In his report to the Cripple Creek City Council at its Jan. 15 meeting, Administrator Frank Salvato gave an update on rumblings regarding sports betting entities’ attempts to introduce a bill to allow statewide internet gaming.

“This is being pushed by two of the largest sports betting organizations in the state,” Salvato said.

The State Association of Casinos, along with the cities of Cripple Creek, Blackhawk and Central City are on record with the state legislature to “not support” this bill as it would adversely affect the revenue of the three constitutionally designated gaming communities.

Salvato’s opinion is that gaming was established by the vote of the people and that “opening up internet gaming statewide should only be (under consideration) by a vote of the state,” — not determined through a bill by the state legislature. They believe there is precedence regarding their position.

Purple heart signage

Vietnam Army Special Forces veteran and Purple Heart recipient Captain John Bartlett, requested the Cripple Creek City Council to allow placement of two “Purple Heart Community” signs as part of the City’s participation with the “Purple Heart Trail” network.

The city became a Purple Heart Community last February with the establishment of Teller County’s first sign. Bartlett said that there are now more than 60 signs located throughout the county and surrounding areas with four more on the way.

The Purple Heart Community designation connects cities and communities to the Purple Heart Trail, established in 1992, originating at a monument in Mt. Vernon Virginia, the burial location of George Washington.

President Washington established the “Badge of Military Merit,” heart made of purple cloth, a decoration awarded to those killed or wounded while serving in the military. In 1917, the award was designated the “Purple Heart” in the form of a medal.

The city voted to approve the designation as part of the “Purple Heart Trail” and to purchase and install the two new signs at a cost of $500. Bartlett thanked the city for its generosity and its support of the upcoming 2025 American Veterans Rally this August, when the rally committee will dedicate the two signs, one at City Park and the other at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery.

In other business

• Butte Theater manager Lauren Smith presented council with partnership contracts for the 2025 theater season. The council voted to approve two companies, Chameleon Arts and Entertainment and Green Glass Productions, for the professional season performances. Both companies are based out of Colorado Springs and present a return to Cripple Creek with professionalism and quality performances. Council also approved Friends of the Butte, a non-profit, to continue with their lease to provide concessions at the theater.

• The council also passed a resolution for the city to designate public places for the posting of meeting notices as required by the 1991 Colorado Open Meetings Law, applicable to “local governments including any county, city, city and county, town, home rule city, home rule county, home rule city and county, school district, special district, local improvement district, special improvement district, or service district.” A “meeting” is defined as “any kind of gathering, convened to discuss public business, in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of communication.”

As a responsibility of City Clerk Malissa Gish, the required meeting notices must be posted no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting to be held, and all meeting notices shall include specific agenda information, whenever possible. Meeting notices will be posted outside the Cripple Creek City Hall, the Cripple Creek Post Office and on the City of Cripple Creek web-site.

The Pikes Peak Courier is the city’s newspaper of record regarding the posting of public and legal notices.