Cable is coming for all Black Hawk residents

by Michelle Saeger
June 25, 2008 - The City Council of Black Hawk held its semi-monthly meeting Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by Mayor David Spellman. City Aldermen Moates, Armbright, Cales, Doles, Kerr, and Bennett were all present.
The meeting began with the introduction of a new employee to the City Council. Water Operator John Highet was extended a warm welcome.
The first formal item on the agenda was a Public Hearing to consider Council Bill (CB-19). This ordinance renews the cable television franchise granted to Ice Cable Holdings, LLC on May 8, 1984. The original 15-year contract expired in 1999 and is extended by this ordinance to May 6, 2019. The agreement allows the cable company to locate its facilities on real property owned by the City.
According to City Attorney Corey Hoffmann, original discussion centered on a 7-year extension. By extending this another three years, he was able to negotiate having more cable laid. Now all the residents of Black Hawk will have the option of cable television service available to them. Alderman Tom Kerr abstained from the unanimous vote.
Next, a Minor Certificate of Appropriateness was approved for the historic home located at 111 Marchant Street. The applicants, Alderman Kathleen Doles and her husband Don, requested a change in the roofline of their house to increase the floor space and ceiling height of an attic room within the residence. This will create an additional 200 square feet of livable space for the residents.
The home is currently undergoing a complete rehabilitation through the use of historic preservation grant funds awarded by the City. The existing roof line will be raised by 2 feet 9 inches with exterior materials used matching those in place. Alderman Kathleen Doles recused herself from the discussion and abstained from the vote.
Then, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) was granted a Temporary Use Permit at the property known as "Country World" at 200 Clear Creek Street.
The CDPHE is planning to reclaim mine waste associated with the Golden Gilpin Mill and cap the mine.
The property will be used for construction staging of equipment and materials, with permission of the owner. The City plans to request plans from the CDPHE outlining what the property will look like after the work is complete.
The Council then approved the scope of work for the HARC (Historic and Architectural Review Commission) Grant awarded to the historic residence located at 130 Chase Street. The historic 1620 square foot home is known to date back to at least 1900, but the owners believe construction is as old as 1865.
The rehabilitation work was approved with a 7% contingency at an estimated total project cost of $393,473. Another $14,883 was approved for the building to be raised for reconstruction of the foundation.
The applicants, John and Karen Anderson, were only able to obtain one bid for the work despite attempts to interest other contractors. They were pleased with the bid received since they had previous positive experiences with that contractor, Forti Construction during a 2002 grant rehabilitation project on the same home.
The approved scope of work includes a new perimeter foundation, structural improvements, modifications to the roof design, installation of gutters and downspouts, chimney, electrical work including rewiring the residence, replacement plumbing, retrofitting the ducted heat system and installing baseboard heaters, and updating drainage issues including work to update utility connections in the street to the residence.
As promised, the City came up with another solution to lease a building to Gilpin County Clerk & Recorder Jessica Lovingier when the house they had promised her became unavailable. City Attorney Corey Hoffmann has moved out of his office to make space. Lovingier and her staff will use the second floor of the building at 440 Gregory Street to conduct election business this summer and fall. As with other homes leased by the City for commercial purposes, the County will get the structure for the bargain rate of $1 per month.
The Council approved a Temporary Construction Easement and Rock Wall and Roadway Easement with the Gilpin Historical Society. The easement is for scheduled work on Dubois Street for the planned reconstruction project to widen the street and add a small cul-de-sac at the end. The City will pay $20 for the two-year easement. It represents the final easement required to begin the work on Dubois Street.
With a "soft opening" scheduled for less than two hours later, the Fitzgerald Casino received permission to modify their liquor premises to include their two new bars and an additional smoking terrace.
The meeting adjourned into an executive session to discuss potential legislation.
After the executive session, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Black Hawk City Council will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 3 PM.