The City of Black Hawk has decided to cancel this year’s fireworks display due to heightened fire risk.

The area has been designated a wildland-urban interface, according to the City’s Wildfire Protection Plan. Trees affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle cannot be easily removed from the nearby forest, compounding the risk.

Fire Chief Christopher Wooley and Mayor David Spellman emphasized that the forest surrounding the city has changed dramatically over the past century. Mayor Spellman noted that there were far fewer trees a hundred years ago.

Human interventions have prevented natural fires that would have thinned the forest, leading to overcrowding and susceptibility to pine beetle infestations. Wooley said that the dry dead needles from infested trees are highly flammable, posing an increased fire hazard.

The Black Hawk City Council meeting on June 12, 2024, commenced with the ringing of the old bell by newly appointed officers David Karsen, Police Officer III, and Kristina Schubert, Police Sergeant.

The discussion on the fireworks display followed the unanimous approval of two key resolutions:

Resolution 51-2024 approved the City of Black Hawk Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), prepared by Dahl Environmental Services.

The CWPP is a strategic document that prioritizes human welfare, critical infrastructure, the local economy, and ecological values. It responds to the complex wildfire risk scenario created by climate change, population growth in the wildland-urban interface, and historical federal fire suppression policies.

To develop the CWPP, various methods and tools were employed, including tree stand inventories, increment boring, Geographic Information System (GIS) surveying, and the Colorado State Forest Service’s Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment (CO-WRA).

Ground surveys conducted by fire specialists and foresters identified areas for fuel reduction and specific treatments tailored to Black Hawk. The report recommends actions to mitigate wildfire risks through fuel treatments, city policies, and best practices for residents and city personnel.

Chief Wooley explained that the plan, initiated last year, was developed through a series of meetings with contractors to tailor it specifically for Black Hawk. He outlined that the plan provides detailed strategies for wildfire risk reduction, including the elimination of the fireworks show, to mitigate significant fire risks and potential impacts on the city's operations and gaming corridor.

Resolution 50-2024 approved an On-Call Professional Services Agreement with Good People Tree Service, not to exceed $50,000 for the calendar year 2024.

Chief Wooley described the agreement as essential for advancing forest management and wildfire mitigation projects.

Alderman Hal Midcap inquired about how charges were computed. Chief Wooley confirmed that per diem rates were deemed most effective for large-scale projects.

Additional resolutions, not connected with the CWPP, were also approved.

Resolution 52-2024 approved the Professional Services Agreement with Shannon & Wilson, Inc. for Pavement Analysis and Design for Main Street, with a budget not to exceed $55,534.

Main Street, originally constructed in concrete in the late 1990s and overlaid with asphalt in 2014, has experienced numerous utility cuts and concrete deterioration because of the de-icing materials that have been used.

Staff recommended a comprehensive study to assess the base concrete’s condition before repaving. The study will involve borings, ground-penetrating radar, and falling weight deflectometer analysis, resulting in a proposed pavement design intended to be durable for the long term.

Funding for 2024 for the Gregory Street HARD District Business Marketing Association was approved in Resolution 53-2024. This provides funds in the amount of $67,840.

Finance Director Lance Hillis stated that this marks the third year of city funding for the association, with provisions included in the 2024 budget.

In 2022, the City assisted the vendors located in the Gregory Street HARD District with the formation of a Business Marketing Association as well as committing to providing funding via annual appropriations.

The council adjourned into executive session at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The next regular Black Hawk City Council meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 211 Church Street, Black Hawk, Colorado.