Black Hawk hires new city manager
City business
Black Hawk City Council met the afternoon of June 10, 2009. Mayor David Spellman and Aldermen Linda Armbright, Paul Bennett, Diane Cales, Kathy Doles, Greg Moates and Tom Kerr were present.
Copp named new City Manager
Michael Copp has been hired as Black Hawk’s new City Manager. Copp’s employment began June 15, 2009, with the term of the contract indefinite and annual salary starting at $135,000. A monthly car allowance of $400 is included, plus full insurance, vacation, sick leave and leave retirement benefits. Copp has over three decades of city management experience, most recently as the interim manager of Salida, Colorado. He was City Manager in Glenwood Springs for two decades and also served as Sheridan’s city manager. Copp is a graduate of Colorado State University (BA-Sociology) and earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. He is the 2003 recipient of the ICMA Excellence Award for Innovations in Local Government Management. City Attorney Corey Hoffmann has been doing double duty as interim City Manager and showed no reluctance in relinquishing his management duties.
Ambulance Agreement
The Aldermen repealed Ordinance 09-18, passed at their last meeting, in lieu of the revised ordinance (Council Bill 19) passed at this meeting. Both ordinances establish the contract for the Gilpin Ambulance Authority; however the revised version includes amendments made by Gilpin County Commissioners. The agreement now stipulates the number of members on the board of directors be determined by the amount of funding each entity contributes. Initially, that means Black Hawk and Gilpin County will have two members, each. Central City will have one. The Aldermen appointed the mayor and Medill Barnes of the Silver Dollar Metropolitan Business District as their representatives for the remainder of 2009. In 2010, the city manager will replace the mayor. The “Authority” has now been approved by all three entities. It will have approximately six months to get organized and hire an executive director and will replace Gilpin Ambulance Incorporated, the non-profit organization that operates the service now. The Authority will continue the current level of service with two ambulances located in Black Hawk and one ambulance in mid-County.
Bobtail Road Construction
American Civil Constructors (ACC) won the contract for the Bobtail Road construction project. Their bid of $2,692,035 was higher than the $2,363,211 bid of Scott Contracting which the Council was considering at their last meeting. As Scott is involved in litigation with the Town Of Elizabeth, Colorado over a street project there, Black Hawk decided to go with ACC.
The City obtained a non-exclusive sidewalk easement from Dakota/BlackHawk, LLC, owners of property adjacent to the Bobtail project, for $10. They obtained three easements from Barden Colorado Gaming, LLC, also owners of adjacent property. That easement also cost the City $10 each, for a total of $30. The easements allow the City to install the sidewalk and utilities, stabilize the slope and have temporary construction access.
Water Rates
The council passed Resolution 18-09 to specifically charge gaming properties, under 7,500 square feet in size, the established $30 monthly base fee for water. The measure was one of housekeeping. A water rates resolution adopted earlier had inadvertently excluded such properties from the fee.
New “HARC”
As part of the process to become a Certified Local Government, Black Hawk needed to appoint a new Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), replacing their current Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC). The Aldermen appointed John Anderson, Jim Johnson and Richard Smith to four-year terms. Leon Pohl and Thomas Greiner were appointed to two year terms. Greiner is new to the commission; Pohl had been a HARC alternate. The new alternates are Randy Condor, Donald Doles and Patricia Torres. Per Senate Bill 101, which becomes effective on August 1, 2009, all municipalities wanting to receive money from the state Historical Fund, must have CLG status. Attorney Hoffmann said the appointments to the HPC allow the City to complete the CLG process.
Street Striping
$5,073. That’s the total budget for this year’s epoxy striping of Black Hawk streets. The yellow and white lines are repainted annually before the Fourth of July celebration.
Gazebo Band
Alderman Greg Moates will see about hiring a small band to perform in the Gazebo during the Fourth of July celebration and as a kick-off to enhanced gaming taking effect the first of that month.
Pipeline Easement
Black Hawk has partnered with Clear Creek County for water storage at Green Lake. Black Hawk holds 17/27ths of the rights. In order to repair a pipeline from Leavenworth Creek to fill Green Lake, the City needed an easement to make pipeline repairs. Property owners Gary and Jo Ann Oakley had already signed an agreement. Cost to Black Hawk was $630. Clear Creek County paid $370 of the $1,000 cost.
Grant Approvals
The Aldermen approved $1,507 as reimbursement to Leon and Olivia Pohl for repairs to a gas line at 231 Dubois Street. The pipe broke in April, making the home inhabitable and qualifying for the City’s Emergency Grant funds.
Two homes were approved for Rehabilitation Grants for exterior painting. The first, at 155 Chase Street, is owned by Paul and Pamela Bennett. Alderman Bennett recused himself from the vote on this item. The second home, at 175 Chase Street, is owned by Thomas Austin. Both homes had been painted in 2004, however the paint had not weathered well. The Aldermen awarded $3,300 per property for the repainting. The HARC had previously reviewed the applications and recommended approval on condition the paint colors comply with the City’s historical requirements.
Re-Booting
A statue of a cowboy emptying the dirt from his boot has long resided in the Council’s chambers. It will be moved to the Plaza in front of City Hall and mounted on a pedestal.
Re-Trestling
In the days of mines and mills, an elevated train trestle spanned Black Hawk’s Gregory Street right in the middle of the commercial block. That trestle is to be recreated, spanning Gregory Street between Crook’s Palace and City Hall. Ornamental in purpose, the City plans to use it as a frame for banners and decorations. Not for trains.
Re-Decorating
Holiday decorations the City puts up each winter were damaged by last year’s severe winds. Repair or replace? Decorate at the same level? More? The Council answered Public Works Director Tom Isbester’s questions with a consensus to decorate at the same level, repairing what can be repaired and replacing what must be replaced up to $30,000 worth. Much of the work can be done in-house at the City’s fleet shop, said Isbester. Annual installation of the decorations is done by an outside contractor at a cost of approximately $75,000.
Re-Naming
The casino formerly known as Colorado Central Station is changing names. It will soon be the Lady Luck Casino. The Aldermen got a first look at new temporary signage. Casino representatives will present the entire package to the Council at a future meeting.
Shedding Sand
A previously proposed location for the City’s new sand shed atop Miners Mesa didn’t work out so, with the Council’s approval, a new site has been selected near the bus barn. Isbester hopes to have the project done before it’s needed next fall.
Where to Park?
With the closing of Gambler’s Edge Recreation Vehicle (RV) Park in Central City, RV parking in the Black Hawk/Central City area is almost nonexistent. Miners Mesa is not a solution, said the City Attorney, as there is no transportation to that area and no facilities for RV’s. City staff was directed to check with the Isle of Capri Casino to see if they had any space.
Executive Session
Following the public meeting, the Council met in Executive Session with their attorney to discuss matters of (undisclosed) negotiation. They took no further action. Black Hawk’s Council meets next on June 24, 2009.