195 Clear Creek Street

The City of Black Hawk, in its efforts to preserve the historic homes which remain of its residential area, completed another rehabilitation project shortly before the end of 2011. The completion of the preservation project at 195 Clear Creek Street, currently a rental property owned by John Thilmont and Mary Sutton, (JT Enterprises) was celebrated in December with an Open House hosted by White Construction Group.

Gilpin County Assessor records show the house dates back to 1888. Prior to rehabilitation, the two-story wood-sided home consisted of a kitchen/dining area, living room, downstairs bathroom and bedroom downstairs, with a stairway opening onto the second floor and one bedroom beyond that, all in a total area of 1279 square feet. The wood framing, wood siding and trim of the home was in poor condition, as were the wood-framed windows. A stairway incorporated into the rock retaining wall at the front of the home needed to be rebuilt for safety purposes. The rock wall also needed repair and the ornamental steel fence atop the wall was in poor shape. Drainage problems from the steep hillside behind the home also needed to be addressed. Last spring, White Construction, working from design plans by PEH Architects, began the work of bringing the home up to modern habitable standards.

Paul Pappert, of White Construction, was on hand at the open house, pleased to show off the new look of the home’s restored exterior as well as the interior changes and updates. In order to spare the newly restored hardwood floors of the living room, visitors entered the home via the back door into the kitchen. There, where the tiled floor was able to withstand tracked in dirt and scratching, folks slipped paper booties over their shoes before proceeding to tour the home. Pappert served as tour guide, answering all manner of questions about the project. Leveling work for the foundation of the home was a big challenge, Pappert said. The bedrock proved stubborn, melting the tips of the 90 pound jackhammers and disintegrating carbide blades. Materials were carefully examined for reusability. Any deteriorated framing lumber was replaced, as was wooden siding that had rotted. The roof was stripped to the planking, re-sheathed and re-shingled with asphalt shingles made to look like the wood shingles the home likely had originally. Windows were replaced with more weather-resistant metal-clad wooden ones. All plumbing, heating and electrical systems were replaced. The exterior was repainted in the same white/with red trim as before the restoration. The ornamental fence was repaired to top the rock retaining wall and a railing was added to the exterior steps. White relocated and buried the gas and electric lines behind the rock wall.

Inside, the kitchen, which had been in particularly poor condition, was completely remodeled with careful preservation of the multi-paned built-in cupboards along one wall. Off the kitchen, a cold-storage/cellar area, incorporating the natural stone wall of the hillside, provides access to the side yard. The downstairs bathroom was remodeled. All flooring was restored. With fresh paint on walls and trim, and sunlight pouring through the front bay window, visitors commented on the cheery “feel” of the first floor. The home has only a partial second floor, located in the mid-section of the structure. The stairway to access that floor was moved and the area at the top of the stairs reconfigured to add an upstairs bathroom and a small sitting area or “study” leading into the bedroom. No square footage was added during the rehabilitation, but the reconfiguration and upgrading made for better function and livability (as well as meeting current safety codes.) Today’s occupants will no doubt appreciate the improvements. The “ghost” at 195 Clear Creek Street certainly didn’t object to the work. Pappert said he and numerous workmen experienced repeated incidents throughout the construction, when they smelled “her” perfume. “No lie,” Pappert insisted, adding that no one was really bothered by the strange occurrence, because “Who can object when it’s one (a ghost) that smells so good?”

The 195 Clear Creek Street rehabilitation was a joint project with a similar project at 161 Marchant Street (also a rental property owned by Thilmont and Sutton). White Construction consolidated costs to do both projects, completing the Marchant Street home just a few months prior to the Clear Creek Street project. The budget for both restorations was $724,150 plus $30,000 to relocate the utility lines and $30,000 for materials, testing, inspections and permits. Funding for the projects was done through Black Hawk’s Historic Preservation Grant program, made possible by disbursements from gaming revenues.

Homes that date back more than 120 years, such as the one at 195 Clear Creek Street, have seen a lot of living. Linda Armbright, current Black Hawk City Council member, recalled the ties the home has to her family. Her grandparents, Harry and Mary Blake, lived there. The house was too small for Harry and Mary’s five children (the “Blake boys”) so they expanded the family domicile to include the home next door, although Armbright said she didn’t realize that at the time because she was so young. Much of 195 Clear Creek Street looks the same after the rehabilitation, she said, “just nicer.” She recalled the family get-togethers in the little home, “I don’t know how we did that,” Armbright said, wondering at how small the house is and how her grandmother (“She was Italian, you know,”),  managed to cook for all of them in “that kitchen with the old green sink and just a table – there were never any counters.” In many ways life was different for the city’s families back then.  In a community as small as Black Hawk’s, the roots of the family trees are tied to these homes, and those roots are deep, multiplied by generations. With its rehabilitation program, the City hopes to preserve the old homes for many generations to come. There are fewer than 100 historic residences in Black Hawk. More than 30 have been rehabilitated over the past decade or so, and several more await preservation as funding becomes available.

March 19, 1930 – December 23, 2011

Wilma Louise Ewing (Cooper), 81, passed away on December 23, 2011 at Boulder Community Hospital surrounded by her loving family. A Remembrance Gathering was held at the Black Forest Inn, Nederland, Colorado at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 30^th.
Wilma was born March 19, 1930 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to John and Gertrude Cooper. She had two older brothers, James and Floyd, who loved to spoil her. She spent most of her childhood in the Loveland area, which she loved to reminisce about. In 1948 at the age of 18 she married the love of her life Bill, in Denver, Colorado. The next 63 years she was devoted to her family and business ventures. Bill and Wilma raised five children in Black Hawk, Colorado teaching them the values of family and hard work.  As evidence of her strength and determination, Wilma and Bill owned and operated many small businesses over the years. These included South Beaver Saw Mill & Lumber Yard, LA Griffith Construction, and Ewing Trucking & Construction. Wilma was happiest when surrounded by her large family and friends.
After her retirement as CFO of Ewing Trucking & Construction in 2006, she enjoyed relaxing with her husband and playing games and shopping with her grandchildren. Wilma always loved the mountains of Colorado. They moved to Eagle County in 1983, yet never giving up their life in Black Hawk. After splitting their time between their two homes for so many years, they moved permanently back to Black Hawk in 2011 where she spent her final days.
She was preceded in death by her brother James (Nellie) Cooper, and her son James Ewing.
She is survived by her husband, William Ewing, brother Floyd (Lorraine), children Cathy Ewing, Charles (Isela) Ewing, Bart (Mary Kate) Ewing, and Debbie (Todd) Ellsworth and 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Wilma will be greatly missed by her many family and friends. She will always be remembered for her generosity, kindness, and thoughtfulness. She was a wonderful, devout wife, mother, and grandmother, who consistently embodied her core values of determination, persistence, and truth.
She left a legacy of love and respect for family and friends.

Wilma and her family are in the care of Darrell Howe Mortuary, 1701 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette, CO.

New streetscape, equipment, expanded shuttle service, bonuses, and marketing

Central City Mayor Ron Engels and Aldermen Bob Giancola, Rita Lee, Bob Spain, and Shirley Voorhies wrapped up 2011 by preparing for 2012 and approving several financial agreements to cover future services. They also were introduced to Greg Thompson, the City’s new Community Development Director. Thompson had started his Central City employment just two days earlier.

Paying the Bills

The Council approved the Regular Bill lists of December 8 and 15, totaling $686,303. Included in the lists were expenditures of $255,957 (Streetscape payment #3); $2,885 (historic preservation grant for 229 Eureka); $14,342 (general legal counsel and litigation); and $11,028 in water-related expenditures. As of December 15^th, the City’s cash-on-hand totaled $1,495,255.

Liquor Licenses Renewed

  Acting as the Liquor License Authority, the Aldermen renewed the annual liquor licenses for the Elks Lodge and the Opera House Association.

HVAC Lease-Purchase

  There was no public comment during the public hearing held for Ordinance 11-15, which was up for second hearing. The Aldermen approved the ordinance. It specifies the lease-purchase agreement related to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment which will be installed at City Hall and at the Visitors Center. Additional equipment will be purchased under this agreement for lighting on the Parkway. The City will borrow $489,773 from Colorado Business Bank to acquire the equipment. The interest rate for the loan is 3.30% which will total $95,573 if the loan runs for the full ten-year term.  The Aldermen have budgeted $65,000 from the Historic Preservation Fund to cover the 2012 payment ($61,865) and plan to appropriate approximately $57,702 of the same fund for the subsequent annual payments.

Device Fee Change

  Representatives from Famous Bonanza and Easy Street, Johnny Z’s, the Century and Fortune Valley casinos  (the latter with reservations)spoke in favor of Ordinance 11-16 which tacks on $5 to the monthly transportation device fee for Central City casinos. The new levy will raise that fee from $22.08 to $27.08 per device, per month. The City will contribute $50,000 to the amount raised by the additional fee and the funds will be used to create a combined marketing budget of about $170,000. The funding will be remitted to the Business Improvement District (BID) and used for joint advertising and marketing efforts. Fortune Valley, with the most devices of any one casino, will bear the brunt of the fees. Their representative noted that Fortune Valley wasn’t happy about the way the fees are being divided, particularly since Fortune Valley is not positioned on Main Street and is unable to take advantage of the new Streetscape. However, he said, in the interest of progress, Fortune Valley will not oppose the fee change. Following the public hearing, the Council approved the ordinance. The revised fee is effective immediately and will remain in effect for one year, with the option to renew annually.

Council Rules of Procedure

  The public remained silent during the public hearing for Ordinance 11-17 which revises the Municipal Code (Section 2-79) regarding the Council’s Rules of Procedure. After Mayor Engels closed the public hearing, the Council approved the ordinance. It deals with meeting procedure and personal conduct of Council members related to meetings and other settings. City Attorney Linda Michow explained that the main difference was the elimination of language that calls for the removal from Council of a member for failure to comply with the Rules of Procedure. A Council member may still be sanctioned by written or verbal reprimand, formal written censure or removal from a Council-appointed position or membership on any board or commission; however the member cannot be removed from the Council.

New Street Sweeper

  In approving Ordinance 11-18, the Aldermen approved a lease-purchase agreement to buy a new Tymco Model 435 Regenerative Air street sweeper. The total amount being financed is $109,825. The term of the agreement with Tymco is four years at an annual interest rate of 3.29%. Annual payments will be $28,957. If the loan is not paid off early, the interest will amount to $6,001. No one spoke either for or against the purchase during the public hearing dedicated to it.

Shuttle Service

  The Council amended and renewed the agreement with Colorado Coach to provide shuttle service between casinos in Central City and to Black Hawk for another year. The cost for basic service in 2012 will be $404,145. That amount is approximately $100,000 more than paid in 2011 as the City plans to expand the hours and route of the service. The Council allocated $415,000 in the 2012 budget to cover basic service plus wrapping the buses and marketing. One change in the agreement is that the BID will be managing the service next year, rather than the City.

Historical Society Lease

  Also renewed was the lease agreement with the Gilpin County Historical Society for their use of Washington Hall. The original six month lease, agreed to in April, 2011, has been extended to a full year, running from January 1 to December 31, 2012. The Historical Society pays the City $1 (with a $10 penalty per day for late payment) plus in-kind services of operating a public museum in the space six days per week (including holidays that fall on Monday) and keeping the premises in good order. The exhibit on display since last April is themed “Law & Justice” and relates to the structure’s history. The Historical Society also uses the space as headquarters for providing tours of the Opera House and Teller House. The Council formalized this agreement by adopting it via Resolution 11-39.

Building Inspection Service

The Aldermen adopted Resolution 11-40, approving an agreement with Colorado Code Consulting, Incorporated to provide building code, building inspection/ plan review, and elevator inspection service for 2012. There is no cost to the City as fees for the services are passed through to property owners. Colorado Code has a fee schedule with hourly rates or project percentage rates that vary depending on the type of service, the frequency of service and the type (residential or commercial) of project.

Trash Collection Service

  Resolution 11-41, also adopted, provides for another year of city wide trash collection service. The City has budgeted up to $50,000 for the service; the projected cost of service for 2012 is $42,500. That’s based on a fee of $18.35 per home, up to 75 homes and a discount to $17.35 per home if the number of homes exceeds 75. One Way, Incorporated provides the service. Mayor Engels pointed out that trash collection is free for Central City residents. “Just call City Hall and we’ll get you on the route,” he advised, adding, “There’s no need for residents to use commercial dumpsters.”  Homeowners must provide their own trash containers. One Way also provides curbside collection of recyclables.

Spelling Bee Funding

  Gilpin County RE-1 School District asked the Council to consider making a donation (any amount would be appreciated) for the Middle School Spelling Bee prizes. The Bee will be held on February 9, 2012. The Finance Director, an alumnus of the school reckoned there might be a hundred spellers participating. The school has traditionally given cash prizes of varying amounts to the winners. The Council decided to donate $100 from the City’s Public Education Fund. Council member Lee amended the original motion from $100 to $250; however her motion died for lack of a second. The school also sought judges for the Bee. Finance Director Shannon Flowers volunteered.

2011 Audit

  With the Council’s approval, John Cutler & Associates will again be the firm performing the City’s annual audit. The firm was originally approved to do the 2010 audit and at that time, submitted a bid for three years of audits and was selected as the lowest most qualified respondent to the City’s request for proposals at that time. The cost to perform the 2011 audit, at no more than $19,000 reflects a $900 decrease from the cost of the 2010 audit.

Staff Bonuses

  In a split vote with Mayor Engels breaking the tie, the Council approved bonuses for City staff. Aldermen Giancola and Lee voted against, Lee stating that it isn’t wise to do bonuses at this time and that if the City does get extra money in 2012, it could be spent on sidewalks, grants, or to reduce water bills. “You’re working hard,” she said to City staff attending the meeting, “but a lot of my friends and family are working hard, too, and there are a lot of people without jobs.” Giancola said he didn’t want to be a Scrooge, but advised the City be prudent and conserve resources. Suggested bonuses range from $50 to $200 with a total fiscal impact not to exceed $3,000. $2,400 of the bonus money will be taken from the City Manager’s discretionary fund. Lanning excluded himself from receiving a bonus.

Judge Retires

  After 32 years of service as Central’s Municipal Court Judge, Judge Fred Rodgers has tendered his resignation, the Mayor announced, and suggested giving the judge a parting gift. The Council approved unanimously.

From Departmental Reports

  Public Works: The Streetscape project was substantially completed as of December 24^th and the City tentatively plans to have some kind of ribbon-cutting ceremony, possibly in conjunction with the BID, in spring 2012.  The search is on for a Streets & Facilities Manager in the Public Works Department. The new snow plow truck has arrived and is ready for service. Public Works staff recycled over $2,500 in steel.

Fire Department:  From mid-November to mid-December, the department handled 33 calls, a third being medical calls. There were a couple of elevator rescues and over the November 12-13 weekend, the department responded to four power line-related tree and/or grass fires. Breakdowns and repairs for three of the department’s vehicles necessitated taking them to the metro area during this time period.

Public Comment

  Barbara Thielemann, one of the organizers of Tommyknocker weekend, thanked the City and a long list of other participants for their part in making the annual festival a success.

Gloria Gaines, who chairs the Historic Preservation Commission and is President of the Gilpin County Historical Society, welcomed Thompson and thanked City staff and Council for their help and support of both organizations. She also asked Council members to speak up, speak plainly and to speak into their microphones.

Heads Up

  Central City Council meets next on January 17, 2012. A goal setting work session has been scheduled for January 19, 2012 at 6 p.m.

Already assessing ways to save tax dollars

The final meeting of the year for Timberline Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors, and the first board meeting for Timberline’s new Fire Chief, Chris Jennings, occurred December 13, 2011. President Rick Wenzel and Board members Roger Durham, John Etzkorn and John Rittenhouse attended in person; Jim Crawford attended via conference call from Maryland.

Chief’s Report

  Chief Jennings, the district’s first full-time paid fire chief, reported for work the first week of December. He said he had spent most of that week getting oriented and establishing his presence in the area. To that end, he had met with fire department officials of Black Hawk, Nederland and Central City fire departments as well as personnel from all of the police departments and officials of Gilpin Ambulance Authority. From those meetings and discussions, he said he’d found that there are accountability issues with radio communications and that a solidified procedure for arriving on scene and assigning tasks is needed. Only the Black Hawk department had a procedure in place that met Jennings’ requirements.

Jennings had toured Timberline’s stations and conducted impromptu inspections of some of the apparatus. He said he had concerns about maintenance and whether the equipment met the real requirements of the district. He had met with Timberline’s officers and said they are putting together a document listing their concerns and suggesting ways to address them. He is devising a process to route maintenance requests through one source for better tracking. In meeting with Timberline’s volunteers, Jennings said he’d found, “There’s a tremendous amount of skills in the firefighters that we can pull into the department.”

The new vehicle, Quick Response 7, is now in service and more medical supplies for the truck’s inventory are on the way, possibly grant funded. Jennings said there had been discussion with Black Hawk, Central City, and Nederland officials about trying to consolidate an approach to more county response as that will afford better grant opportunities.

Jennings had offered his recommendations for specifications on the new Tanker that Timberline has on order. He suggested adding changes to the pump panel door, cross lays and engineering for front bumper discharge capability so a monitor can be added later allowing a single operator “to drive along and lay down a good line of water along the roadside.” The front bumper discharge will also alleviate problems of running hose when dealing with a constricted driveway. The tanker will be used for wild land fires and structure fires. Durham said he liked the idea of being able to do a back burn with this truck. Jennings praised the flexibility of the modified truck. He said he’d be looking at reducing the district’s fleet, possibly eliminating some apparatus which will save the district in pump test, maintenance and other costs. The Board authorized additional expenditures of $15,000 and Jennings was directed to contact the vendor and re-do the bid specifications. That bumped the purchase price of the truck from $296,000 to approximately $317,000 with a $5,000 contingency fund.

The Board has also tasked Jennings with determining the administrative needs of the district. He said he is addressing efficiency issues in the day-to-day operations of the district office, including document storage and the email and communication system. The phone system purchased and installed last spring has been problematic and Jennings said he is looking at options.

Health Insurance

  The vote was split in approving an increase in the district-paid portion of health insurance premiums. The Board felt the district needed to offer health insurance as a benefit to attract the best candidates for the Chief position and in order to acquire more affordable group insurance rates, the district needed have at least two employees participating in the insurance plan. In addition to the chief, the district bookkeeper opted into the program. However the insurance will come at a higher cost than the Board had agreed to, approximately $144 per month for the chief and $57 for the bookkeeper. The Board had agreed to a total monthly premium of $125 and was now looking at $201. Rittenhouse asked how that increase happened when the Board didn’t approve it. Wenzel said “I assumed we did – it was a mistake.” When Rittenhouse asked for a reason to increase the district’s payment, Wenzel told him the bookkeeper said he would drop the insurance if he was expected to pay the increase in his premium; then the district would have no insurance plan for the Chief. Rittenhouse pointed out that the Chief’s contract stated the lower rate and if the district agreed to pay more, asked, “What concessions will we get from the Chief? We’re increasing the value of his contract and we shouldn’t do it capriciously and get nothing in return.” Rittenhouse and Durham argued that the chief’s contract was binding; they could not just change it with a motion but should renegotiate the contract. Etzkorn countered the district made the insurance decision on the best information they had at the time, “We didn’t know we couldn’t get the rate we thought we could,” he said, adding he saw no reason to renegotiate the contract and the district could pay the insurance bill. Rittenhouse had taken the position that the district should have “done our homework properly in the first place.” He and Durham voted against increasing the district’s bite of the insurance bill without renegotiating the contract. Wenzel, Etzkorn and Crawford voted in favor.

Vacation Time

  As a matter of housekeeping, the Board voted to begin the chief’s vacation accrual immediately so that after one month of employment he is eligible for 80 hours of vacation time with future accruals at the same rate for subsequent years. His contract is to be changed to reflect that, “when we change the contract to adjust for the health insurance,” Rittenhouse moved.

Budget

  After making final adjustments to the proposed 2012 Budget, the Board approved it. Among the changes: the expenditures from the Capital Replacement Fund were increased from $626,412 to $641,412; the General Fund health insurance expenditures were increased by $3,100; and the $6,600 allowance for cleaning the stations was eliminated at Durham’s request and Jennings supportive statement that cleaning should be the station lieutenants’ responsibility. When all is said and done, the General Fund will finish 2012 with a deficit of approximately $225,000; and the Capital Reserve Fund with a deficit of approximately $250,000. Revenue projections include assumptions of $25,000 in grants and $10,000 in miscellaneous contributions. There was a question about pension funding and Jennings was directed to confirm that all necessary funding from the pension fund of the old Colorado Sierra Fire Protection District had been transferred to the Timberline pension fund.

The Board appropriated the following revenues: $3,622 (Boulder County Water Supply Fund); $1,009,241 (General Fund); $1,500,344 (Pension Fund); and $883,290 (Capital Replacement Fund). The total of the appropriations is $3,396,497. They certified Timberline’s mill levy at 8.342 mills.

Election 2012

  Three seats on Timberline’s Board will be up for election next April. Durham and Crawford’s seats are held over. The directors awarded the contract for Timberline’s Designated Election Officer, the person responsible for running the election, to Micki Wadhams who is a paralegal of the law firm Collins, Cockrel & Cole. Election costs are not to exceed $5,000.

Central City Inclusion Proposition

  Jennings is researching different aspects of the merger proposal brought to Timberline’s directors by Central City Mayor Ron Engels and City Manager Alan Lanning. Jennings said he was looking only at the area covered by Central City Fire Department and had excluded no man’s lands surrounding Central City. Central is willing to provide financial support of $150,000 for the first five years, Jennings said. The mill levy would raise approximately $375,000 in revenues. Jennings said the big issues are the impact on Timberline’s operations. He noted that merging would provide an opportunity to consolidate training and standardize procedures. Central has an excellent structure truck, he said, and a brush truck plus other equipment. He conceded some firefighters would probably leave if Central’s department merges with Timberline’s, but that over time and with recruitment, that will likely work out. Centralized administration would improve productivity and cost savings, Jennings said, and there are additional grant opportunities in covering the Central City area (mineral and energy funds because of mining sites). Jennings said he is really looking at the operations side before he can make a recommendation, but that as Timberline’s department is primed for procedural changes now, the timing might be right to take on the Central City area. “I’m hearing that like it or not, Central City will probably become a district in the next few years.” Jennings was cognizant of firefighter loyalty and the identity of Central’s department. He suggested the organization might be Timberline Fire Protection District – Central City Division and that the current Central City Fire Chief would have to be maintained. Pension would need to be addressed. Jennings said Lanning is “ready to go – he has the money to eliminate the pension discrepancies.” Etzkorn noted that Timberline’s pension payments would have to go up to match Central’s. Faced with losing Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant opportunities if Central City becomes part of Timberline, Jennings said he would go directly to the casinos for funding. Besides these issues, there is much more to investigate – station location, Parkway coverage, actuarial figures, etc.  The Board plans to discuss the matter fully in a work session, tentatively scheduled in March 2012. Board members are to compose their own lists of questions which can be consolidated into one list for that work session. For now, “Our chief should be strictly operations focused – there’s enough to do within our own department,” Etzkorn advised.

Heads Up

  Timberline’s Board of Directors’ next business meeting is scheduled for January 18, 2012. They discussed, but have not yet scheduled a work session to discuss the administrative job descriptions. Wenzel suggested that work session occur in January with a special meeting scheduled in February for any immediate action needed.

November 11th in Central City

On November 11, 2011 at 11 o’clock in St. James United Methodist Church in Central City, Specialist William J. Castillo and Karla Jo McGuire of Evans Mills, New York were married by Reverend Dr. Richard A. Vickery, Jr.

The groom is the grandson of Barbara and the late Henry Thielemann. Family members attending were Barbara’s son, Brett Thielemann of Las Vegas, NV; daughter and son-in-law, Roberta & George Zmuda of Black Hawk, CO; daughter, Holly and grandchildren, Anne and Ray McPheeters of Staunton, IL; and great granddaughter Emily Castillo of Hillsboro, IL.

Friends that helped with the wedding and celebration were Reverend Vickery, organist Naomi Moothart, cake maker Ardetta Robertson, and Black Forest Restaurant owner Bill Lorenz.

Specialist Castillo has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is currently stationed in Fort Drum, NY with the 10^th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army.

2012 Pay Plan, Holiday Schedule, Employee Benefits

Black Hawk Mayor David Spellman and Aldermen Linda Armbright, Paul Bennett, Diane Cales, Jim Johnson, Tom Kerr and Greg Moates met for their final City Council meeting of 2011 on December 14, 2011. Public hearings were held for two ordinances (Council Bills 22 and 23) and two Resolutions (37 and 38) prior to action, however there was no public comment supporting or opposing any of them. The Council dealt with Certificates of Appropriateness for two casinos, a couple of residential emergency preservation grants, one water project and plans to purchase a new backhoe, as well as a new bus.

2012 Pay Plan

  With the Council’s approval, salary ranges for Black Hawk employees were increased across the board with a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2012. The minimum annual salary (Grade 95) begins at $27,291 ($13.12 per hour) and reaches a maximum of $122,402 (Grade 211) before reaching the Executive Level. The executive range (Grades 301-309) begin at $70,976 and end with a maximum of $141,875. The firefighters and police officers have their own pay scales. Firefighters begin at $51,460 with a maximum of $69,623. Police officers begin at $54,033 and max out at $73,104. Seasonal workers are paid hourly at a range of $10.87 to $14.71.

BID Appointments

  The Aldermen appointed Brian Cloud and Steve Lambert to the Board of Directors for the Business Improvement District (BID).

231 Dubois Street

  Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for homeowners Leon and Olivia Pohl to construct a shed at their Dubois Street property was continued from the November 9^th meeting. At that time the Pohls had proposed building a 16 x 12’ storage shed. They had revised their plan to downsize the shed to 12 x 12.’ The Aldermen adopted Resolution 37-2011, approving the Certificate. Regulations allow construction of additional structures on residential property with square footage of up to 35% of the square footage of the primary structure. City staff determined the footprint of that structure, the residence, to be 1,205 square feet making the area allowed for additional structures a total of 422 square feet. Two sheds already exist on the property. Adding the third will bring the total square footage for additional structures on this property to 387 square feet.

Red Dolly Sign

  The Aldermen adopted Resolution 38-2011, approving a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new LED sign at the Red Dolly Casino. That sign will be approximately 6’ x 12’ located on the east side of the building.

271 Church Street Boiler

  The smell of gas and a subsequent inspection by the Black Hawk Fire Department alerted the residents of the home at 271 Church Street of a malfunctioning boiler. The boiler was shut down and the gas cleared from the building, and then the tenants were allowed to reoccupy the home. The property owner, Jeannie Larkins, at the recommendation of the repairman who inspected the system the day after the leak, replaced the boiler and indirect hot water system at a cost of $8,876. She applied for reimbursement under the City’s Emergency Preservation Grant Program. The Aldermen concluded that the faulty system dated back to 1997 so met the requirement of being ten years or older. Larkins had also met all the reporting, permit, contractor, repair and documentation requirements of the program. The Aldermen awarded the full reimbursement.

130 Chase Street Tree Removal

  The windstorm that toppled trees throughout the area on November 12, 2011 uprooted a 120’ Blue Spruce at John Anderson’s 130 Chase Street home (landing it across the neighbor’s front yard), topped two other trees of similar size and damaged a fourth. Anderson requested Emergency Grant funding of $4,000 as reimbursement for the cost of removing the four downed or damaged trees. State Farm, Anderson’s homeowner’s insurance provider covers $500 of the expense, after Anderson pays the $500 deductible. The Aldermen approved reimbursement of $3,500. State Farm will cover repairs to the utility lines, electrical service panel and wire fence that were damaged when the first tree fell.

City Tax/Fee Waiver

  Hotel developers will get a financial break from the City with the Council’s approval to “…forever waive and forego the payment of any use tax otherwise due and payable, and the payment of police and fire impact fees that would otherwise be due and payable for the construction of any hotel project within the City consisting of at least 50 hotel rooms…” The waiver excludes any square footage of construction projects that is related to gaming or restaurant use.  In order to qualify for the waiver, completed land use applications must be received by the City on or before December 31, 2012 and construction of the hotel project must commence on or before December 31, 2013. The tax/fee waiver is part of the City’s efforts to diversify its economy and entice developers of hotels and other amenities to locate projects in Black Hawk.  The Council formalized the tax/fee waiver by adopting it with Resolution 39-2011.

Employee “Cafeteria” Health Plan

  Upon the recommendation of City staff, the Aldermen selected Discovery Benefits as the provider for the City’s Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, pre-tax Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical/Dependent Daycare expenses. AFLAC had been the former provider. Approximately five Black Hawk employees participate in this plan. The majority of the City’s employees have opted for a Health Savings Account plan. Discovery Benefits offers a three year rate guarantee with the cost estimate for annual administration of the plan to be $500.

Workers’ Compensation Provider

  The Aldermen chose Pinnacol Assurance as the City’s 2012 provider of Workers’ Compensation insurance at a cost of $108,365. That rate represents a savings of nearly $20,000 over the 2011 policy, despite a slight increase to the City’s payroll in 2012. Administrative Assistant Melissa Greiner told the Council the City now receives the best rate offered by Pinnacol because of a good safety record and reduced claims. Black Hawk’s policy is to file every claim and to file within 24 hours of the incident warranting the claim.

New Backhoe

  The Aldermen approved an expenditure of $70,818 for the purchase of a CAT 420E rubber tired backhoe from Wagner Equipment. That City received a trade allowance of $19,000 for their 1994 John Deere 410 backhoe as part of the deal. By purchasing the new model at this time, the City can obtain a tier 3 engine before stricter emission controls take effect. The backhoe will be used by the Public Works fleet, street and water departments. The City is also shopping for new street-sweeping equipment.

Bus Purchase Assistance

  By contracting for cooperative purchasing with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Black Hawk can take advantage of the larger agency’s purchasing power to acquire a new shuttle bus. The Houston-Galveston Council is already approved by the Federal Trade Administration (FDA) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and will act as Black Hawk’s purchasing agent. The contract term ends December 31, 2011 with automatic annual renewal for following years (based on the fiscal year). The contract does not specify any amount Black Hawk is to pay for the purchasing service. The Aldermen approved the contract via Resolution 40-2011.

Conduit via Flume

  The Aldermen adopted Resolution 41-2011, approving a license for Edward Smith to run conduit through the City’s flume from his property on Main Street (Wildcard Casino) to his properties on Gregory Street (Sasquatch Casino and Black Hawk Station Casino). The conduit will enable the electronic transfer of data between the properties.

Hidden Valley Water Plant Construction

  American Civil Constructors and WHPacific were the contractors selected by the Aldermen to do the construction and engineering work, respectively, at the hidden Valley Water Treatment Plant. The work will replace the infiltration system and increase the flow capacity from 400 gallons to 800 gallons per minute. Various attempts to improve the current infiltration system, which dates to 1998, have not been able to keep pace with the required flow to the plant. The new design should provide a reliable intake to the plant, allows for a second filter train to be installed, can be backwashed with both water and air, uses stream flow to scour sediment from the surface of the system and is expected to last “well into the future.” The Aldermen approved a total project budget of $942,033.

2012 Holiday Schedule

  The Council approved the following paid holidays for Black Hawk employees: January 2 (New Year’s Day); January 16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day); February 20 (President’s Day); May 28 (Memorial Day); July 4 (Independence Day); September 3 (Labor Day); October 8 (Columbus Day); November 12 (Veterans Day); November 22 and 23 (Thanksgiving); December 24 and 25 (Christmas); and December 31 (New Year’s Eve).

City Manager’s Update

  City Manager Jack Lewis informed the Council that the chiropractor who currently rents space in Black Hawk’s commercial building has given notice. At the other end of town, the Riviera’s new owners had held their first internal meeting and that process is moving ahead, Lewis said.

Attorney’s Update

  City Attorney Corey Hoffmann told the Aldermen that the Brannan Sand and Gravel litigation is scheduled to be heard in the Court of Appeals in February and that Black Hawk, Gilpin County and a private property owner are defending the County’s 2008 decision to deny Brannan a special use permit for a gravel quarry.

Public Comment

  A Black Hawk resident told the Aldermen he hoped they would not back down when it came to protecting Black Hawk’s allocation of Historic Preservation Funding; that each of Colorado’s gaming cities had made decisions at the beginning of gaming and that Black Hawk had made the industry a priority for their city, not only for historic preservation but to make gaming something that would contribute significantly to the health of the community. “There are more (historic preservation) needs in other cities because of the decisions they made at that time and the solution cannot be to punish the one city that made the right decision.” He pointed out that Black Hawk residents also had more sirens in the night and more crime in their city than the other cities.

Gilpin County residents Pete and Jessica Dionne introduced themselves to the Council and said they are considering buying the Mountain Mocha Coffee Shop located in Black Hawk’s commercial building. They will lease the commercial space from Black Hawk and have presented a business plan for the Council. Mayor Spellman said the Council would discuss the proposal and lease arrangement in an executive session.

Executive Session

  The Aldermen met with their attorney in Executive Session following the business meeting to discuss pending legislation and pending litigation. Following the executive session, the Council directed their manager to write a letter to Central City and Gilpin County officials letting them know that Black Hawk has no interest in participating in the consolidation of emergency services (such as fire protection services) other than those of Gilpin Ambulance Authority.

Heads Up

  Black Hawk City Council meets next on January 11, 2012.

Gilpin Basketball

Two three-hour one-way bus trips failed to daunt the Gilpin Eagles Ladies team in their charge toward an unbeaten season. The ladies defeated the 3A Highland Huskies of Ault 38-21 on Friday and the 2A Soroco Rams of Oak Creek 42-38 on Saturday. In both games, a single dominant quarter determined the outcome of the game.

Against Highland, a 19-2 third quarter barrage turned an otherwise close game into an easy win. Highland matched Gilpin point for point in the other three quarters. The girls managed 10 steals off their pressing defense and converted most of them to baskets. Katura Sales led the scorers with 12 points in a balanced scoring distribution. Samantha Peterson had 11 points and Teresa Seitz scored 10 for the Eagles. The other 5 points were all contributed by Andie Ramsey. Seitz also led the rebounders with 10 and had 4 steals for the evening. This win raised the girls’ record to 5-0 for the season.

The following afternoon, the ladies traveled to Oak Creek to get their sixth straight win of the season. The ladies took an early 15-8 first quarter lead, and that provided the margin of victory. After a 26-19 lead at half time, the Eagles struggled to stay ahead in the second half as Soroco slowly closed the lead but were unable to overtake Gilpin. Sales was dominant in this game, being the only player to score in double figures with 15. She also led the club in rebounds with 10 and steals with four. The girls’ record now stands at 6-0 as they head into the Christmas break. Their next game will be at home against Dayspring Christian on Saturday, January 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s team also traveled to Soroco last Saturday, but their experience was not a happy one. The round ball boys suffered their second loss of the season against five wins, losing by a score of 78-70 in overtime. The Eagles came out flat and fell behind 25-6 before a change in the defense sparked the team into action behind 30 points by Chris Randall and 23 points by Jon Adams. The game was tied at 66-66 at the end of regulation play and the Eagles actually took the lead at 70-69 on a free throw early in the overtime period. Then Adams fouled out and the taller Rams took over the boards and the game.

Actually, the game was pretty ragged for the Eagles. They missed several opportunities to explore openings in the Rams’ defense, particularly around the free throw line, and took far too many low percentage three point shots that did not fall. The Eagles will have to avoid such errors when they take on erstwhile rival Nederland at the Panthers’ home court on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m.

56 seniors; 23 volunteers; endless goodwill

Local senior citizens were treated to a holiday feast on December 14^th, courtesy of the chefs and volunteers of Ameristar Casino. Many of the seniors participate in the congregate luncheons hosted by Gilpin County’s Human Services department on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week. When Ameristar’s management learned of that program, they saw just one more opportunity to support the local community. And so it was, that when the senior citizens began arriving at the Community Center for their Wednesday luncheon, they found a big white truck parked near the side entrance to the multi-purpose room and a crowd of Ameristar volunteers unloading food, serving dishes, cutlery, and other goodies. Before long, there were close to 60 senior citizens seated around the tables, visiting with friends and all the while anticipating the special meal to come. And what a meal it was!

Ameristar volunteers, some who had donned Santa hats, and all of them wearing festive bright red t-shirts emblazoned with the logo “Ameristar Cares!” were bustling from table to table- so many of them and moving so briskly, it was hard to count how many-just a blur of red shirts. They offered greetings, set tables and then set to delivering cold or warm beverages as soon as each guest got seated. “Choice of dressing?” was the next question, with plates of crisp mixed salad greens, appropriately “dressed,” soon appearing at each table, along with plates of rolls. Then, a row of volunteers took their places behind the long tables that held the large silver warming pans. As they lifted the lids, the aromas of baked ham, roasted turkey, sweet potatoes cooked and sauced to perfection, green beans, and mashed potatoes with seasoned gravy wafted through the room, trailing servers who brought plate after heaping plate to each table. A generous dollop of cranberry sauce completed each one. The presentation of the food was so scrumptious, it was almost too pretty to eat- almost. From various tables seniors exclaimed “Oh my,” or “Wow” as the plates were set before them. That was quickly followed by “Mmmm” and “This is so good.” “Save room for pie, now,” the Ameristar servers advised as they cleared the salad plates. “Would you like cherry, apple or pumpkin?” Then they were off to collect the chosen dessert for prompt delivery-once the satiated seniors had given up on the main course.

“Ameristar Cares” is the Black Hawk casino’s way of giving back to their community. In addition to the casino’s financial and other contributions, Ameristar employees volunteer to help with monthly events, some here in Gilpin, others in the Denver metro area. Food Bank of the Rockies is one Ameristar Cares  benefactor; the casino has donated around 18,500 pounds of food there, said Andrew Hamblen, Ameristar’s general manager. He was soon made aware of the Gilpin County food bank (which may soon become another Ameristar benefactor). Craig Hospital and the Senior Totes food bags are other programs Ameristar supports which may be familiar to Gilpinites.

The initial plans for hosting this holiday meal for local senior citizens actually took root last April when many of the same volunteers spent an entire day “spring cleaning” the yards, gardens and windows of senior citizens’ homes across Gilpin County. Ameristar is looking for additional opportunities to participate with Gilpinites, Hamblen said, explaining that it’s all part of being a good corporate neighbor-a philosophy that is part of Ameristar’s foundation. “We never have issues getting people to volunteer,” he said. Gilpin County’s Senior Services coordinator Mary Ellen Makosky said she and the seniors were honored to have Hamblen attend the luncheon personally. Hamblen’s comments, however, were all about the generosity of the Ameristar Cares volunteers, some of whom have put in 650 hours of volunteer time with this program, he said. “I’m happy to do it,” one volunteer (Ramona) offered. She had come up from the metro area early enough to volunteer before heading off to work her usual shift beginning at 3 p.m. About half of the volunteers had traveled to Gilpin on their day off, just to help with the event, said Hamblen, and others were just there on a long break from work. “We’re not having to twist the arms of any of these team members to get them here,” Hamblen said. There were volunteers from management, operations, security, environmental services, the warehouse and operations, including the casino floor, he noted, looking around and spotting one dealer and a slot technician. Chefs Eddie Allen, John Trejo and Johnny West said they’d started cooking the day before, selecting a traditional menu that they thought the seniors would enjoy.

Appreciative seniors expressed that enjoyment by several rounds of applause and a tongue-in-cheek chant of “Once a month, once a month…” initiated enthusiastically by one enthused senior (thank you, Belita).  Ameristar sent each guest home with a bright red travel mug “Guaranteed to make everything taste better-and bring you luck,” one volunteer (Bob) promised. He would have been hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t think they’d just tasted the best, however, not only in the delicious food, but also in the fun and friendship offered by the Ameristar volunteers. The lucky part- well, judging by the smiles all around, everyone felt fortunate to be part of this special event.

Board of Trustees Meeting

The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at the Nederland Community Center. Members present were: Mayor Joe Gierlach, and Trustees Janette Taylor, Randy Lee, Chris Perret, Peter Fiori, and Annette Croughwell. Mayor pro tem Kevin Mueller was absent. Also in attendance were: Alicia Reis (Town Administrator), Teresa Myers (Town Clerk), Carmen Beery (Town Attorney), Eva Forberger (Town Treasurer), and Jason Morrison (Public Works Manager).

Before beginning the meeting, the Board and attending public observed fifteen seconds of silence in memory of Mike (Michigan Mike) Torpie, who died recently.

Consent Agenda

  December 6, 2011 accounts payable, and November 15, 2011 meeting minutes were approved. A grant application for Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) was approved. The grant’s purpose is to improve mobile functionality of the Town’s website. Other items approved were a GreenPlay agreement pertinent to the Parks/Recreation Master Plan update; an amendment of the 2011 COP agreement with Boulder County; and 2012 lease renewals for Town properties. The police department lease was discussed. Prior to approval, with opinions that the shopping center space should be donated by the center’s owner, or the police department should be moved to the west wing of the Community Center. Two additional resolutions, Resolution 2011-24, adopting the Town 2012 Holiday schedule, and Resolution 2011-25, adopting the Town Official Notice Posting Sites, also were approved.

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

  Kristin Freland informed the Board that NedFest, an event previously operated by Mike Torpie, now deceased, would be continued as an effort of a non-profit entity being formed. Dawn Baumhover, Community Center Coordinator, offered information on a Clothes Closet soon to commence being held on Saturdays at the Community Center; it would be a clothes exchange conducted to benefit low-income people in the Nederland area. Eldora Mountain Resort will be donating items from its lost and found department to the Clothes Closet.

Informational Items

  Alisha Reid introduced the topic of a Citizens Commendation Award, from the Boulder County Sheriff to the Boulder County Mountain Communities Preparedness Group, explaining that it was awarded to those who have worked diligently on emergency preparedness in local mountain communities.
Action Items

  Ordinance 699, adopting a summary of revenues and expenditures for the 2012 budget was unanimously approved.

Ordinance 700, adopting the 2012 budget appropriations, was unanimously approved.

Ordinance 701, adopting the 2011 supplemental budget, was unanimously approved.

Resolution 2011-26, adopting the mill levy for the Town, was unanimously approved.

Resolution 2011-27, adopting the mill levy for the DDA, was unanimously approved. Alisha Reis explained that the DDA boundaries are being reviewed by the Town’s lawyers.

Resolution 2011-28, adopting the 2012 fee schedule, was unanimously approved. The $5.00 fee for dog licenses is being waived for 2012 to encourage residents to obtain dog licenses.

Resolution 2011-29, adopting the 2012 water/sewer rates, was unanimously approved. The rate increase for 2012 was 1/3 lower than had been previously anticipated, because a better loan rate had been obtained on the new wastewater treatment plant.

Resolution 2011-30, regarding the disposition of public lands policy, was unanimously approved, with an amendment including property tax as a consideration of a benefit to the Town. It was explained that while most municipalities simply vacate unused rights-of-way, it also is lawful to demand some compensation to cover the loss of the land.

Permission to permit discharge of water to prevent freezing of service lines or water mains was unanimously approved. There will be no additional charge to Town residents, and water will not be discharged onto the roads.

Appointment of Jeramy Kindle to the DDA was unanimously approved. State statute requires the Board to fill the vacancy within 30 days, and since that time frame had already passed, the Board was intent on fulfilling that obligation as quickly as possible.

Discussion Items

  The new snow removal policy was reviewed by Public Works Manager Jason Morrison. Prioritizing of routes, handling of parked cars along emergency routes during snowstorms, and possible extension of service to elderly and disabled people were reviewed and discussed among Board members. Owners of parked cars along emergency routes will receive one warning, and then their cars will be towed if not moved. It is planned to keep Lower Navajo Trail open this winter, with a new culvert installation to facilitate that effort.  Commitment to extra service, such as driveway entrance clear-out for the elderly and disabled, is not fiscally feasible, and possibly might be addressed with assistance from volunteers. Staff was directed by the Board to determine need and demand for that extra snow removal effort. Paul Turnburke mentioned that maintenance of previously DDA-maintained sidewalks will be taken over by Public Works personnel, and DDA funds will cover the maintenance expense.

Other Business

  Trustee Fiori requested replacement of a stolen microphone and a blown amplifier for the BOT audio equipment, and was directed to coordinate with Town staff to replace those items, and address security issues. Trustee Perret questioned the lack of hot water during the recent community Thanksgiving dinner at the Community Center, and was directed to coordinate with Mayor pro tem Mueller to address the problem.

Adjournment

  The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

The next Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on January 3, 2012, at the Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72, Nederland, CO.

  Within the pages of the Register-Call, November 3rd issue was an article by “renowned educator” Resa Steindel Brown titled Do Schools Really Teach Our Children To Think? As an educator myself in an adult field [aviation] and as a former credentialed teacher in another states’ public school system, I would like to comment on some of her points.

  Right off the bat in answer to the question posed by her title, the answer is “No.  Schools do not teach children to think.” Teachers are hampered and ‘schools’ are hindered from this endeavor by just what is mentioned in the article: “…focus(ing) on concrete facts and (memorization) skills that involve more recall than thinking…because we can objectively quantify…and grade them.” Responsible and personal education in public schools has been removed from classrooms under the tutelage of an educator and camouflaged as ‘universal education,’ learning has been standardized by tests which can only be graded by the use of an answer key. Anyone out there recall, in school, the dreaded essay question? It was exactly these questions that enabled us to develop thought patterns and how to put them down on paper. These no-longer-used questions taught us to think.

  The ‘knowledge’ presented in standardized tests is “…easy to test because the answers do not involve opinion…analyzing, synthesizing, and prioritizing information is subjective and much more difficult, if not impossible, to test…or grade.” The reason for this is that teachers then have to utilize their own opinion, their own evaluation and their own judgment as to how well the student presented their own opinions, facts or data. By only teaching to standardized knowledge – and testing – they are only given experience in multiple-guess tests but expected to conceive, author and defend a Master’s or Doctoral thesis. Our children are not, in public schooling, being given or taught the skills for critical thinking. They are being taught at the lowest possible level of learning.

  There are four levels of learning: Rote, Understanding, Application, and Correlation. Rote is pure memorization, monkey see – monkey do. Understanding is evidenced when a subject can be explained in different terms or from different angles than that originally presented. Application occurs when understanding a subject matter, topic or idea can be utilized in a given direction, while Correlation demands the individual can come up with a satisfactory plan of action to a challenge they’ve never seen, experienced or faced before. Correlation is, to use the phrase de rigeur, “Thinking Outside the Box.” [See the exercise at the end of this article]

  Children indeed must learn to “…process information from multiple sources.” And as Ms. Brown further states, “As parents, grandparents, tutors and friends, we can partner with them.” What this means is we who are involved in a loved one’s growth must actively participate in their schooling. We cannot merely look up and ask “What did you learn in school today?” and expect an intelligent answer, or any answer at all beyond “Nuthin’”   The brain records everything the person experiences; sights, sounds, smells, emotions, and more. Most of the time things happen at such a pace that immediate recall is unavailable; the individual has experienced ‘informational overload.’ But after the fact events, words, information, thoughts and feelings can be replayed at a much slower speed, recalled and analyzed at a more deliberate pace where singular items within the experience can be addressed and thought about or discussed in detail. That’s when the real learning takes place.  After the experience is over, the emotions cooled and a more cerebral analysis can occur. This tactic will reinforce and more fully develop the lower two levels of learning; Rote and Understanding.

  Now, how do we as educators, parents, grandparents, et al assist our young Master or Miss to enhance the upper two levels of learning? Application is an activity, a participatory endeavor and not a spectator sport. The learner must use and practice the knowledge gained from their experience at the first two levels of learning. That means exercise and drill; that means doing one’s homework and doing all the problems at sections’ end, not just what the teacher assigned. What it means is the parent, grandparent, and others must actively concern themselves with what the learner is doing and participate along with them. [I came through public schools both in the US and in a number of foreign countries. No matter where we were, after dinner one of my parents would do their bookwork or paperwork at the kitchen table while I did my homework there as well. If I had questions, they were right there to help. We both did our work, but it was also “quality time” – another modern conceptual phrase du jour that few know how to implement].

  Whereas Application requires active participation by all concerned, the last question arising from this diatribe is: How does one develop Correlative skills? How does one teach – and learn – how to ‘think outside the box’?  The simple answer is: Scenarios. Present to the learner a scenario, a possible situation, ethical dilemma, an unclear behavioral challenge and help them reason it out. Why do many young people get in trouble with the law? First of all, it hasn’t been explained to them. Second of all, the ramifications of violating the law haven’t been detailed. Thirdly, the penalties of such transgressions haven’t been laid out. So many people go out into the world with a woefully unclear idea of what is legally expected from a citizen. And they are bewildered by the heavy hand of the law when a transgression occurs.

  One can begin using scenarios with grade-school age children: What would you do if you found a wallet with money in it? [Now you can discuss ethics and morals] What would you do if you found a handgun lying along the side of the road? [Discuss safety issues and danger possibilities]

  Work your way up as they grow older: What would you do if you knew a friend was cheating on a test? [Again, discuss ethics, morals, duties and responsibilities of friendship – and whether it really exists, group or ‘herd mentality’, etc.] What are your options if you saw a younger neighbor being bullied by some older kids?  [Risk vs. Reward, personal honor, citizenship, etc.]

  Now they’re driving: Can you explain some of the dangers of responding to a text while you’re driving? You’re driving some friends to the football game and one pulls out some beer: What are you going to do? Are you willing to risk being the ‘bad guy’ and ‘party-pooper’ while you’re responsible for everyone’s safety?

  Correlative skills are not developed by using “Who, what, when or where?” questions; those reinforce Rote and Understanding. For Application and Correlation levels of learning one can use words that begin a discussion: Why?  Describe…  Explain… Present your thoughts on… Anything that begins an oral essay can be used. Try that.

  This can go on and on, but I’m sure the point is clear. Involve yourself with everything they do. Allow them freedoms and privileges as they earn it, but – recalling Ronald Reagan’s view of the Soviets – “Trust, but verify.” Learning is an activity, not a passive endeavor. Be active with the children; schools and teachers [May God bless them!] can only do so much, and they so often must do a herculean task with at least one hand figuratively tied behind their backs. But the parents, grandparents, tutors and friends can be that other, free hand to show the learner what really lies ahead. There is a wonderful universe of learning no matter which direction one goes or which discipline calls. Of course the learner must supply the effort to proceed down the course(s) of study, but our job, as instructors, teachers-outside-the-classroom and facilitators is to lead them on with an encouraging wave and a “Hey…come on…look what’s down this-a-way!”

About the Writer

  Drew Chitiea lives in Black Hawk, Colorado and is a charter member of SAFE, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators. He is a flight instructor for single- and multi-engine airplanes, teaching the skills required for mountain flying, aerobatics, air combat and currently is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for all airplane certificates and ratings. He has been awarded the designation of “Aviation Master Instructor” seven consecutive times.