BLACK HAWK–At the October 9 Black Hawk City Council meeting, tensions flared once again as Mayor David Spellman expressed frustration with certain community members, particularly County Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth. 

Spellman and the council members voiced their displeasure with Hollingsworth’s remarks regarding the Mountain Rail Project and her implication that Black Hawk might reconsider its stance on the proposed Rollinsville rail stop.

The issue stems from Hollingsworth’s alleged misrepresentation of Black Hawk’s position during communication with CDOT and the State Office of Economic Development.

 Spellman said that on Friday, October 4, there was going to be a virtual meeting conducted by CDOT and the Office of Economic Development. Prior to that meeting, City Manager Steve Cole and Lynnette Hailey, the manager of the Silver Dollar Metropolitan District representing the casinos, sent out the following emails to County Manager Ray Rears. Both made it clear that neither the City, nor the District, saw any benefit from the project and would not support a shuttle service to Rollinsville or provide financial backing. 

Despite this, Spellman said that Hollingsworth referred to Black Hawk’s stance as an “initial response,” implying that the City might reevaluate its position.

Spellman called this a deliberate misstatement, saying, “The problem there is, she had to throw in the words ‘initial response,’ given the... intentional misstated comment related to the City of Black Hawk, in an effort to deceitfully mislead CDOT into thinking the City would reconsider our position.”

The Mayor went on to express his frustration with Hollingsworth, stating, “It’s unfortunate that she insinuated we might reconsider our position. That’s not going to happen.”

He then said the casinos already spend $700,000 annually to run the shuttle service from Denver, and $300,000 for the intercity shuttle between Central and Black Hawk. He said a Rollinsville rail station would benefit Boulder County, the Town of Nederland, and the Eldora Ski Area far more than it would benefit Black Hawk. 

The Mayor’s comments were met with the agreement of the council members.

This is not the first time the Mayor has clashed with members of the Gilpin County community. At the last council meeting, Spellman also addressed Hollingsworth’s comments about the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Black Hawk and Gilpin County, which would include a contribution toward the Community Center. 

Hollingsworth had suggested that a meeting between the Black Hawk Council members and the County Commissioners might result in changes to the proposed IGA. However, Spellman firmly rejected this idea.

Black Hawk continues to thrive financially compared to other jurisdictions in the county. The City’s casino revenues have enabled it to maintain a competitive pay structure for its employees, particularly in the police and fire departments. 

During the meeting, City Manager Stephen Cole introduced a revised pay plan that would increase wages for several departments while eliminating an annual dividend to employees, which had been costing the city around $300,000 a year. All were in favor of approving the revised pay plan and employee handbook. 

Near the end of the meeting, Fire Marshal Jason Walsh introduced an initiative for Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 6 to October 12. 

The theme for this year is smoke alarms, but Walsh went a step further by announcing that the City would provide every Black Hawk household with reusable fire blankets. 

These blankets, which can be used for kitchen fires, outdoor grilling, and other situations, are a safer and less messy alternative to fire extinguishers. 

Walsh demonstrated how to unfold the blanket by pulling the attached tabs and explained that they don’t expire, making them a long-lasting fire safety tool. 

He said that they would deliver these blankets door-to-door and offer assistance to any residents who needed help using them. The council responded with applause, acknowledging the importance of this proactive fire safety measure.

The council unanimously approved the purchase of a small parcel of land known as the Neleigh Tract #2, located on Gregory Hill, for $13,000. The acquisition is part of Black Hawk’s ongoing effort to expand city-owned open spaces, similar to the development of Maryland Mountain. Though the parcel is just 0.65 acres, it is crucial to the development of a park on Gregory Hill.

As the City Council moves forward with projects such as acquiring land for open space and distributing fire prevention materials to residents, the tension between Black Hawk and certain figures in the county continues to simmer. 

The next regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council is scheduled for October 23, 2024, at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 211 Church Street, Black Hawk, Colorado.