John Scarffe and Jacqueline Hart Gibson. Black Hawk.

January

The Black Hawk City Council approved an ordinance allowing out-of-state vendors to collect and remit sales tax consistent with the State during a regular meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at 211 Church Street. The Council also approved the amended City Fee Schedule, a job description for corporal in the Police Department and a supplemental change order to the professional services agreement for the Hidden Treasure Final Trailhead Design with Stolfus and Associates, Inc., for $109,060. This change order will take the project through final design, contract documents and bidding.

On Wednesday, January 23, Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with PEH Architects for the design of the Gregory Street Phase 2 Project including a proposed plaza area for $840,095. This agreement encompasses complete design fees for the renovation of houses on Gregory Street, the Bobtail Mine building, a new fire truck display building, a new public restroom building, relocation and renovation of the Bunk House at 261 Gregory Street and miscellaneous design services for the proposed plaza area, including stairs and walls. The Council also approved an ordinance regarding the need for automatic sprinkler systems and a lease agreement for a cellular tower facility on Miners Mesa.

February

On February 27, the Council awarded the bid and approved the construction manager and general contractor with Roche Constructors, Inc., for $26,452 for the pre-construction services to the Gregory Street Phase 2 Project, which is tentatively set to begin in the summer of 2019. The Council awarded the bid and approved the contract with Harrison Western Construction Corporation, Inc., costing $125,195 for pre-construction services pertaining to the Bobtail Street Sculpted and Stained Shotcrete Project. 

March

The Black Hawk City Council was not deterred by the winter storm on March 13 for the regular bi-weekly meeting. The Council approved an ordinance repealing and reenacting a section of the Black Hawk Municipal Code concerning location of the number of marijuana retail stores, a resolution awarding the bid to Sun Valley Electric for the Hidden Valley Standby Generator Project for $557,700, and amended and restated a gas easement with Public Service Company of Colorado. The Council approved Stephen N. Cole as permanent city manager. 

April

On April 12, the Council approved the cooperation agreement including a license agreement and a temporary construction easement with the Rocky Mountain Free Evangelical Church to evaluate the structure as part of the ultimate Gregory Street Project and a temporary construction easement, valid for one year with an extension of one year if necessary, for the exterior rehabilitation of the church property. The Council approved purchasing a 2019 Hurco waterline valve exerciser and vacuum trailer from Ten Point Sales and Marketing, LLC, for $76,990.45, and agreements for asbestos abatement and interior demolition at 500 Chase Street and 426 Gregory Street with Weecycle Environmental Consulting for $75,870.00. 

On April 24, the first resolution amending the 2018 budget passed unanimously. Funds approved in 2017 for the St. Charles parking structure were stretched into 2018 because the construction wasn’t completed until then. The Council awarded the bid and approved the design build contract with Concrete Express Inc., for $108,500, for pre-construction services to extend the rock wall that begins on Bobtail Street, where Black Forest Inn used to be, to Gregory Street. The Council awarded the bid and approved the contract between Grapes and Sons Excavating for $58,300 for construction of the Gregory Street Phase 2 Excavation Project to remove non-historic building features, debris and trees as necessary to re-develop Gregory Street. 

May

The Black Hawk City Council met May 8 and approved an ordinance amending the Black Hawk Municipal Code correcting a clerical error regarding the city’s sales tax rate, an ordinance involving the signing of paychecks for Gilpin County dispatch employees, and an ordinance adopting the 2018 model traffic code updated from 2010 to 2018. 

The May 22 meeting began with a work session at 1:30 p.m. to discuss demolition and re-construction floor plan options for buildings at 211 and 221 Gregory Street with PEH architects from Boulder. The Council discussed the pros and cons of both sets of plans for about an hour, including enjoying blueprints revealing a sneak peak of what the completed re-design might look like. During the regular meeting, the Council approved the lease with Ed Shirley, Inc., for property at 200 Gregory Street. and a resolution approving the purchase of a Bobcat E85 Compact Excavator from Bobcat of the Rockies for $73,090.

The Council awarded the bid and approved the construction manager and general contractor contract with Taylor Kohrs, LLC, for $5,650 for preconstruction services pertaining to the hidden treasure trailhead project and awarded the bid and contract with Grapes and Sons Excavating for $43,000 to construct the Maryland Mountain main tramway grading project, and the design-build contract executed on February 27, 2019, with Harrison Western Construction, Inc., establishing the guaranteed maximum price of $1,526,7222.12 for construction of the Bobtail Street Sculpted and Stained Shotcrete Project. 

June

The Council conditionally approved a certificate of architectural compatibility for exterior renovations to the existing porte cochere of the Isle of Capris, Black Hawk, LLC., on June 12. The Council also approved a certificate of architectural compatibility for exterior improvements to the property at 241 Dubois Street and a certificate of architectural compatibility to allow roof repair and limited demolition of the Golden Gilpin Mill property at 7593 Highway 119. The Council reappointed two regular members to the city of Black Hawk Historic Preservation Commission, approved the agreement to remove and dispose of hazardous materials from the property at 500 Chase St with Weecycle Environmental Consulting for $5,500.00, and adopted the 2018 audit. 

On June 26, the Council added new ordinances to the Black Hawk Municipal Code regarding unlawful conduct on public property, and prohibiting sitting or lying down on public sidewalks and rights-of-way in designated areas. The purpose of these bills, according to comments by the city attorney, is to address, “conduct that could make visitors to Black Hawk uncomfortable and could impair the experience.” The Council approved an ordinance approving a water storage agreement between Black Hawk and Golden to store water in a reservoir owned by Golden, located above Empire. The Council approved a certificate of architectural compatibility to allow the renovation of four existing buildings and the addition of a deck to one existing building and the construction of two new buildings on Gregory Street as part of the Gregory Street Project. 

July

The Council passed a certificate of architectural compatibility to allow the demolition of non-historic structures at 500 Chase Street on July 10. The Council also approved purchasing light rescue fire apparatus from Super Vacuum Manufacturing Company for $180,208 with a cab and chassis prepayment of $52,221 and an amendment to the construction manager and general contractor contract executed on February 27, 2019, with Roche Constructors, Inc., establishing the Phase 1 guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $883,152 for construction of selected portions of the Gregory Street Phase 2 project.

On July 24, the Council approved an amendment to the CMGC contract executed on May 22, 2019, with Taylor Kohrs LLC, accepting the guaranteed maximum price not to exceed $2,599,631, plus 5 percent city contingency for construction of the hidden treasure trailhead project at a total of $2,699,631. The Council approved the supplemental change order to the professional services agreement for the hidden treasure trailhead project for construction administration services with Stolfus and Associates, Inc., for $210,283.

August

On August 14, the Council amended the Black Hawk Municipal code regarding marijuana establishments, added an ordinance setting ballot questions for a November 5, 2019, special election to be conducted as an independent polling place election, and conditionally approved a certificate of architectural compatibility for an amendment to the comprehensive sign plan for the Isle of Capris/Eldorado Casino. In action items, the Council approved the agreement for the complete demolition of 500 and 531 Chase Street with Grapes & Sons Excavation for $54,400.00, reflecting the placement of a granite monument as the Veteran’s Memorial Plaque at Dory Hill Cemetery.

On August 28, the Council approved the 2020 operating plan and budget of the Black Hawk Business Improvement District and a professional services agreement with Alpine Artisan Studios for the 2019 Christmas decor program for $147,285.04. 

September

The Council approved eliminating social clubs and creating a licensing system for marijuana hospitality establishments on September 11. The model adopted for this measure would allow only one establishment within the city of Black Hawk to allow guests to use marijuana indoors, in designated areas, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Marijuana will not be sold at the establishment, but guests will be allowed to bring their own. The Council set a public hearing for September 25, 2019, on the proposed material modifications of the service plan of the silver dollar metropolitan district, and approved the first addendum to a trade contractor agreement for the complete demolition of 500 and 531 Chase Street with Grapes and Sons Excavation, and a resolution approving the professional services agreement with PEH Architects for $262,070.00 for design services pertaining to the Gregory Street Commercial Building. 

On September 25, the Council awarded the bid and contract to Black Hawk and Avery Asphalt, Inc., for $61,760 for construction of the Chase Street asphalt patching Project B and the construction manager and general contractor agreement with Roche Constructors, Inc., establishing the phase 2 guaranteed maximum price of $12,605,752 for construction of the Gregory Street Plaza Project C, awarded the bid and contract with Brennan Stone Masonry for $66,500 for construction of the Clear Creek parking lot wall. The Council approved an amendment to the DesignBuilder contract establishing the guaranteed maximum price of $865,711.43 for construction of the Bobtail Street rail slab project, a resolution supporting the grant application for a local parks and outdoor recreation grant from the state board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund for the completion of Maryland Mountain Park Trail Project F, a resolution approving a variance to allow a reduction of the minimum width of a driveway for an access point on the west overflow valet parking area of the Monarch Casino from 20 feet to 14.5 feet, and a resolution approving the communication system and service agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc., for $67,101. 

October

During the October 9 regular meeting, the Council approved a resolution approving the amended city of Black Hawk fee schedule, which reflects expected fire inspection fees at the outset, rather than reporting as fees occur, or after the fact. The Council also approved a resolution approving the reclassification of the position of community planning and development administrator to community planning and development director, a resolution approving the judges selected to serve for the special municipal election in the city of Black Hawk on November 5, 2019, and a resolution establishing water rates pursuant to section 13-23 of the Black Hawk municipal code.

On October 23, the Council met for a budget work session at 2 p.m. The Council discussed an ordinance amending the Municipal Code, which refers to sign code, and continued it to the next meeting. The Council accepted the bid from Triple C Communications for the purchase of Kenwood mobile and pack set radios in an amount not to exceed $136,982.39.

November

In public hearings on November 13, the Council adopted the City budget for January 2020 to December 2020 and continued until December 11 an ordinance levying general property taxes for the year 2019 to help defray the costs of government. The Council approved an ordinance regarding the Black Hawk Sign Code, which states that small temporary signs, like “for sale” or election season signs will not require city approval, where larger signs for other purposes will require city approval and permits, for both residential and non-residential properties. The Council gave conditional approval for a certificate of architectural compatibility for a comprehensive sign plan for the Canyon Casino Parking lot and a resolution conditionally approving a certificate of architectural compatibility for a comprehensive sign plan for the Dakota parking lot.

December

The last Black Hawk City Council meeting of 2019 was called to order at 3 p.m. on December 11. The Council adopted the City pay plan to update existing job descriptions to accurately reflect the requirements of work performed, as well as to allow cross training for certain new employees, so work is covered during absences. The Council amended the Municipal Code regarding retail marijuana establishments to align Black Hawk’s regulations with the Colorado state regulations, allowing for the sale of dispensaries to national corporations. The Council approved amending the Municipal Code to clarify responsibility for sidewalks, an ordinance approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Timberline Fire Protection District for the completion of fire inspections, plan review, and life safety system testing by the Black Hawk Fire Department’s Fire Inspector within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Timberline Fire Protection District, and an ordinance approving the intergovernmental agreement with the Gilpin Ambulance Authority regarding maintenance of the authority’s ambulance. 

In action items, an ordinance levying general property taxes for the year 2019 to help defray the costs of government for the city in the 2020 budget year carried unanimously. The last resolution of the year 2019 approved amendment No. 3 to the construction manager and general contractor agreement executed on February 27, 2019, between the city of Black Hawk and Roche Constructors, Inc., increasing the guaranteed maximum price by $535,800 to rehabilitate the exterior of the historic church building at 311 Gregory Street. The increase will cover costs such as; paint removal and mortar replacement. The church is a historic building and restoration adds to the value of Black Hawk as a tourist destination. 

(Originally published in the January 9, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)