Weekly Register-Call/ Gilpin County News

Excellence in finance

Black Hawk City Council began their January 28, 2009 meeting with an award presentation from the Colorado Government Finance Officers Association. Kathy Barta of CGFOA was also here in February of 2008. This is the second consecutive year that Black Hawk has earned the award for excellence in governmental accounting. City Manager Rick Lessner, Dana Wood and Mary Kay Clark are responsible for the City’s favorable recognition. Mayor Spellman accepted the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting on behalf of the City. All Aldermen (Linda Armbright, Paul Bennett, Diane Cales, Kathy Doles, Tom Kerr and Greg Moates) were present.

Pay Plan Amendment

There was no public comment at the public hearing as the Council considered an ordinance amending the 2009 Pay Plan. The Aldermen approved the change (Council Bill 6) which reclassifies the Communications Supervisor position in the Police Department to include dispatch duties, as needed. There is no change in pay for the employee (hourly pay range $26.88-$36.34). CB 6 also creates the position of Engineer Associate to replace that of Project Manager. That position reflects a pay reduction (salary range $52,084-$70,466).

Lace House $

Horseshoe Casino, LLC (131 Main Street) is paying the City for relocating the Lace House to Mountain City. That move was accomplished last year, eleven years after the City first began the process. Black Hawk initially agreed to pay for the design and construction costs associated with the relocation; Horseshoe agreed to pay for moving the structure plus a 10% administrative fee. The Aldermen passed Council Bill 5 following a public hearing (no one spoke either for or against), to impose the relocation costs of $955,499 ($860,859 plus the administrative fee of $94,640) on Horseshoe. The Aldermen also approved the fourth amendment to the agreement setting up a payment plan for Horseshoe to reimburse the City’s costs.

Crook’s Palace Progress

The new operators of Crook’s Palace have applied for their liquor license. In order to obtain it, the applicant’s neighborhood must be polled for input. The Aldermen must specify which neighborhood that is, in this case, the entire City.

Silver Gulch Easement

Most of the easements required for the City’s new Silver Gulch water tank were acquired from Ameristar Casino. However, the easement across the Leopold Lode Mining Claim needed to be obtained from owner, Leopold Investments, LLC. The Aldermen approved an agreement for Permanent Access Easement allowing a 24-foot access in three places along the driveway between Richman Street and the new tank site. In return, the City will construct a ¾ inch commercial water tap, meter and meter pit for Leopold.

Marchant Street Easement

The Aldermen approved a Temporary Construction Easement for 111 Marchant Street. The home at that address, owned by Don and Kathy (Alderman) Doles, is a current Preservation Grant project. The easement is needed to work on the retaining wall in front of the property. The Doles’ are allowing the City to remove part of the front yard to widen the street at a particularly narrow spot (the “pinchpoint”). The historic rock wall will be reconfigured and restored. In return, the City is considering a variance request for a setback to accommodate a storage shed at the property.

Horn Street Emergency Grants

At 211 Horn Street, homeowners Benito and Patricia Torres are dealing with electrical safety issues and inadequate heat, plus plumbing problems. In December 2008, the Aldermen approved their request for technical assistance to assess the property for an emergency grant. Inspection confirmed hazardous wiring, poorly installed plumbing and a room-sized heater that is inadequate to heat the historic home space. The City’s Historic Architectural Review Commission denied an Emergency Grant request as there were no estimates for cost or scope of work; however the Council has final say. Alderman Kerr questioned whether the situation qualified under the “Emergency” classification, noting that people are living there. He recommended delaying the grant until the extent of need is known and the owners can apply for an all-inclusive Rehabilitation Grant to fix everything. There are currently 27 applicants in line ahead of the Torres’ for Rehabilitation Grants. The Aldermen requested that bids be obtained by the applicants for work that would address the safety issues in the historic part of the home and resubmit their application.

Wilhelm and Kathryn Lorenz, owners of the home at 101 Horn Street, requested and received $6,009 additional Emergency Grant funding to connect their sewer line to the City’s sewer system. In December 2008, the Aldermen granted $20,000 to fix a crushed sewer line at the property. Workmen discovered the line had never been connected to the City’s system as had been thought, but instead culminated in a septic tank.

Executive Session

Following their regular meeting, the Aldermen met with City Attorney Corey Hoffmann in Executive Session to discuss potential pending state legislation and the Preservation Easement Program. They adjourned with no further action taken. Black Hawk City Council meets next on February 11, 2009.