Warm weather means project time
All around Black Hawk
Black Hawk City Council addressed both planned and unplanned fix-up projects for the City and its residents during their regular meeting of June 24, 2009. (Taking advantage of the area’s “one week of summer,” they joked.) All of the Aldermen were present when Mayor David Spellman brought the meeting to order.
Audit Is Good
This is the first year John Cutler and Associates has done the City’s financial audit, and it went smoothly, Cutler said. City staff was ready and could answer all of the auditor’s questions. Dana Wood, Assistant to the City Manager in Finance, echoed the sentiment, calling it an “easy” audit as Cutler’s staff was pleasant and accurate. The City received a clean unqualified opinion from the auditor. He said Black Hawk’s general fund was a good balance for a city of its size and that funds used in refunding bonds and capital projects were one-time expenditures, “I can look at the numbers and see what’s behind them,” said Cutler. The Aldermen accepted the audit as presented.
271 High Street
William Leisk requested and received a Certificate of Appropriateness, after the fact, for a four by eight foot storage shed constructed at his 271 High Street property. A building permit for the small structure was not needed but the Certificate was needed because the property is in the National Historic District. The owner had been unaware of the requirement.
301 High Street
Tom Tyslan requested and received a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the front porch railings at his 301 High Street property. The new railings will have lathed spindles matching the posts that support the porch roof. Tyslan also plans to repaint the exterior of the home in the five-color scheme it currently bears. He provided three bids for the job, ranging from $8,875 to $10,870. The Aldermen approved the grant up to the high bid. Tyslan will pay for the railings.
130 Chase Street
Karen and John Anderson are using a Rehabilitation Grant to restore the home at 130 Chase Street. Under a 2002 grant, the front door was replaced and has since been replaced again with a more ornate door with a large oval beveled glass window. The City’s consultant, Baseline Corporation, advised against approving a Certificate of Appropriateness for the door as it doesn’t meet the City’s historic home guidelines. Mayor Spellman noted the Council had approved another such door and denial would be inconsistent with past practice. Aldermen Bennett and Kerr both questioned paying for the new door. Bennett suggested the Andersons pay the difference between the 2002 door and the new one. Kerr took exception to the after-the-fact request for reimbursement. “It wasn’t done the right way,” he said. The Aldermen did not stipulate any payment plan for the homeowners, but did approve the Certificate of Appropriateness. The Andersons also requested, and received, a 22 day extension for their current Rehabilitation Grant. Construction delays would have put the completion date beyond the July 10, 2009, expiration. They now have until July 31 to finish the project. Unless an extension is granted, Rehabilitation Grants are valid for twelve months from the date the building permit is issued.
261 High Street
Water leakage and resulting mold motivated Mary Lou Price to request an emergency Technical Assistance Grant to remedy and repair damage to drywall, ceiling and floor at her 261 High Street home. Price discovered the water damage after removing items from shelves along the back wall. The Aldermen approved the grant but named no amount pending word on whether Price’s insurance company will pay for repairs. The Mayor alerted Baseline consultants to watch for such damage in Black Hawk homes as many are built right to the hillside, as is the case with the Price home.
111 Marchant
Michael Morlock of the City’s Public Works Department, provided an update on the rehabilitation of the historic home at 111 Marchant. The property is owned by Don and (Alderman) Kathy Doles. Construction problems and delays have plagued the project, which was approved for grant funding in January 2008. Morlock said there had been problems with forms bulging during a recent concrete pour but core sampling assured acceptable concrete strength. The contractor is now making repairs per Black Hawk staff specifications. Black Hawk has stepped in to complete the contracting for the exterior. Contractors are working directly with the Doles’ for the interior work.
Crook’s Palace Sign
The City will pay to have a new sign installed above the doors facing the parking lot at Crook’s Palace. The City owns the restaurant building. The Aldermen turned down the offer of restaurateurs Matt and Mike Casarez to pay half. Estimated cost of the twenty by four foot sign is $7,000.
Bobtail Road Construction
The Aldermen ratified a previous decision to award a $2,692,035 contract to American Civil Constructors to construct Bobtail Road. Xcel Energy will be paid $100,676 to install historic streetlights and FHU Engineering, Incorporated is to receive $186,350 for engineering and inspection services. Adding the 20% contingency brings the total construction budget to $3,574,873. Putting the electric feeder line for Bobtail Road and Gregory Street will cost the City $32,879. The Aldermen approved the expenditure. Public Service Company of Colorado will do the work.
$ for Community College
In celebration of the onset of Enhanced Gaming, Mayor Spellman will join Ed Nicholls of the Colorado Historical Society, Nancy McCallum of Colorado Community College System and casino representatives at the Lodge Casino on July 1, 2009. At 3:00 p.m. ceremonial dice will be rolled down the front steps. Whatever number comes up will be multiplied by twelve and given to Colorado Community Colleges as the first contribution from expanded gaming.
Also in honor of the new gaming allowances, Fortune Valley Casino had sent the Aldermen gifts of decorative tins containing gaming-related trinkets. The Aldermen pronounced the gesture “a class act.”
CLG Status Update
City Attorney Corey Hoffmann said the paperwork for Black Hawk’s Certified Local Government classification is now pending at the National Parks Service, having passed through the Colorado State Historical Society. The CLG status is necessary for Black Hawk to receive money from the State Historic Fund.
Executive Session
Following the public meeting, the Council met with Hoffmann in Executive Session to discuss a nuisance abatement issue, legal matters regarding 111 Marchant Street, legal matters regarding legislation and negotiation matters regarding the City’s lobbyists and public relations firm. Black Hawk City Council meets next on July 8, 2009.