On June 15, 2021, the regular meeting of the Central City Council started with Sheriff Kevin Armstrong introducing newly- appointed Division Chief Sean Wheeler. The position had been vacant since late summer 2020. The Board and attendees welcomed him heartily, also taking the opportunity to congratulate him and his wife on their new baby.

Mayor Jeremy Fay read a Proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Gilpin History Museum, and announced that on June 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be an open house at the Museum, which will include refreshments. Admission that day will be at the discounted price of $0.50 per person.

The Board reviewed Resolution 21-16, concerning the Service Agreement with One Way, Inc., for residential trash services within the City. In February, the Board had solicited for bids, and received none. Consequently, the agreement with the current provider, One Way, Inc., was renegotiated to reflect a price of $24.04 per month per residential unit during 2021, increasing to $24.76 for 2022. The Resolution was approved unanimously.

In conjunction with the approval of the Agreement with One Way, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 21-04, amending Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code to add Article 3 regarding the City’s power to engage trash service, and to charge a fee for such service. The City has provided trash service free of charge to residential properties for several years, but due to budget constraints has found it necessary to begin asking for payment. The new Ordinance allows City Council to collect trash pickup fees from residential owners, and for those fees to be added to the water bills each month. City trash service will not be offered to the apartments or to commercial properties.

During staff updates it was noted that several applications for the Paint Program had been received and approved. The program provides grant funding for owners of historical buildings in order that they might preserve the buildings by repainting where needed.

Several Council members discussed the fact that the entry to the Opera House parking lot had been blocked off, making those parking spaces unavailable to the public, as had been the case in the past. One resident had expressed the importance of scarce resources such as parking space being shared, also commenting that, at times during the year, the Opera benefits from the generosity of other business owners for their events. Mayor Fey determined to inquire as well.

The Board had been informed that there were five COVID cases last week, eight for the month in the County, and that as of the date of the meeting, 49% of residents had been fully vaccinated. Vaccines are available at the Central City Farmers Market.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. The next meeting is planned for July 6, at 7:00 p.m.