Predictions: heated elections, new casinos & more in ‘24

By Don Ireland Senior Reporter

By any measure, 2024 could go down in the history books as one of the most memorable years yet for Gilpin County, Black Hawk and Central City. Here are some likely topics forecasted for the comimpact the county.

They include: to Gilpin County Treasurer April Nielsen. Once that happens, Nielsen will document the rates and give the 2023 tax bills to property owners.

Potential tax changes?

When Colorado voters rejected state Proposition HH on the Nov. 7, 2023, ballot, it forced state leaders and Gov. Jared Polis to hold a special legislative property assessments that were announced in May 2023.

The late November decisions regarding the assessments and how they will impact tax millage departments, libraries and other local special taxing districts caused many governmental-oriented groups to postpone decisions on their 2024 budgets.

Colorado has given those governmental-related adopt tax rates. Most taxing entities have until Wednesday, Jan. 10, as their deadline, while county governments have until Jan. 17 to certify them.

Meanwhile, the state is convening a new board to study the future impact of property taxes and the new assessments because the November decisions by state leaders will be only for 2024.

Three elections

Less than two months away, Gilpin and Colorado voters will have the opportunity to participate in the U.S. Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March. 5.

– county commissioner terms in Districts 1 and 3 – will be up for election in 2024, although they are expected to generate plenty of attention.

In District 1, which includes Black Hawk, Central City, and the southern section of Gilpin County, the seat held by Marie Mornis (R) will be available. Mornis, who also is the chair of the Gilpin County Republican Committee, was appointed as the District 1 representative in December 2022 following the unexpected passing of Web Sill (R).tion to seek election to a full term, she or any GOP nominee will face Zane Laubhan (D) for the commissioner term in 2024. Laubhan has been the

In District 3, which includes Rollinsville and themissioner Sandy Hollingsworth (D) is expected to seek re-election. She has the longest tenure of any of the three current commissioners. No potential challengers from either party have yet to announce their candidacy for District 3.

The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Gilpin County issues member BoCC. Mornis served as chair in 2023, but position annually. It is expected that Hollingsworth, heading into her fourth year as a county commissioner, could be approved as chair since she held the position two years ago. Another possibility is Susan Berumen (D-District 2), whosioner in 2023.

When the Gilpin Board of County CommissionJan. 9, they will begin to make a series of decisions for the year ahead.

One of the largest – and most expensive – matters the BoCC will face sometime in the new year will be approving a contract to replace the Gilpin Food Pantry at 101 Norton Drive. The new pantry is expected to cost more than $1.3 million and is targeted for a location immediately across Norton from the south parking lot of the Gilpin Community Center.

While there is some community support to replace the former modular, trailer-style food pantry that has served needy Gilpin residents for decades, opponents say the county could turn over the money for a new building. County leaders previously expressed hopes that Gilpin could receive state or federal grants to help pay for the new pantry.

In addition, the commissioners will try and resolve potential issues regarding the proposed Gilpin Senior Living housing development close to the rec by former State Senator and ex-county commissioner Jeanne Nicholson, wants to build several senioronly duplexes near the rec center. However, the commissioners arelations and deadlines for the senior group to follow before granting owned property nearby. Water rights, sewage and other matters have been among the sticking points that have caused the discussion of a lease between the county and postponed several times during 2023.

During the coming months, county leaders are expected to monitor the operation of the Gilpin rec center. After voters shot down a ballot question in November to permanently fund the community center, county leaders set aside additional money in the 2024 budget to keep it open. However, the new funding will mean the center will operate just four days per week this year, comparedcommunity center.

The commissioners are also expected to make decisions regarding a potential expansion of broadband services throughout the county, millions of dollars for capital repair-improvement projects, historical-renovation projects at the East Portal Cabins, and one-room Thorn Lake Schoolhouse, plus the construction of an Electric Vehicle charging station at the Gilpin County Public Library in 2024.

During the months ahead, Gilpin County plans to hire people for seven new positions, including IT manager, teen program coordinator, assistant communication specialist. The county also will try which became vacant in November after former manager Nate Whittington announced his deparGilpin leaders also hope to continue discussions housing. The project also has been a topic of concern by Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey, who is hoping for new workforce housing in his city with the potential of new businesses opening during 2024.

Central City

Central City leaders hope to see the number of city casinos grow during 2024. A minimum of three casinos are planned for the Main Street area. -

Main Street, plus the military-themed Bomband Lawrence Streets. In addition, partners John Cheyney and Nicholas Larson are working to reopen the former Crystal Palace Casino in the middle of the block.

However, before the new gaming establishments can open their doors, the owners await gaming license approvals from the Colorado Gaming Commission.

At the corner of Gregory and Spring Streets, Gallup Construction, a Denver-based real estate

Latham, is remodeling the long-vacant Knights of Pythias Building. It is planned to open in 2024 as projects have been discussed around the city, although formal announcements have yet to be made for 2024.

Resources LLC plans to open its new aggregate and rock quarry in the spring. Construction crews are in hauling trucks to open the forthcoming operation.