Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council meetings continue to convene remotely via Zoom. Black Hawk’s most recent meeting help September 9, 2020, at 3 p.m. began with roll call, all members were in attendance, and the Pledge of Allegiance. No conflicts of interests were reported and no changes to the agenda were requested. 

In public hearings an ordinance approving the 2021 operating plan and budget of the Black Hawk business improvement district and an ordinance amending the Black Hawk municipal code to amend the sign permit section of the city’s sign code, carried unanimously. 

In action items a resolution approving a change order to the Maryland Mountain Trail System contract in the amount of $30,000 for the establishment of trail corridors carried unanimously. This money was in addition to the $50,000 contingency previously approved for costs exceeding the original amount on this project, due to the trail being longer than originally planned. The extended length of the trail is due to switchbacks and other geographic challenges not originally budgeted for. That contingency is still intact. The trail was originally planned to run about 12 miles. Now the trail is expected to run about 13 to 14 miles upon its completion in November. At this time the trail is about six miles in length and the crews have been completing about three to four miles a month. 

Mayor Spellman reported the casinos have agreed to contribute half the costs for Christmas lighting for Black Hawk this year. Mayor Spellman also reported there was concern over whether the city would be able to cover the costs of holiday decorating at all this year, and he was pleased that now it appears the full holiday decorations will be on display. 

According to the minutes from the previous meeting held August 26, 2020, at 3 p.m., two resolutions related to the construction of the T-Mobile tower and an ordinance rezoning 15 properties owned by the city of Black Hawk, were continued until September 23, 2020. 

Also, on August 26, 2020, an ordinance setting a ballot question for a November 3, 2020, special election to be conducted as a coordinated election with Gilpin county carried unanimously. City Attorney Hoffman spoke to the ordinance, stating this ballot question is to make Black Hawk gaming limits unlimited. An additional ballot question related to gaming included a .25% tax on wagers for sports betting. This tax is not on winnings but on the initial wager according to Attorney Hoffman’s explanation of the ballot question. 

An ordinance amending the Black Hawk municipal code to define economic nexus and update methods for collection of sales tax carried unanimously. Finance Director Hillis explained this ordinance as updating definitions regarding economic nexus and how on-line vendors collect and submit sales taxes. 

An ordinance amending the restated intergovernmental agreement by and between Central City, Gilpin County and the city of Black Hawk, and the Black Hawk-Central City Sanitation District was carried unanimously. The ordinance, according to City Attorney Hoffman, serves to clarify the original Growth Intergovernmental Agreement and what areas are and are not covered under the agreement, specifically Clear Creek County, which should not be included in the agreement. 

The City Manager and City Attorney did not have additional reports, except for a request for an executive session following the regular meeting. The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

(Originally published in the September 17, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)