Patrice LeBlanc, Central City. The Central City Council held a virtual work session on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 6 p.m. before their regularly scheduled meeting. Community Development Director, Ray Rears, presented a plan about future potential opportunities. The plan includes the Bridge Project, the Belvidere Theater and the Scarlet Building. A survey to gather input from the residents will go out in the future. Rears reported a marketing company has been hired to lure new business. A grant along with city funds were used for this service. The city is using the brand Innovate, Create, Thrive as part of their marketing campaign. Council members suggested a different picture of the Scarlet building in the promotional material would be better than the brick wall on the current brochure, also to include the casinos as a draw for new business. 

The City Council meeting began at 7:01 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro-Tem Judy Laratta, Alderman Jeff Aiken, Alderman Jackie Johnson and Alderman Jack Hidahl. Mayor Jeremy Fey arrived late to the meeting. The council voted to remove HR 20-10, construction of a cellular tower, from the Consent Agenda and to add it to the next council meeting. Alderman Hidahl commented he would recommend a more appropriate location for the tower instead the current plan to locate it close to the Coeur d’Alene Mine. Alderman Aiken expressed a desire to see an artist’s rendition of what the tower would look like. 

Ordinance 20-09 authorizes the exchange of certain properties with the City of Black Hawk. City Attorney, Marcus McAskin, explained the Ordinance was approved on first reading on July 7, 2020, and the council voted and approved it 5-0. 

Ordinance 20-10 amends certain provisions of Central City’s Municipal Code and Land Development Code of certain Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Central and the Business Improvement District. A public hearing was held, however, no one spoke. The Ordinance was approved 5-0.

Resolution No. 20-25 extends the City of Central’s Local Emergency Disaster Declaration to August 5, 2020. This Resolution includes a mandate for masks in all public places. The Resolution was approved 5-0. 

Council members brought up concerns about city public work employees not wearing masks while working, weed obstruction at certain intersections, weeds throughout the city getting out of control, people and dogs swimming in Chase Reservoir, ATV activity in undesignated areas and abandoned vehicles. Mayor Fey stated he constantly hands out masks to visitors who don’t have them. Ray Rears has ordered 1000 more masks. Fey stated he tries to go to casinos often and compliments them for maintaining CDC guidelines.

The council went into executive session at 8:44 p.m. 

(Originally published in the July 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)