The Black Hawk City Council approved the 2023 budget, the City mills levy and the pay plan for employees during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 211 Church Street. The Council also adopted 2021 codes and approved schedules for 2023 meetings.

Finance Director Lance Hillis introduced a resolution summarizing expenditures and revenues for each fund and adopting a budget for the City of Black Hawk for the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2023, and appropriating sums of money to various funds and spending agencies.

The 2023 Proposed Budget is as presented at the November 9 work session, with the following exceptions: The contribution to the Gilpin Ambulance Authority was decreased because of additional gaming impact grant funding. This also reduced the revenue from the Silver Dollar Metro District. With a recent dip in the number of devices, the 2023 device fee revenue has been reduced accordingly.

Hillis also introduced an ordinance levying general property taxes for the Year 2023 to help defray the costs of government for the City. This ordinance sets the City’s property tax mill levy at .036 mills for 2022, to be collected in 2023.

Mayor David Spellman suggested increases in the scholarship fund awards from $1,500 for the year to $2,200 per year, and raising the City’s contribution to Charlie’s Place from $6,000 to $9,000 with the intention of keeping the contributions moving with inflation.

The Council approved the budget and mill levy.

County Clerk Melisa Greiner introduced an ordinance amending the 2023 Pay Plan and revised job descriptions. The 2023 Pay Plan includes a 5.76 percent increase in salary ranges as a result of the current market analysis. The 2023 Budget includes an increase in the spread within each pay range from 30 percent to 40 percent from the minimum to the maximum.

The Fire Engineer range increased by 10 percent over 2022 to bring the range closer to the competitive set range at the request of Community Planning & Development Director Cindy Linker, for a reclassification for the Development Services Coordinator position.

The department currently relies heavily on consultants and would like to reclaim many of the tasks now performed by outside consultants over time. Fire Chief Wooley requested minor changes to Fire Department job descriptions.

In 2022, the Administrative Services and Community Planning and Development Departments engaged a part-time employee to create standard operating procedures for the departments. A direct hire for the position will save money for the City. The position is budgeted for 2023 for completion of the Community Planning and Development project.

Linder introduced the second reading of an ordinance to adopt by reference the international building code, 2021 edition; the international fire code, 2021 edition; the international residential code for one and two family dwellings, 2021 edition; the international mechanical code, 2021 edition; the international plumbing code, 2021 edition; the international energy conservation code, 2021 edition; the international existing building code, 2021 edition; the international fuel gas code, 2021 edition; the international swimming pool and spa code, 2021 edition; the international property maintenance code, 2021 edition; uniform code for the abatement of dangerous buildings, 1997 edition, American national standard – accessible and usable buildings and facilities, most current edition; American national standard safety code for elevators and escalators, most current edition adopted by the state of Colorado; the national electrical code, most current edition. The ordinance also adds specific amendments to the above referenced codes and provides penalties for violations of the ordinance.

At the City Council Meeting on November 9, the ordinance was introduced and adopted on the first reading. The public hearing was set for December 7. Research by reviewers allowed for a formal comparison between the currently adopted 2015 codes and the proposed 2021 codes to identify any significant changes.

Once the reviewers identified the critical differences, they compared them to most of the permits issued in the past year. During this exercise, the reviewers also considered other relevant local agency amendments to determine if adopting the new 2021 code would enhance or hinder future development within the City. Staff recommended adopting the Building Code.

The Council approved the second reading of the ordinance.

The Council approved the meeting schedule for the Council, holidays, and the Historic Preservation Commission. Regular Council meetings will be at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 211 Church Street, Black Hawk, Colorado.

The next meeting of the Black Hawk Council will be on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. For more information, go to https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/.