails are bringing hundreds of locals and tourists to the area for outdoor recreation in Idaho Springs.

However, more people enjoying more outdoor activities can create an environment for more and sometimes serious or critical injuries, according to Clear Creek County Emergency Medical Service Captain Paul MacFarland.

It took years of combined cooperation to establish two landing zones (LZ) for Flight for Life to operate from at the VCMP, according to Clear Creek County Fire Authority Chief Jeremy Jones.

The Argo, Alpine Rescue, CCFD, EMS, and FFL leaders planned, built, and approved an LZ at the hub of the newly opened Mighty Argo Cable Car system and another LZ in Virginia Canyon and Santa Fe, which is at the top of the mountain, according to Jones.

“It took two years to get it approved with Alpine, Flight for Life, and us, and now we’re using it, and the plan went flawlessly in place, so I’m pretty stoked. I hate to say we need it, but we need it,” Jones said.

The VCMP is a collaborative effort between the City, the Mighty Argo Cable Car team, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA), and other sponsors, including Trek. The Trek Trails at VCMP include, as of today, approximately 15 miles of hiking and biking trails, according to COMBA.

Jones went on to say one of the mountain bikers has already been flown off the mountain to a Level-One Trauma Center this month.

The second approved Flight for Life landing zone is located near the on-ramp to exit 239 from westbound I-70, Jones said.

Clear Creek County Commissioners announced their summer tour schedule to talk to locals about the budget, fire mitigation, open space, child care and zoning.

While those are the suggested topics of conversation, Clear Creek Public Information Officer Megan Hiler-Wilson says there is no set agenda for each meeting. Rather, commissioners want to talk individually with residents about what’s on their minds.

“We go in and the commissioners really want to hear from the community members and what they want to talk about and what to hear,” Hiler-Wilson said. “They want to address concerns and help them, so that’s the beauty of the town hall is let the community steer its direction.”

The series of community conversations all start at 6:00 p.m. and include:

“This year the commissioners just want to hear from people and what they want to talk about,” Hiler-Wilson said.

George Marlin

Contact: Phone: (303) 949-0980, Email: [email protected]

Term: 2022 to 2026 (second term)

District: I Approximately Floyd Hill to Fall River Road.

Rebecca Lloyd

Contact: Phone: 970-968-8429 Email: [email protected]

Term: 2025-2029 (first term)

District: II Southeast Clear Creek County

Jodie Hartman-Ball

Contact: Phone: 970-968-8428 Email: [email protected]

Term: 2025-2029 (first term)

District: III Approximately Fall River Road and west to Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel and Berthoud Pass.

If you enjoy our mountain coverage specific to Clear Creek County, please subscribe to Clear Creek Mountain Life, a free weekly newsletter sent to your email every Tuesday morning.

https://clear-creek.beehiiv.com/

Clear Creek youth baseball players traveled to Gilpin County’s Weber Field for the first game of the season on Saturday, June 13.

A cool breeze in the air and high clouds made for a good day of baseball for the dozens of players, coaches, friends, and family to watch how the off-season rust would come off.

Tambourines clanged, parents cheered, and young friends supported each other on the field and off.

“You got this!” “Good eye!” “Wait for your pitch!” “Go, go, go!” 

The young players on the field had no shortage of support from behind the fence.

The score was tight throughout the game, with the Gilpin team winning 6-to-3 in the end.

Georgetown Loop Railroad: Father's Day Weekend Train (June 20–21) Ride the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad through the mountains.

Thursdays Market on Miner (Thursday afternoon/evening): Downtown Idaho Springs market featuring local vendors, makers, and live music on Miner Street.

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