Black Hawk creates ambulance authority
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But Central and County must agree
The majority of items on the Black Hawk City Council’s agenda for their May 27th meeting had to do with the Gold Mine Casino. Mayor David Spellman brought the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. with all Aldermen present except Kathy Doles. Four minutes into the meeting, the Aldermen recessed to Executive Session to discuss the ambulance service agreement and the Bobtail Road project. Both items were addressed when the Council returned to public session approximately 20 minutes later.
Gold Mine Casino
Most folks connect the Gold Mine Casino (120 and 130 Clear Creek Street) with the “donkey” mural visible on the building’s side while driving north on Highway 119. The building sits directly across the highway from the coffee shop/credit union building. Originally constructed in 1991, it closed in 1998 and has been vacant ever since. Last year, the property was purchased by Adam Krier and Mike Hills, who are in the process of remodeling. When completed, a 720 square-foot two-story addition will be added to the south end with a new entryway, a 395 square-foot addition will go on the east side with a ramp entryway and a pedestrian bridge will cross North Clear Creek from the rear of the building to the existing path along the creek. In order for the building and bridge to meet zoning requirements, the new owners needed, and received (with conditions), a variance from the Council allowing the building to keep a front setback of 3.8 feet, a rear setback of one foot to accommodate the bridge and a zero foot setback for the existing southwest corner of the building which encroaches on the property line between the Gold Mine and Bullwhackers. Bullwhackers had no objections. In passing this resolution (14), the Aldermen stipulated conditions for the variance, including acquisition of a highway access permit from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); additional Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible entrances; drainage issues must be addressed; and the grease trap location and sewer line must be added to the site plan. Before the City issues a Certificate of Occupancy, the owners must pay the 36-space parking impact fee. A bus stop is planned for the Gold Mine, but must be worked out with Bullwhackers for a turn-around spot. Resolution 14 was subjected to public hearing; however no one spoke either for or against it.
The Council passed Resolution 13, approving the Gold Mine’s Site Development Plan and Resolution 15 approving the final plat for the Gold Mine Casino. The plat combines their two mill sites (24 and 26) into one lot (Lot 1, Gold Mine Casino Subdivision Filing 1).
Gilpin Ambulance Authority
Council Bill 18 was passed unanimously. It establishes the Gilpin Ambulance Authority via a contract between Black Hawk, Central City and Gilpin County, but is contingent upon approval of the other two parties. If Central, Gilpin County (or both) do not approve the contract, CB18 becomes void. However, two of the parties could proceed without the third by drawing up a new contract. The ambulance Authority is not just a successor to Gilpin Ambulance, Incorporated (the current provider), City Attorney Corey Hoffmann noted. The Authority replaces that company and will start providing services on January 1, 2010. Establishing the new entity now gives it six months to organize and hire a director. Black Hawk will continue to provide garages and offices. The two Gilpin County owned ambulances and equipment, financed with money from the Gaming Impact Fund, are to be transferred to the Authority’s ownership at no cost. The ambulances will remain at their current locations (two in Black Hawk; one in mid-County). The five-member Board of Directors will be appointed with the two entities who have the most calls resulting in transports (to an emergency care provider outside of Gilpin County) having two voting members and the third entity with just one. That will initially be two members each for Black Hawk and the County, and one member for Central City. The entities will fund the Authority jointly with a total 2010 start-up allocation of $1.2 million. Termination and opt-out clauses are included in the contract.
The contract also includes a funding formula with which County officials have disagreed. It sets the County’s base percentage of the funding allocation at 25%, and then divides the remaining 75% between the three entities at a percentage corresponding to the volume of transported calls. Those percentages have been set at 21% for the County; 62% for Black Hawk; and 17% for Central City. In dollars, that works out to $489,900, $558,000 and $153,000 respectively.
City Hall Entryway
With the Council’s approval, a new 13 foot by 5 foot Trex ramp will replace the current ramp at the entry to City Hall. It will culminate in a 5 foot square landing. Both ramp and landing will have a metal handrail. The re-do complys with ADA standards.
Bobtail Road
Black Hawk is considering a bid of $2,363,211 with Scott Contracting, Incorporated to construct Bobtail Road. Add $100,363 to Xcel Energy to bury the electrical lines and $186,350 for engineering and inspection services. Figure in a 20% contingency. The total budget for the project comes to $3,180,285 which had been budgeted for this year. Bobtail Road has been awaiting construction for a number of years. The city decided to move forward now because bids are currently lower, in this case about 36% lower, than before. American Civil Constructors also bid on the project ($2,692,035). The Aldermen tabled this item to their next meeting.
Executive Session
Following the public session, the Aldermen met with their attorney in Executive Session to confer on specific legal questions and negotiation matters. Among the items for discussion: transportation matters within the City, backflow preventers, historic easements and the contract for City Manager. When they returned to public session, the Council authorized partial termination of the contract with Cedarwood Construction, the company rehabilitating the Doles’ Marchant Street residence.