Gilpin board agrees to transfer ATV permit processing to code enforcement, proposes $20 fee

The Gilpin Township Board voted to transfer administration of ATV permits from the police department to the township's code enforcement office, with code officer John Fontaine taking over processing and verification duties. The transfer followed a discussion about ordinance language that currently names the police department as responsible for permits.

A board member raised the possible ordinance conflict: "the ordinance explicitly states that Gilpin Township Police Department handles" permit processing and asked whether changing the administering office requires an ordinance amendment. Supervisors said SARPD (the regional police) was agreeable to the change and instructed the solicitor and staff to review whether an ordinance amendment or a resolution is required.

Separately, supervisors agreed to prepare a fee-resolution for the February meeting proposing a $20 permit fee (the board discussed other townships charging $15'$25). The board asked the clerk to draft the resolution and to collect the exact language required to implement reciprocity with neighboring townships.

Board members emphasized the need to ensure cost recovery for stickers and staff time; one supervisor estimated processing cost at roughly $17'$18 per permit when accounting for sticker costs and staff time.

Next steps: solicitor to review ordinance language regarding responsibility for permit processing, clerk to draft a $20-permit fee resolution for the February agenda, and code enforcement to prepare to accept and process permits once procedures and the fee resolution are finalized.