Before the official meeting on November 8, 2023, the Black Hawk City Council heard special presentations regarding the Bobtail Mine and the Copper Kitchen.

Black Fox Mining president Matt Collins and vice president Ed McGoldrick proposed improvements to the Bobtail Mine in order to allow tourism at the mine. The Bobtail Tunnel accesses the mine, and they could give tourists ideas of mine operations. Many things have changed from the 1980s, when the mine last offered tours.

They are proposing making this a first-class operation. They have contracted with a host of contractors.

The ground conditions are pretty good. The company would need to clean up the mine, and are in a short planning phase. Collins said they would like to start tours in 2025, while his vision of the expansion of the tours and mine are quite unlimited. He wondered just how far the City wanted to go.

He showed the Council a map of the tunnel. Phase 1 would include work on the main Bobtail shaft, and tours would then come in to see how the mine goes way up and then down. The second phase would look at the Cook Shaft, 150 feet deep, which would be opened in the future.

At this point, they don’t know much about the area below. They think there might be a 240-foot level. They can ultimately connect it to the tour so it can make a big loop.

The mine had a boiler underground and has a chimney that can be rebuilt. Old tools are in very good shape, and many timbers have been left in place. There is natural air flow through the mine.

Black Fox is interested in explaining the history of mining. In phase two, “The Sky is the Limit,” the Bobtail shaft could be connected with the HARD district.

They would like to display the sense of verticality because mining was done upward. They could open in the summer of 2025.

Mayor David Spellman said the original tour went to the triangle area. Black Fox said it is very stable, and they will do a little bit of timbering.

During the first phase, they will bring in a geotech specialist to look at the joints. There is one small area where thin areas of rock are peeling down, which will be timbered off.

Spellman said it would cost about $1.4 million for Phase 1. From Bobtail to Cook shaft could cost about $2 million.

Peter E. Heinz with PEH Architects presented the Copper Kitchen Pizzeria’s updated plan for 307 Gregory Street in Black Hawk. When they presented last time, they were over budget, so they redesigned the site plan.

Gregory Plaza now has an elevator so visitors can walk up the sidewalk to Gregory Plaza. The City has expanded the exterior deck, and the building has had some changes. 271 Gregory will be a stand-alone building with a loading zone that will create space for emergency vehicles.

The Kitchen will be built by MW Golden with six-panel construction. It has a lot of accessories used on the Grand Stair. The bar inside will have tables and the pizza oven, which will be gas-fired and wood-assisted. They can seat 79 people inside with a total occupancy of 90 when including outdoor seating. Spellman said this will be on the agenda in December.

Finance Director Lance Hillis presented the 2024 Budget, which is similar to that of 2023. They have no new positions, and the revenue is flat, with personnel at the 6.65 market adjustment.

Capital projects are at $36.4 million while they pay a five-percent gaming tax, which is down one percent right now. The biggest revenue stream is from devices. The city has 7,000 devices, and continues pulling back devices. The sales tax is flat.

Police Chief Michelle Moriarty said they are down five officers and two positions in communications. Spellman said they have new signal poles for Main and Gregory, replacing traffic lights on Gregory with lights that are more in character. The City will change one intersection every year.

City Manager Stephen Cole said they are looking at salaries, which have some inconsistencies. They need to do a deep dive into salaries, looking at each department. He plans to come back in July with suggestions after they see what the economy will be.

During the regular meeting, the Council approved a special event liquor permit for Gilpin County.

The Council approved an ordinance amending the City of Black Hawk Municipal Code by “the Addition Thereto of a New Section 6-81 and the Amendment of Section 6-73 Authorizing Retail Establishment Permits.” A Retail Establishment Permit was approved on June 2, 2023, and took effect on August 7, 2023.

The Bill expanded the Art Gallery Permit to allow almost all other types of retail establishments to serve complimentary liquor at their place of business for up to 24 days a year, subject to certain requirements. The Permit must be approved at the state and local levels and renewed annually.

City Attorney Hoffmann provided the City Council a memorandum regarding this on August 2 for their consideration. This ordinance allows the City Clerk to administratively approve Retail Establishment Permits.

The Council approved a resolution between the City of Black Hawk and Centurylink Communications, LLC dba Lumen Technologies Group, for Internet Access to City Properties.

Cole asked the Council to approve a $500 holiday bonus for employees, which they approved.

The next meeting of the City of Black Hawk City Council will be on December 6 at 3 p.m. at 211 Church Street. For more information, go to https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/.