Moving fill material for a new storage area received approval by the Black Hawk City Council during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on January 12, 2022, at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk. The Council also approved a contract for the Hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant, a phone poll to support Marshall Fire donations, and a license agreement for signs with Sasquatch Casino.

The meeting began with the traditional bell ringing in the church tower. Mary Klemp, who was retiring that day, and her grandson rang the bell. The Council honored Klemp with a cake and plaques. She was the executive administration assistant and training coordinator for the City for 21 years.

Chief of Police Michelle Moriarty said that because it was Mary’s retirement they tried to make it special in honor of her years of service. “I was grateful to have you as my assistant,” she added.

Mayor David Spellman said the family goes back to 1876, when a great-great-grandfather was on the Council. “There is a tremendous amount of history with the Klemp family.”

Public Works Director Tom Isbester introduced a resolution approving an agreement with Grapes and Sons for moving fill material for an amount not to exceed $295,700. Isbester said that they have fill material and now have a home for it. They will build a new storage area for Public Works.

This agreement with Grapes and Sons will move the boulders and other fill material from the old Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) site on Highway 119 to Public Works. Over the past several years, various construction projects have generated excess fill materials that have been stockpiled on the old CDOT location.

“These projects range from the highway widening to the Monarch and St. Charles Carriage House construction projects. The Development of Artisans Point has triggered the desire to relocate the City Maintenance Department materials storage yard to free up space for additional potential development.

“This material will be hauled to Public Works and placed on the south side of the salt shed, ultimately becoming the new City Maintenance Public Works storage lot.” An estimated 30,000 cubic yards of material as well as a large stockpile of boulders will be moved to the new location.

The City does not have the manpower or equipment to efficiently move this material. This work will be completed on a time and materials basis under the annual On-Call agreement with a not-to-exceed cost of $295,700. This was a budgeted project for 2022. The Council approved the agreement.

During his City Manager report, Stephen Cole requested permission to dispose of an old building to expand the back of the public works building. The building is no longer needed, and the Nederland Fire Department has agreed to take it.

County Water Engineer Jim Ford introduced a resolution approving a design services contract with JVA, Inc., for the Hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant Second Treatment Train for an amount not to exceed $225,000. Ford said this is the same engineer who worked on the Dory Hill plant, which was a very successful project.

They will be doubling the capacity of the plant. When the Hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 1997, the treatment capacity was designed to be 800 gallons per minute. Only one treatment train was installed, with a capacity of 400 gpm with the anticipation of adding a second train.

With the current development of Artisan’s Point Beverage Community and the Proximo Distillery, the Hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant second treatment train is needed to double the plant’s output. The Council approved the resolution.

Mayor David Spellman introduced the license agreement between the City of Black Hawk and Smithloch, LLC, ratifying and approving a phone poll whereby the Black Hawk City Council approved a donation of $50,000 to the Boulder County Marshall Fire Relief Efforts, which will be matched for $50,000 by the Silver Dollar Metropolitan District along with additional contributions of $50,000 from the Saratoga Casino and $7,000 from the Sasquatch and Wild Card Casinos. The money will be directed to the Community Foundation Boulder County.

The Black Hawk City Council, through a phone poll, expressed its desire to donate $50,000 to the relief effort. The selected foundation has been a trusted philanthropic partner in Boulder County for over 30 years, and the Community Foundation Boulder County will work closely with government and nonprofit partners to coordinate, align resources, and fill gaps to support those most impacted by the wildfires. The Council ratified the phone poll.

Vince Harris with Baseline presented a resolution for a new license and sign agreement for Sasquatch Casino. “In 2020, some confusion arose regarding the license agreements that the City has with the Sasquatch Casino, and research into the approvals and agreements revealed two areas of incomplete coverage of licensed areas for existing blade signs and awnings.”

Baseline and CP&D staff met with the property owners Ed and Shirley Smith to discuss the discrepancy, and all agreed that Baseline would work to do further research into what additional coverage was needed for the Sasquatch properties located at 125, 131, 135, and 141 Gregory Street.

The Council approved the resolution. The Council also approved a Local Liquor Authority request for a public hearing regarding a new Beer and Wine License for Gift Eclectic, LLC., dba Mountain Poppy Boutique & Gift at 317 Gregory Street, set the boundaries for the City of Black Hawk, and scheduled a public hearing for February 23, 2022.

The next Black Hawk Council meeting will be at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 3 p.m. For more information go to https://site.cityofblackhawk.org/.