MINDY LEARY
BLACK HAWK – The Black Hawk City Council meeting on April 23, 2025, kicked off with the introduction of three new employees: Chris Caligaris and Max Ward, who joined the Water Utility team; and Tyler Ross, the City’s newest firefighter, who came over from Timberline Fire after five years of service there.
The Council quickly moved through the approval of the March 26 meeting minutes before diving into a handful of public hearings and resolutions.
First, the Council unanimously approved a $98,256 FASTER grant from CDOT for new maintenance equipment for the Black Hawk and Central City Tramway. Public Works Director Paul Benoit joked about the “brain damage” it took to finalize the grant, but said the upgrades would be well worth it.
Next, the Council passed an ordinance aimed at deterring wildlife issues. The ordinance banned outdoor food storage and required outdoor food containers to be bear-resistant.
A long discussion about bird feeders unfolded, but in the end, they decided bird feeders would not be regulated under the new rules, at least for now.
Council also approved an amendment to the 2024 budget to account for three additional transit buses that arrived earlier than expected.
Two resolutions related to property access and rights-of-way were quickly passed: one allowing a temporary construction easement for painting a property at 185 Clear Creek Street, and another approving a license agreement for a historic property at 121 Marchant Street that slightly encroaches into the public right-of-way.
For the annual Exterior Paint Program, the Council approved up to $200,000 for painting several properties, including Crook’s Palace.
Staff noted that fewer homeowners signed up this year despite outreach, but leftover funds can now be used for City-owned buildings without needing to come back to Council for approval.
Employee benefits were another major topic. The council approved a modest 1.9% increase for Delta Dental plans, a no-increase renewal with Kaiser Permanente for health insurance, and a switch to Standard Insurance for ancillary coverage like life and disability insurance—a move expected to save the city over $31,000 a year.
The Council then unanimously passed a joint resolution opposing the introduction of internet-based gaming (iGaming) in Colorado, joining forces with Central City, Cripple Creek, Gilpin County, and Teller County.
City Attorney Corey Hoffmann stressed the need to preserve voter-approved limitations on where gaming is allowed to protect the economies of historic gaming towns.
City Manager Stephen Cole had no additional updates, and the Council wrapped up by moving into executive session to discuss legal issues and negotiations related to City-owned properties, including Gregory Hill and the Gregory Street HARD District.
The next Black Hawk City Council meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2025, and can be attended in person at 211 Church Street.