Gilpin officials start talks on how to spend federal covid relief funds

Gilpin officials have begun discussions on how to spend about $250,000 in covid relief funds.

Township supervisor chairman Charles Stull said Monday that Gilpin received $125,000 so far with the second disbursement expected in either June or July.

Possible uses include $10,000 for bathrooms at the public works garage, money toward new lighting and other upgrades in the township building, reimbursement to the police department for last year’s payroll and police facility upgrades such as new flooring.

Stull requested general financial reports from 2019 into 2021 from Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, Gilpin-Leechburg Joint Recreation Authority and Leechburg Area Pool to gauge any financial losses due to the pandemic.

He said those numbers would not ultimately be a deciding factor in how much or where money is given, but having the data would help supervisors make more-informed decisions.

“I get most of their representatives have already talked to us, but I want to send out a letter anyway just to have it on record,” Stull said. “Just seeing where they’re at financially before handing out any donations and properly allocate (these funds).”

Supervisor Jeremy Smail said those three groups could use some support coming out of the pandemic.

“I definitely support funding the park, funding the fire department and funding the pool,” he said. “I think it’s money well invested in our community. I think we need to start putting it into action.”

It’s unclear how the fire department or recreation authority might spend any covid funds. None of those options were discussed at Monday night’s supervisors meeting.

Supervisor Steve Senjan, who also serves as Leechburg Area Pool treasurer, said the pool could use about $25,000 toward a new slide. He said the pool plans to set up a separate account to collect donations for other upgrades.

There’s a chance Gilpin could get more covid relief funds if other communities decline to receive their allocation, according to Stull.

Monday was the first public discussion on how to use the covid funds. It could be brought up again at Wednesday night’s budget meeting.

More federal money discussion is expected at the township’s year-end meeting Dec. 29.