Moffat Tunnel oil-train decision now at Supreme Court

Spencer seeks to win two special-

district elections in May

cause.

After taking office as a Cen-

tral City alderman in January,

Spencer has set his sights on

winning two additional elec-

tions next month: board seats

on the Central City Business

Improvement District and the

Black Hawk-Central City Sani-

tation District.

Currently, the 16-year owner

of the Denver West-Central

City KOA Campground serves

on the board of the Central

City Downtown Development

Authority and on the Gilpin

Mountain Kids early childhood

learning center board, which is

expected to open later this fall.

So, why does Spencer wish

to serve on multiple organiza-

tions?

“For the Business Improve-

ment District, I’m running

because the current board has

mostly been made up of rep-

resentatives from the casinos

over the years,” said Spencer. “I

feel the non-casino businesses

should have a voice on that

board. After talking to the other

non-casino businesses in Central

City, I decided to run because

nobody’s representing the small

businesses. There are more than

just casinos in this town.”

There are as many as 150

potential voters who can

participate in the BID election,

depending on whether they’re

the registered property owner

in the commercial district or

someone who has a lease with

the owner. “Historically, there

are only about 20-some people

who vote,” noted Spencer, who

expressed displeasure that he

wasn’t notified by the special

district for the last election.

Spencer said he knows that

most of the BID’s tax levy is

spent on paying off the bonds

that financed the construction

of the Central City Parkway.

However, he is uncertain

about how the organization is

spending the other $200,000 it

collects from taxpayers. “I want

to know where that’s going and

how it’s being spent. I don’t

know if it’s being spent on law-

yers, accountants, and consul-

tants. It seems like they spend

a lot of money on that stuff.

I’m not saying anyone cur-

rently sitting on that board is

doing anything wrong because

they’re all friends of mine. I

just think we need to be more

responsible with our money to

promote the town. I also think

there are a lot of things the BID

can do to clean up and fix the

downtown area. Have you seen

some of the sidewalks along

Main Street? Many of them are

falling apart.

Both Spencer and fellow

alderman Todd Williams are

seeking terms on the Black

Hawk-Central City Sanita-

tion District board. During

last week’s council meeting,

Spencer recommended that

residents vote, classifying the

election as “Central City versus

Black Hawk.” He said he’s

running because “I want to be

involved. There are no ulterior

motives. It’s just me wanting

to run. I feel like I want to be

on that board. I’m a money-

oriented person. I’m not saying

– by any means – they’re doing

anything wrong. My [sewage]

rates went up again this year

and I’d like to have a say on

anything in the future for rates,

expansions or anything else. I’d

just like to be involved. I feel

like I have a lot of support.”

Spencer, 56, said he has time

to serve on the new boards if

he’s elected. Because he and his

wife Leza raised their sons while

operating their KOA camp-

ground, the candidate stated that

they have stepped up to take on

leadership roles in the operation.

“Leza and I are mostly guidance

for them, helping them to run the

campground,” he said. “Last year,

we watched them grow into our

shoes. This year, they’ll take on

more responsibilities, which will

give me more time to be involved

with local politics and try to make

our town better. To have a voice

on multiple boards is a positive

Central City councilmen Chuck Spencer and Zane Plsek are

running for seats on the Black Hawk-Central City Sanitation

Board on May 6. Spencer is also running for a seat on the

Central City Business Improvement District Board. Plsek

doesn’t have to work about the CCBID election because

he’s unopposed for the two-year term he’s seeking.

Photo by Don Ireland

number of Black Hawk and Cen-

tral City voters could cast ballots

in separate races involving the

Black Hawk-Central City Sanita-

tion District and the Central City

Business Improvement District.

Residents and commercial

property owners may not be

aware of either group, which is

responsible for millions of dol-

lars in assets and makes deci-

sions that could affect residents

in both communities.

The Central City Business

Improvement District imposes a

90-mill property tax on casi-

nos and commercial properties

within Central City limits, as well

as a few residential homes that

fall within the BID boundary.

A total of 80 mills ($1.61

million) collected by the BID go

toward paying down the bonds

for the Central City Parkway,

which opened in 2004. The

other 10 mills ($200,744) are

also managed by the BID board

of directors, who sponsor two

summer festivals and use some

of the funds to advertise Central

stations.

BID has spent money to improve

lighting in the downtown area

and is involved with a proposed

study to enhance the business

climate in Central City.

The Black Hawk-Central City

Sanitation District (BHCCSD)

owns the sewer lines that con-

nect to homes, casinos, and

commercial properties in the

neighboring gaming towns. It

also operates a wastewater treat-

ment plant on Highway 119 that

cleans the system’s sewage ac-

cording to Colorado Department

of Public Health and Environ-

ment standards.

Each year, the BHCCSD levies

a small, 0.154-mill property tax

on properties within its juris-

diction. It also bills customers

a sewage charge based on the

property and the amount of wa-

ter it uses. This year, for the first

time in decades, the sanitation

district increased its residential

rate to $80 per quarter, a $20 in-

crease from recent years, though

the total is less than what it

Special district races:

incumbents vs. newcomers

Some elections generate a lot of discussion, advertisements and

interest. These include U.S. presidential races as well as candidates

competing to become Gilpin County commissioners.

At the other end of the spectrum are much smaller elections that

generate little fanfare or whoopla. They include candidates vying

for positions on special district boards that oversee local sanita-

tion districts or business-related organizations. For the most part,

locals haven’t shown much interest in special elections, which

sometimes attract less than 50 or 100 voters.

Next month, several candidates will vie for positions on the Cen-

tral City Business Improvement District and the Black Hawk-Cen-

tral City Sanitation District boards. The winners will help shape

policies, finances and future decisions that could have long-lasting

impacts on those who live or own property within the two special

districts’ boundaries.

BH-CC Sanitation District

Three spots are available on the five-member sanitation district

board of directors, including two four-year terms and one two-year

term.

Jim Johnson and Paul Bennett, two long-time Black Hawk alder-

men, are running to retain their board seats. They are being chal-

lenged by Central City council members Chuck Spencer and Todd

Williams in what some residents describe as a political showdown

between the two neighboring cities.

Without an opponent in the May 6 election is Central City alder-

man Zane Plsek, who was appointed to the BH-CCSD board last

year. He replaced 20-year incumbent Jeff Aiken, who resigned

because he successfully ran to win the District 1 seat on the Gilpin

Board of County Commissioners.

The two sanitation district seats not up for election this year are

held by Black Hawk Mayor David Spellman and former Central

Mayor Buddy Schmalz, who later served as a county commis-

sioner. Currently, Black Hawk has the controlling three votes on

the board, compared to the two from Central City, although most

observers claim there aren’t many controversial issues brought

before the sanitation district.

Individuals who own residential properties will be eligible to

vote on May 6 at the BHCCSD office located at 7320 Black Hawk

Boulevard (Highway 119), the building next to the post office.

CC Business Improvement District

There are five seats on the board for the Central City Business

Improvement District, with three available for election on May 6.

Incumbent Dana Laratta, employed by Century Casino, is seek-

ing re-election, while local businessman Steve Boulter has opted

not to pursue another term.

Boulter’s son, Austin Boulter, 25, has thrown his hat into the ring

to run for the board. Chuck Spencer, the KOA campground owner

and newly elected Central councilman, has also done so.

The CCBID Board seats held by Tom Robb and Travis Reese,

who are affiliated with RCI Hospitality Holdings, are not up for

election next month.

Eligible voters for the CCBID seats may mail or drop off their

ballots at the law firm of Cockrel Ela Glesne & Ruhland (CEGR),

the BID’s attorney, located at 44 Cook Street in Denver’s Cherry

Creek neighborhood.

Continued on next page

Moffat Tunnel oil-train decision now at Supreme Court

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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