The Black Hawk City Council approved water system improvements and ratified appointments of three judges during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on October 11, 2023, at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk.

Public Works introduced a resolution approving an amendment to the professional services agreement with ERO Resources Corporation for the City’s Water System Improvement permit applications in an amount not to exceed $126,435.56.

In July of 2022, the Council approved a professional service agreement with ERO Resources for services related to obtaining all permits needed for Water System Improvements, including the studies and report preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement.

Since then, the U.S. Corps of Engineers has added items to be studied that were not envisioned in the approved contract. Specifically, they added a new raw water reservoir site for consideration in the Unnamed Gulch basin, which is now required for the final alternative analysis portion of the permitting process.

In addition, staff is now requesting that the Hidden Valley Infiltration Gallery be separated from the project as defined in the Water System Improvement Project. It is now projected that the Infiltration Gallery is needed sooner than the permitting for the rest of the project is expected to occur.

In May 2023, the City requested that ERO separate out the proposed expansion to the Hidden Valley Infiltration Gallery from the project and prepare a cost estimate to conduct a separate analysis.

The City intends to expand the operations of the Hidden Valley Infiltration Gallery from 1.78 cubic feet per second (cfs) to its decreed capacity of 3 cfs. Through communication regarding the status of the existing permit for the Hidden Valley Infiltration Gallery, the Corps indicated that the City will need to apply for a new permit and conduct a hydrologic analysis of the portion of Clear Creek that would be affected by an increase in diversions.

ERO will delineate all wetlands, open waters, and channels along the project reach that may be under Corps jurisdiction. ERO will perform an aquatics resource evaluation to determine any potential effects from the planned expansion. ERO will coordinate with the City on what other information ERO requires before submitting to the Corps.

Typical information includes plan and profile views, cross sections, figures showing and quantifying impacts to jurisdictional areas, quantities of fill material below the ordinary high water mark, details and background information on other approval requirements.

Public Works said this is under contract and is in the analysis phase. Three sites have been selected from which they will select a final site.

The Council approved the resolution.

The Council approved reappointing Ronald W. Carlson to be the City of Black Hawk Municipal Court Judge and Thad Renaud and Robert Mack to be the City of Black Hawk Assistant Municipal Court Judges.

The Municipal Court Judge was due to be reappointed for a two-year term on May 1, 2022; however, the Clerk’s office missed bringing it before Council at that time. This Resolution reappoints Ronald W. Carlson retroactive to May 1, 2022, and expires on April 30, 2024, at which time Council will hear his reappointment for another two-year term.

The assistant positions to the Municipal Court Judge were due to be reappointed for two-year terms on May 1, 2022; similarly, the Clerk’s office missed bringing it before Council at that time. The Resolution reappoints both Thad Renaud and Robert Mack retroactive to May 1, 2022, and expires on April 30. 2024, at which time Council will hear their reappointment for another two-year term.

Three new employees were introduced.

Officer Jay Lopez is a dedicated and experienced law enforcement professional with an illustrious career spanning over two decades in service to the City of Arvada. Throughout his tenure, Officer Lopez has demonstrated unwavering commitment, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of justice.

He began his career in 1998 as a patrol officer, where he swiftly established a reputation for exceptional dedication to public safety. He was later selected to serve as a motorcycle officer, showcasing precision and expertise while patrolling the streets of Arvada. Officer Lopez was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2013.

Michael Tenner, Police Officer, has been working for the City of Black Hawk since March 24 as a Police Recruit and was sworn in as a Police Officer on June 15. He was born and raised in Denver and graduated from East High School before attending Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. He enrolled in the Community College of Aurora’s basic law enforcement academy while working full-time at Littleton Public Schools as a security officer for the district.

Chelsea Roybal, Communications Officer, is a Colorado native and was born and raised north of Denver. She graduated from Thornton High School and went on to attend a semester at Regis University.

The next meeting of the City of Black Hawk City Council will be on October 25 at 3 p.m. at 211 Church Street. For more information, go to https://www.cityofblackhawk.org/.