John Scarffe, Black Hawk.  The Black Hawk City Council received a request to modify City codes to allow transfers of a retail liquor store and liquor licensed drugstores during a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 26, at 3 p.m., at 211 Church Street. The code changes would account for new liquor bills recently signed into law.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann told the Council that the ordinance simply brings the City’s liquor codes in conformance with State law and grocery stores having full-strength beer, not that it applies to Black Hawk. The Colorado Legislature recently passed several new liquor laws, which require the City of Black Hawk to amend its Municipal Code to address liquor licensed drug stores and new liquor license – lodging and entertainment, effective August 10, 2016.

The Council approved the ordinance. The Council also approved an ordinance extending the electric and gas franchise granted by the City to Public Service Company of Colorado. The Electric and Gas Franchise Agreement granted by the City to Public Service Company of Colorado expired on October 6, 2016,

Negotiations are still ongoing, and this ordinance would extend their current Franchise Agreement to and including January 5, 2017. Hoffmann said they have been going through painful franchise negotiations with Xcel.

“We’re close to the finish line but not there yet,” Hoffmann said. This extension gives them time to continue negotiations.

Fire Chief Don Taylor brought another Fire Department Standard Operating Guideline to the Council for approval. At the past two Council meetings, Taylor has brought updates to the Department’s operating guidelines due to incorporating new physical fitness guidelines.

Taylor said that due to a clerical error this item was deleted from the last meeting’s agenda.

This request to approve the Department’s Standard Operating Guideline includes Swift Water Incident Response. “This is to update the existing Swift Water Standard Operating Procedure to include annual training requirements for shore support and swimmers,” according to the request.

“Also included is a guideline for Vehicle and other item recovery from a swift water environment.” The Council approved the operating guidelines.

The next regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council will be at 3 p.m. November 9 at 211 Church Street. It will be the only meeting in November. The Council also will meet only once in December, on December 14.