Black Hawk will acquire property for roadways along Lake Gulch Road after approval by the Black Hawk City Council during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on January 26, 2022, at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced an ordinance stating the intent of the City to acquire property for the construction, expansion, and improvement of city streets and roadways, and to authorize the intent to acquire properties along Lake Gulch Road. The City is working with Proximo Distillers on the development to construct a distillery for Tin Cup Whisky.

As part of the development, the City would like to improve Lake Gulch Road to a two-lane paved road. Proximo owns a majority of the property required for these improvements, but several mining claims need to be acquired to complete the roadway improvement.

Black Hawk staff will continue to negotiate with the owners to acquire the properties, but in the event that an agreement cannot be reached, staff looked for the permission to utilize eminent domain. This ordinance is necessary to give the City the authorization to proceed in the event that eminent domain is necessary.

According to the ordinance, “said Subject Properties are to be acquired for the construction, expansion and improvement of the City street and roadway system, specifically the construction of Lake Gulch Road and Miner’s Road.”

Hoffmann said the ordinance allows the City to go through the legal process to acquire property for roadways. If property owners are unwilling to sell their property, the City can initiate condemnation proceedings.

The Council approved the ordinance.

Finance Director Lance Hillis introduced a resolution approving the Commercial Lease with JKQ Consolidated, LLC, for the Crook’s Palace Property at 200 Gregory Street. The commercial lease has a term of 62 months, expiring on March 31, 2027.

The monthly rent of $1,800 is based on $0.50 per square foot. The lease contains a number of provisions, including a rent credit for anticipated disruption due to adjacent construction, standards of operations, and expected minimum operating hours.

Hillis said this is similar to other recent leases. It starts on February 1, with a soft opening planned for April and starts in July. A great deal of work on the property is needed.

Mayor David Spellman said they are thrilled to go into Crook’s Palace. Now the City has a trailhead and a plaza.

Hoffmann said that a provision in the resolution is unique to Crook’s Palace to allow it to catalyze Gregory Street. Spellman said the competition is extremely steep, so it is always a risk to run a restaurant without a casino.

The Council approved the resolution.

Melissa Greiner, City Clerk and Administrative Services Director, introduced an ordinance amending the Black Hawk Employee Handbook regarding recruitment and hiring. City Manager Stephen Cole said they have been running two processes, one for promotion of internal candidates and another for external candidates. He would like to have the discretion to run both at the same time. The Council approved.

Greiner introduced a resolution approving the revised job descriptions for the Police Department.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, the Police Chief was without an executive administrative assistant for several months in 2021. “Instead of utilizing a temporary employee, the Chief took on the responsibilities of her assistant to better understand the function of the position. During her assistant’s absence, the Chief reorganized the budget, billing, training, and Colorado POST status reporting tasks.”

After returning to duty, the assistant advised the Chief she would retire in January. The Department is now in need of a full-time police records specialist. The Chief requests combining the part-time municipal court clerk duties with the executive administrative assistant and making the police records specialist a fulltime position.

Previously, the part-time Municipal Court Clerk was combined with a part-time police records specialist. “Restructuring the positions does not add any new employees; it just makes the workflow more efficient in the Department.”

The Council approved the resolution.

The next Black Hawk Council meeting will be at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 3 p.m. For more information go to https://site.cityofblackhawk.org/.