Clear Creek County commissioners narrow work‑session priorities to seven goals including fiscal sustainability, childcare and an I‑70 strategy

Chair Keith said the board’s top priorities are getting the county’s finances in order, avoiding reserve use and reducing capital liabilities by selling extraneous county buildings.

"My department goals, 1, is get our finances in order. I would prefer not to use up our reserves during my term in office," Chair Keith said, adding he wants IT modernized and a Clear Creek Regional Housing Authority formed to attract families and workers.

Colton, a staff member who circulated a revised goals packet from a prior workshop, told commissioners staff would include a security assessment in an upcoming facility assessment and that staff are meeting a real‑estate group to begin the process of offloading buildings. "So I'll do a work session coming up where we just get all this in order, and then we can try to have a plan by the summertime," Colton said; he told the board he would circulate a draft goals document for review ahead of a meeting expected to consider formal adoption.

Commissioner Hartman Ball said her priorities include building public trust, continuing town halls to explain the budget, supporting Charlie's Place and pursuing economic development partnerships with municipalities such as Georgetown and Idaho Springs. "I would like to continue doing town halls, for this year," Hartman Ball said, arguing public outreach is important to help residents understand service levels and fiscal limits.

Several commissioners pressed for an explicit role on I‑70 negotiations and for staff support to develop a lobbying strategy or fiscal‑reform options. George urged keeping tax options on the table — from lodging taxes to excise approaches — but cautioned about who would bear the burden if taxes rise.

Public safety finance also featured in the discussion: the board agreed to ask staff and partner agencies for updated financial snapshots of EMS, fire and CCFA to understand whether prior ballot measures closed budget gaps and what further steps might be needed. Colton and commissioners discussed reconvening the public‑safety finance team to explore efficiencies and possible shared services.

Sheriff Thornton described plans for automated enforcement tools and the timing for implementation. "The speed cameras and flock cameras are completely different," Sheriff Thornton said, explaining speed cameras are limited by statute while flat license‑plate readers can be placed where needed.

Colton summarized the board’s narrowed list — expansive childcare goals, an I‑70 coordination goal, support for a lobbyist or fiscal reform work, town halls, economic development, housing and fire mitigation — and said staff would draft formal goal language for the board to review. The draft would be circulated in advance of a scheduled meeting where the board could vote on final adoption.