Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Black Hawk. The regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council was called to order at 3 p.m. on January 22, 2020, when City Manager, Stephen Cole rang the bell. Mayor Spellman and all of the Alderman were in attendance, as well as City Attorney, Corey Hoffmann. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, it was announced that no agenda changes were proposed, or conflicts of interest disclosed. There was no one signed up at this meeting for public comments and the minutes from the previous regular meeting, held on January 8, 2020, were approved unanimously. 

Mayor Spellman announced there were no public hearings scheduled for this meeting and moved immediately into the first action item. A resolution approving the agreement for mold remediation for the structures located at 221 Gregory Street with Weecycle Environmental Consulting, Inc. in a total amount not to exceed $28,206.00, was carried unanimously. Planning and Development Administrator Cindy Linker spoke to this resolution, stating, “(Weecycle Environmental) is familiar with all of the environmental laws, will oversee the site and perform all of the clearance tests.”

A resolution approving the agreement of lease between the city of Black Hawk as lessor and Black Hawk Bean & Cream LTD as lessee was approved unanimously. Finance Director Lance Hillis spoke to this resolution, explaining the property in question is the Buffawhale Coffee Shop. The previous owner resides in a Denver suburb and was not able to make the coffee shop work from out of town, as he had intended. The new lessees are a local father and son team. They intend to run a coffee and ice cream shop. Lance said the new owners have been in business in the Black Hawk area before and are familiar with the time requirement required to be successful in the area. The location is removed slightly from casino traffic. 

 A resolution approving certain service agreements for calendar year 2020 was carried unanimously. This resolution was reported as a housekeeping item. 

A resolution approving Amendment No. 4 to the construction manager/general contractor agreement executed on February 27, 2019, between the city of Black Hawk and Roche Constructors, Inc., increasing the guaranteed maximum price by $96,800 for the purpose of procuring and installing an elevator in the Gregory Street commercial building located at 221 Gregory Street, was carried unanimously. Project Manager Matt Reed spoke to the resolution stating, “The (cost increase) would cover the purchase and installation of the elevator.” Reed explained further, “The reason for separating the cost of the elevator from the other renovation work is that material orders needed to be done ahead of time in order to keep the project on schedule.” Reed also reported the rest of the building design is near completion. A cost and proposal would be available for review in about four to six weeks. Reed stated the proposal would come before the board in another amendment to the construction contract at a subsequent council meeting. The board agreed, upon approving the resolution, Reed has done an excellent job with this project. 

City Manager Stephen Cole stated he had nothing to report. City Attorney Corey Hoffman reported an annexation petition received from property owner RSM, the owner of record and contract purchaser of a property in the growth area of the city of Black Hawk, as required by statute. Hoffman explained the next step would be to evaluate the petition filed to determine compliance. If the evaluation reveals compliance the annexation petition will be brought before the council for a public hearing. Hoffman also requested an executive session to review legal issues related to metro districts and potential legislation. A motion was carried to adjourn for executive session at 3:10 p.m. and the regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council was adjourned. 

(Originally published in the January 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)