John Scarffe, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council approved a resolution re-naming portions of four streets during a regular online meeting on April 28, 2021, at 3 p.m. The Council also approved an agreement regarding Lake Gulch Road, an agreement for the Black Hawk and Central City Tramway and annual insurance contracts. The Council continued an application for the Disconnection of the Dory Hill Road Properties from the City of Black Hawk.

According to the Resolution Re-Naming Certain Streets Within the City, the City Council approves the renaming of portions of four streets in Black Hawk. Clear Creek Boulevard will be changed to Black Hawk Boulevard. 

On Highway 119, the main thoroughfare through the City had been known as Clear Creek Street. Due to confusion between residential buildings on Clear Creek Street and commercial buildings on Highway 119, the section of Highway 119 within the City Limits was changed to Clear Creek Boulevard. 

“City staff now believes that the use of ‘Black Hawk’ is more appropriate for the main thoroughfare through the City, and recommends that the section of Highway 119 within the Black Hawk city limits be changed from ‘Clear Creek Boulevard’ to ‘Black Hawk Boulevard.’”

Black Hawk Street will be renamed Gregory Street, and Mill Street changed to Miners Road, and Miners Mesa Road to Miners Road. The use of “Miners Mesa” is not appropriate since Miners Mesa Road leads up to Gregory Hill, which is not a mesa. 

Staff proposed that Miners Mesa Road be changed to remove the term “mesa” and become “Miners Road.” For Black Hawk Street and Mill Street, two short sections of the street are proposed for renaming to their connecting streets. 

First, the short section of Black Hawk Street between Highway 119 and Main Street is proposed to change to Gregory Street. 

Second, the short section of Mill Street between Highway 119 and Main Street is proposed to change to Miners Road. No properties are currently addressed on Mill Street. These street name changes are proposed to go into effect on June 1, 2021.

The City is responsible for maintaining accurate and organized addressing within the Black Hawk city limits, according to the request for Council action. In September 2020, the Council approved a resolution which added addresses for new construction and changed to certain street names and building numbers to correct and clarify addresses located on Highway 119/Clear Creek Boulevard, Chase Street and Miners Mesa Road. 

In March 2021, the City Council approved a resolution that changed building numbers on Gregory Street that were found to be duplicates in Central City. With the recent approvals that will allow further development on Miners Mesa Road, City staff proposed the four street name changes that will facilitate easier wayfinding throughout the City. 

Vincent Harris with Baseline said he recommended approval effective June 1, and he will work on signage. Mayor David Spellman said Highway 119 had always been called Clear Creek. They have taken a bigger look at this, and it’s appropriate to continue to have a road with a Black Hawk name, so they have decided to rename it Black Hawk. 

The Council approved the resolution.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced an ordinance approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between Gilpin County and Black Hawk regarding Lake Gulch Road. The IGA memorializes prior agreements between Gilpin County and the City of Black Hawk related to the maintenance, future improvement and control of Lake Gulch Road.

Hoffmann said he is pleased to provide the portion of Lake Gulch Road for the City to take over, and take out the Central City portion of Lake Gulch Road. Gilpin County has already approved this and provided a quit claim deed. The Council approved the ordinance.

Public Works Manager Tom Isbester introduced an Ordinance Approving the FTA Section 5311 Operating Grant Agreement between the Colorado Department of Transportation, Division of Transit and Rail and the City of Black Hawk dba Black Hawk and Central City Tramway for 2021 in an Amount Not to Exceed $112,884.00.

The City was awarded a FTA grant for operating the shuttle service. This grant is administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). This grant amount is $112,884.00 and requires a 50 percent match. 

This is the same grant program the City has received since 2018. This grant is typically used to offset some of the costs incurred with the contract operator.

Isbester said it’s the same agreement as the last several years. The Council adopted and approved the bill.

Hoffmann introduced a resolution accepting an application for the Disconnection of the Dory Hill Road Properties from the City of Black Hawk and Setting a Public Hearing for May 26, 2021. Annexation is set forth in state law, but disconnection is not.

Black Hawk passed a resolution for the process. This was on the agenda from the previous meeting. The Council approved continuing the resolution.

(Originally published in the May 6, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)