Black Hawk joins Central City on children’s park

Lynn Volkens

05/22/2008 - Black Hawk’s City Council began their meeting the afternoon of May 14^th with a funding request from the Sesquicentennial Committee.

It’s Been 150 Years

  In 2009, Black Hawk, Central City and Gilpin County will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of John Gregory’s discovery of gold near Mountain City. Blair Miller of Grasshopper Communications and Joanne Lah of the Black Hawk/Central City Visitors Bureau requested a donation for the Sesquicentennial Committee, a subcommittee of the Gilpin County Historical Society. They are in the process of planning summer 2009 activities stretching from Gregory Day (May 6) through Labor Day weekend. Gilpin County Commissioners contributed $5,500 toward the $7,500 needed to match a Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) grant, then asked the committee to request the additional funds needed from Black Hawk and Central City. Miller and Lah fielded several questions from Alderman Tom Kerr. Kerr remained unconvinced and voted against, while the rest of the Aldermen voted in favor of a $1,000 donation.

  The Council prefers to see funding requests in writing and in advance so they can discuss them prior to voting. However, the Sesquicentennial Committee needs this funding in time for a June 1 deadline. The CTO grant will be used for planning and marketing. The committee is also counting on the CTO grant to leverage another grant. They’ve requested a $10,000 grant from Colorado Humanities for speakers and programs. It requires matching funds of $5,000.

Playing for Puppies

  Greg Markle also put in a last minute funding request. He organizes the Westmuttster Dog Show, a fundraiser for the Clear Creek/Gilpin Animal Shelter near Idaho Springs. Black Hawk contributed $10,000 to the shelter last year, however the Westmuttster is an independent event. The Aldermen donated $750.

Playing for Kids

  City resident Neil Cowles brought his two young daughters to the meeting. They asked the Aldermen to consider building a playground/park for the City’s children. There are approximately a dozen children living within City limits. “We’re not paying attention to our kids,” Cowles told the Council. Mayor David Spellman told Cowles there is a limited amount of land in the City and that mandated parking spaces would take up much of it. The only land that might work is atop Miners Mesa, he said, estimating total park construction costing “tens of thousands.” Black Hawk and Central City are currently working on an Intergovernmental Agreement, the Mayor announced, for joint use of the playground/park on Bald Mountain Road. The Aldermen directed Black Hawk staff to work with Central City on plans for the park. (The Cowles girls suggested a merry-go-round, tire swing and swing sets be added.) Central City is planning $6,700 in capital improvements, said the Mayor, and Black Hawk is willing to help fund them, perhaps with Conservation Trust money. That fund has been accumulating over many years, City Manager Richard Lessner said, and now totals $24,000.  Cowles described Central’s  park as old-fashioned and out of the way. Getting to the park is a problem, he told the Aldermen, as there is no bus service to take the kids there. He stressed his preference for “our own (Black Hawk) park,” and suggested using the land behind his home on High Street. However, that land is owned by Central City. Cowles inquired about and received information of how to go about petitioning for a Black Hawk park. If he goes through with that, the Aldermen requested he also ask residents (both adults and children) what they think is needed in a City park.

Public Hearings-Tiebreaking/Noise

  Council Bill 14, the ordinance setting election tiebreaker procedure, was up for public hearing. No one appeared to speak either for or against the bill. City residents voted in April to change the procedure from a decision by lot to a run-off election. Per the ordinance, and as required by Colorado law, an officeholder continues to serve until the process is completed. The Aldermen approved CB 14.

  Also up for public hearing, and also with no public input, was the noise ordinance, Council Bill 15. With the Council’s approval, this bill prohibits unreasonable and/or excessive noise, but also allows the use of a loudspeaker/public address system in outdoor areas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The bill amends the original noise ordinance so that casino customers in the outdoor smoking areas are able to hear announcements.

Lobbying the Legislature

  The Aldermen renewed their contract with Chuck Ford and Associates to lobby in Black Hawk’s interest before the 2009 Colorado General Assembly. The firm will be paid their annual base lobbying fee of $80,000 plus up to $1,000 for expenses.

Preservation Grants

  Jeannie Larkins requested and received funding to repair and paint the exterior of her house at 271 Church Street. The rehabilitation grant, funded from the Community Restoration and Preservation Program, is not to exceed $9,300.

  Alderman Diane Cales recused herself and left Council chambers while the remaining Aldermen considered her request for funds to replace the boiler in her home at 241 Dubois Street. The boiler provides heat and hot water for the home, both of which Cales has been living without. The Aldermen approved an Emergency Preservation Grant of $9,287.

  Bill and Dixie Lovingier requested and received Emergency Preservation Grant funds of $4,055 as reimbursement for the removal and disposal of four cottonwood trees at 101 Marchant Street. The trees were 40-50 feet tall, old and weak. The Lovingiers provided photographs of the downed trees showing the rot and hollowing of the trunks. Although the Aldermen felt the Lovingier’s should have applied for the funds before downing the trees, they agreed the trees were a danger to the Lovingier’s residence and others in the neighborhood. They approved the reimbursement and directed City staff to draw up guidelines for the Emergency Preservation Grant Program for future situations. Currently the Guide to Programs states that an Emergency Preservation Grant will only be considered when the problem is truly an emergency and leaves that determination to the Aldermen. Alderman Kathy Doles, whose property neighbors the Lovingiers, recused herself and left the chambers while the remaining Aldermen voted.

Dory Hill Water Plant

  The Aldermen approved a Certificate of Appropriateness so that construction of a Vortex building at the Dory Hill water treatment site can begin. The building will be of concrete blocks with a rock veneer and metal roofing, typical of historic mill buildings. It will house the water filtration system.

Silver Gulch Water Plant

  An underground concrete building, with a rock veneer on the front facade, the only part of the building that will be visible, was approved for the Water Department to house a meter at the Silver Gulch Water Storage Tank. This also required a Certificate of Appropriateness, duly approved by the Council.

Dump Abuse

  Up on Miners Mesa at the City dumpsters, Public Works Director Tom Isbester, reported “an enormous amount of dumping for having only 130 residents,” including a lot of construction debris. He suggested the dumpsters be moved inside the fenced yard of the City’s facilities atop the Mesa and opened only while staff is there. The Aldermen agreed.

Playing for - Music

  The Council agreed with Alderman Doles that a band playing in the Gazebo would add to holiday weekends. Aldermen Doles and Greg Moates (who organizes such events for Central City) will take charge of the project, starting with the Fourth of July weekend.

Neighborhood Meeting

  Black Hawk Aldermen will meet with those of Central City and with Gilpin County Commissioners on June 25^th to discuss the Gaming Iniative and marketing strategies.

Attorney Ordered to Act

  Following the public meeting, the Aldermen met in Executive Session with City Attorney Corey Hoffmann to discuss pending and potential litigation, open records issues and a nuisance abatement issue. They reconvened to public session and directed Hoffmann to assert the City’s right to Chase Street as he deems appropriate. He was also directed to take appropriate action regarding open records requests seeking information, including ballots, of the April 1, 2008, election.

  Black Hawk City Council meets next on May 28^th at 3:00 p.m.