Gilpin County commissioners on Aug. 26 authorized an engagement letter with water engineering firm Bishop Brogdon & Associates (BBA) with a not-to-exceed amount of $154,000 for work spanning 2025–2026, after an executive session in which the board received legal advice on water rights and negotiated strategy.

The board’s action came after a closed meeting that, according to the motion taken before the executive session, was convened “for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions relative to water rights and infrastructure, potential legislation, and collaboration with other governmental entities” and “for the purpose of determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing a strategy for negotiations, and or instructing negotiations negotiators.”

County Manager Ray Rears told commissioners he had attempted to reach a verbal agreement with Central City staff about the privately run “water general” and Russell Gulch operations but that Central City’s manager had not yet confirmed the draft understanding. “At this point, I’m waiting for a manager, Miara, to respond to the email sent on August 15,” Rears said.

A member of the public, Zane Plisic of 828 Vernon Drive and a Central City alderman, urged the county to include full cost and administrative estimates if it takes over or supports a water-dispensing operation. “I just wanna make sure that the county is aware as we go down this road. It’s not just the water. … the amount of administrative cost he incurred with the water general,” Plisic said, referring to a former operator who ran the water general and who Plisic said lost money operating it.

Commissioners moved to authorize the BBA engagement and to set the contract not-to-exceed amount at $154,000 from the date of contract award, covering work through 2026. The resolution authorizing execution of the engagement letter passed by voice vote.

The board said the engagement amount covers budgeted work for the current fiscal year and work anticipated in 2026; the county attorney clarified the agreement remains “subject to appropriation,” meaning future work for 2026 would require inclusion in next year’s budget.

Representatives identified in the executive session included Attorney Lopez of Fairfield & Woods and BBA representatives Clark and Lindahl. The board listed attendees of the executive session as Commissioners Hollingsworth and Aiken, Manager Rears, and Attorney Messenger.

How the county proceeds on the Russell Gulch/water general question depends on Central City’s written confirmation of the managers’ verbal understanding, the county manager said; if that confirmation is not forthcoming, the manager proposed convening a broader stakeholder discussion to explore options.

Ending: The board authorized the consultant engagement so staff can proceed with technical water work. The county manager and Central City’s manager said they would continue to negotiate and report back to their respective governing bodies; no further formal action on a water-dispensing operation was taken at the meeting.