John Scarffe, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council met in person at 211 Church Street on May 26, 2021, at 3 p.m. 

After an extensive presentation, they conditionally approved the Site Development Plan for the Golden Gilpin Mill. The Council also approved temporary construction agreements, paint proposal agreements for residences, and an agreement regarding access to City property adjacent to the Historic Gilpin Tramway. 

Vince Harris and Julie Esterl introduced a resolution conditionally approving the Site Development Plan and Certificate Architectural Compatibility for the Golden Gilpin Mill, 7593 Black Hawk Boulevard, near the Fire Station on Highway 119. 

According to the resolution, an application has been made by Matt Collins of Black Fox Mining on behalf of the owner, The George E. Otten Jr. Trust, for the re-establishment of the Golden Gilpin Mill. Harris said this is the culmination of work over the past couple of years. 

Esterl requested approval so they can go forward with improvements, and reopen the mill. The applicants plan improvements to the building, a new bridge, a new circular steel building, underground sanitation, and a proposed sand bar and lighting. 

In the original existing mill building, the roof is to be improved, and they plan new windows, stairwells, and lighting. They also plan to construct a thickening tank and a retaining wall of brick. 

Staff has submitted a request for comments, due back on June 1. Staff will work with the applicants to take care of any comments received.

The proposed new access bridge at the entrance to the Golden Gilpin Mill facility would cross Clear Creek just north of Black Hawk. Construction includes a new 25-foot-long beam bridge on concrete abutments. The new bridge will replace an existing bridge in service at the same location. There is an existing driveway off the west side of Highway 119. 

According to the application, Collins proposes restoring the existing historic mill for limited production milling operations and for educational and tourism purposes. He said this is an emotional moment. He has talked about this project since 2017 and is trying to keep the building from being returned to the state. He saw a better future for the building. The mill had activity from the 1930s until the 1970s. 

Mill operations will include eight employees on split shifts, with the day shift of six employees from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and a night shift of two employees from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Tandem axle dump trucks will enter and exit during the day to drop off rocks and pick up tailings. 

They will be crushing the rock, which will need to be dewatered in the proposed thickening tank. Sand will be taken back to the mill. The bridge will help get fire equipment in and out. Plans allow for connection to City water.

Tours will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation only. One-hour tours will be spaced at least 30 minutes apart from the end of one tour to the beginning of the next to avoid two tours on site at once, with a maximum of eight visitors per tour and 32 per day.

The building will continue to look the same as it looks now, Collins said. The goal is to be as compatible with the City as possible, except the operation will be a showcase and go hand-in-hand with what the city is doing on Chase Gulch. The loudest noise will be crushing the rock and the ball mill. Noise outside of the mill should be limited to a low hum. 

The timeline depends on how fast it can be constructed, Collins said. It has some gold, but he said he didn’t know how much. All that will be processed. 

With applause, the Council approved the resolution with one condition: “All required revisions to the SDP/COAC plan set and reports submitted with the application shall be prepared in accordance with staff revisions. All engineering items need to be acceptable to the Black Hawk Public Works Director, and all planning and zoning items need to be acceptable to the Community Planning and Development Director. Once all is found acceptable, staff will provide a compliance statement to the applicant and inform the City Council of such compliance.”

The Council approved temporary construction easements from Thomas David Greiner Co-Tr, owner of 185 Clear Creek Street, granting temporary construction access for the exterior painting of 191 Clear Creek Street; an easement from John Edward Blake, owner of 193 Clear Creek Street, granting temporary construction access for the exterior painting of 195 Clear Creek Street and 191 Clear Creek Street; from Nancy Alice Works, Power of Attorney representing the owner of 171 Marchant Street, granting temporary construction access for the exterior painting of 161 Marchant Street; and from Robert Cameron, the property owner of 200 Dubois Street, granting temporary construction access for the exterior painting of 201 Chase Street.

Along with that, Cindy Linker, Community Development Director, introduced a resolution approving the Paint Proposals and Grant Program Agreements for Residential Properties Located at 201 Chase Street, 311 Chase Street, 301 Chase Street, 195 Clear Creek Street, 191 Clear Creek Street, 161 Marchant Street, 101 Hillside Street, 171 Marchant Street, 151 Marchant Street, 271 Church Street, and 281 High Street in a total amount not to exceed $102,650. 

Linker said they sent out letters to 29 eligible property owners. Eleven decided to move forward in the program. The applicants need a financial investment as well. Four houses were required to have siding replaced, and the City has let them know it is their responsibility to make those repairs. 

Linker said they have a budget of $100,000 and asked that the Council pay the total amount this year. She will issue the building permits and come up with a schedule on what house will be first and which last. City Hall will be the last property upgraded.

City Manager Stephen Cole introduced a resolution approving the agreement regarding access to city property adjacent to the Historic Gilpin Tramway, between the City and Bonanza Land.  An agreement with Bonanza LLC would allow the City to install a gate on the Bueno Mining Claim owned by Bonanza Land LLC to prevent vehicle access on the historic Tramway.

The City of Black Hawk’s growth area extends along the historic Tramway to the southern portion of Government Lot 45 owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The City and Bonanza Land LLC own property along the Tramway within the City’s growth area.

The two parties have determined that installing a single gate at the most southern portion of the Tramway was an appropriate solution to restrict vehicle access. Each party agrees to allow the other party access through the gate, which will be appropriately posted. 

Cole said pedestrians can walk around the gate but it will restrict vehicles from entering. The Council approved the agreement. 

The next Black Hawk Council meeting will be at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk, Colorado, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 3 p.m. For more information go to https://site.cityofblackhawk.org/.

(Originally published in the June 3, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)