Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Black Hawk. The November 13, 2019 meeting of the Black Hawk City Council was called to order at 3 p.m. with the ringing of the bell, followed by roll call. All members were in attendance. No agenda changes were requested, and no conflicts of interest were reported by the council or members of the audience.

Communications officers Rebecka Allen and Amy Flynt were available for introductions to the council and served as bell ringers for the afternoon. 

Rebecka, a Gilpin High School graduate and longtime resident of Gilpin County, attended Colorado Northwestern Community College and graduated with a degree in equine science. Since 2014, Rebecka has volunteered with Central City Fire Department. She enjoys spending time outdoors, engaged in such activities as horseback riding, hunting and fishing. Rebecka reports her three older brothers have inspired her to work in public service. Two of her brothers currently serve in the Air Force and one serves in Central City as a lieutenant for the Central City Fire Department. 

Amy is currently a Gilpin County resident, but she has lived in several cities throughout Colorado. Amy completed her undergraduate schooling in Wyoming and earned her Master of Social Work from Metro State University, in Denver. Amy has served the public in many roles such as adult and child protection caseworker, as a social service provider in adult long-term care facilities and with teens as a trauma informed assessor and foster parent. Amy enjoys spending time with her dog Ernie and her friends and her family as well as hiking, most water sports, watching movies, reading good books and listening to music. 

The council extended a warm and genuine welcome to the new recruits, asking the women to stay for a minimum of five to twenty-five years, and the meeting continued with an invitation for public comments and approval of the minutes from the previous meeting. There was no one signed up to comment from the audience and the minutes were approved unanimously. 

In public hearings a resolution summarizing expenditures and revenues for each fund and adopting a budget for the city of Black Hawk, Colorado for the calendar year beginning on the first day of January 2020 and ending on the last day of December 2020, and approaching sums of money to various funds and spending agencies in the amount, and for the purposes set forth within the 2020 budget, was carried unanimously. The budget has been discussed at length in council meetings devoted to the 2020 budget alone. 

An ordinance levying general property taxes for the year 2019 to help defray the costs of government for the city of Black Hawk, Colorado for the 2020 budget year, was continued until December 11, 2019. 

An ordinance repealing and reenacting chapter 15 of the Black Hawk Municipal Code entitled The Black Hawk Sign Code was carried unanimously. According to the discussion, small temporary signs, like “for sale” or election season signs will not require approval or city approval, where larger signs for other purposes will require city approval and permits, for both residential and non-residential properties, in the city of Black Hawk. There is not a predetermined length of time to distinguish between temporary and permanent signs. 

An ordinance appointing a director to the board of the Black Hawk Business Improvement District was carried unanimously. 

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 doing business as Black Hawk and Central City Tramway for 2020 in an amount not to exceed $112,890 was carried unanimously. 

A resolution conditionally approving a certificate of architectural compatibility for a comprehensive sign plan for the Canyon Casino parking lot and a resolution conditionally approving a certificate of architectural compatibility for a comprehensive sign plan for the Dakota parking lot were combined and carried unanimously by the council. 

A presentation of the Maryland Mountain Recreational Park video was previewed by all in attendance. The seven minute video revealed plans for the 600 acre park that will include hiking trails to the Belden & Tennal and Bonanza Mill mine sites, mountain biking trails, an intermediate and beginner level mountain biking skills park, and a banquet/event center at Quartz Valley with indoor and outdoor event hosting, winter sleigh rides and alternate season hay wagon rides. This project is part of the council’s vision for the future of Black Hawk as a travel destination. 

The council briefly addressed rumors of an extended four week shut down to Highway 119 to place the bridge currently visible just past the Black Hawk Fire Station. The council confirmed the shutdown will occur for only one night, with the alternate route of Dory Hill Road available for use, on November 22, 2019. In case of a weather delay, the bridge will be placed on December 2, 2019. 

Holiday bonuses for all board, commissions and employees of the City of Black Hawk in the amount of $300 in 2019 was carried unanimously. 

The City Council adjourned at 3:40 p.m., for an executive session. 

(Originally published in the November 21, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)