The Black Hawk City Council approved disconnecting some Dory Hills Road properties from the City during a regular meeting at 211 Church Street on June 9, 2021, at 3 p.m. The Council also approved a partnership with PorchLight, a grant for automated license plate readers, the purchase of a 2021 Ford F150 police vehicle, and the purchase of the Allie Lode Mining Claim.

Vince Harris with Baseline Corporation presented an ordinance approving the disconnection of property known as the Dory Hill Road Properties. On April 1, 2021, the City submitted a City-initiated application to disconnect that territory from the boundaries of the city.

On April 28, the City Council accepted the disconnection application and set a public hearing for Wednesday, June 9. The hearing notice was posted on the property and notices were sent to all property owners of record and special districts within the area. This territory is located along and east of Dory Hill Road and north of the intersection with the driveway to the Dory Hill Water Treatment Plant. It is contiguous with the City’s external boundary. The disconnection would remove about 31.74 acres from the City.

Harris said they have five reasons regarding whether this is in the best interests of the City. The property is not urban and cannot be urbanized. Dory Hill Road is a dirt road that provides access to properties outside the city. A ravine and the terrain make it difficult to provide urban services.

The existing dirt road is maintained by the City but not used by City residents. Public Works Director Tom Isbester said the road has been maintained by the City for the last seven or eight years, but that maintenance stresses their equipment allocation.

“It’s a struggle for us, and this represents 10 percent of the entire road,” Isbester said. Mayor David Spellman said this is the only dirt road in the city. As well, any future development would require running a water line for about 1,500 feet.

During public comment, Gilpin County Attorney Brad Benning testified on behalf of the Gilpin County Commission. He pointed out that it is a narrow, steep road and is one of the most expensive roads to maintain. It will present a hardship for the County. And while County Public Works was cut back, the County is now attempting to revamp the department, Benning said. It’s a necessary road and needs to be maintained, which would make it a hardship for the County staff to maintain the road in the long term.

Benning added that the Timberline Fire Protection District also expressed concerns. Further, one other concern is that Xcel laid new gas pipelines in the area.

Spelman asked if Benning would agree that from the reservoir road up, the road does not access Black Hawk property, and he agreed. Alderman Greg Moates added that the county already maintains about four miles of the road, while this stretch only includes 1,500 feet.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann said the Council needs to determine whether the 1,500 feet is a hardship for the County. Staff recommended approving the ordinance, and the Council approved.

Chief of Police Michelle Moriarty introduced an ordinance approving an off-site Memorandum of Understanding between Black Hawk and PorchLight, a Family Justice Center. PorchLight is a collaborative professional environment to assist individuals who have been impacted by violence.

A Family Justice Center is one location where victims and survivors can go to receive the critical services that they need. PorchLight will provide convenient, collaborative support and serves victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, at-risk individual abuse, and human trafficking. Clients are not required to file a police report, or have a civil or criminal case to receive services. They may walk in or are welcome to make an appointment. The services are free and voluntary and clients are not screened, except to ensure the person causing harm to them is not on-site.

PorchLight operates from 11100 W. 8th Ave., Lakewood, Colorado, and serves all of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties. PorchLight will make every effort not to turn away clients who reside outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, especially those who have fled from other areas and come to PorchLight in their efforts to seek safety. It is the policy of PorchLight to provide every client with some assistance, information, or referral. Their website is https://www.porchlightfjc.org.

“This MOU is essential to Black Hawk PD because often our victims are from the metro area,” Moriarty said. Joining the MOU displays the care and compassion that we have for victims of crime in our city and county.” She said it will be a one-stop shop for all the services. The Council approved the ordinance.

Chief Moriarty reported receiving a grant from the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority and the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force for Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) for an amount not to exceed $67,000 for two mobile ALPR systems to be mounted on two Police Department patrol vehicles.

Auto theft is dramatically rising in Colorado. Based on the stolen vehicles report, 2021 will be a record year in stolen vehicles in Black Hawk. The City has received 13 stolen vehicle reports in Black Hawk through April. In comparison, in 2019, 14 reports were received, and in 2020, 16 for the entire year.

Stolen vehicles are a precursor to other criminal activity, including illegal drug activity and criminal trespass, all of which degrade the experience for everyone visiting Black Hawk. This equipment will be an invaluable tool to manage auto theft and other criminal activity.

Commander Troy Cooper said this is an opportunity to partner with the metro area, because crime will spill up here. The ALPR is a tool that would be good to use in Black Hawk, especially in the parking lots, since stolen vehicles have been dumped there.

The Council approved the grant. The Council also approved purchasing a 2021 Ford F150 police vehicle in an amount not to exceed $60,000 after an accident on icy roads totaled one of the City’s vehicles.

City Manager Stephen Cole introduced a resolution approving the purchase from L.J. Peterson of the 4.61 acre Allie Lode Mining Claim for $34,575. Peterson will retain all mining rights. “This is an opportunity to expand the City’s open space,” Cole said, and Alderman Paul Bennet said, “We’d better buy it right now.”

Mayor Spellman asked if that was a motion, and Bennet said yes. The Council approved the resolution.

The next Black Hawk Council meeting will be at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 3 p.m. For more information go to https:// site.cityofblackhawk.org/.