Fraser and Winter Park Street Operations 

Street operators have been busy with snow management operations which include snow removal, maintaining snow plows, equipment, loaders, and dump trucks. Public Works would like to remind all residents to put out and retrieve their trash cans promptly to allow efficient snow removal and prevent damage to trash cans and snow plow equipment. Also, please pay attention to parking restriction signage so that we can effectively conduct snow management operations. 

Placement of Snow

Please be mindful when clearing snow from private properties and businesses that the snow isn’t being placed into any portion of a traveled street, alley, public highway, sidewalk or other pedestrian path. This is outlined in Section 11-1-30 of the Fraser Town Code. Every property is required to have proper snow storage on site instead of moving it into the public right of way.

Ranch2Ranch Trek rescheduled

Heavy snows last weekend forced Grand Nordic to postpone and reschedule the Ranch2Ranch Trek to Saturday, February 29. Join Grand Nordic for a cross-country point-to-point ski trek from Snow Mountain Ranch to Granby Ranch via the Fraser to Granby Trail. Volunteers are also needed to help with the event. For more information, visit grandnordic.org.

Daffodils fundraiser will be March 10

Northwest Colorado Health is holding its Hospice Daffodils fundraiser on March 10 to support hospice and palliative care services in Grand County. Bunches of 10 or more can be ordered online at northwestcoloradohealth.org/daffodils. Online orders will be delivered March 10. Daffodils also may be purchased 12 to 5 pm, March 10 at City Market in Granby. Daffodils are $5 for per bunch, $24 for five bunches and $46 for 10 bunches. For more information, call (970) 871-7609.

High Altitude Volleyball Challenge to be held in Granby

Are you tired of playing the same adult volleyball teams, week after week? Then join Granby Rec. for an adult co-ed volleyball tournament at Middle Park High School. The tournament format will be pool play (4 nets) into a single elimination tourney. Each team is guaranteed 3 matches. The tournament will be held on Tuesdays, March 3 and March 10, 7-10 pm, and the cost is $125 per team. For more details and to register your team, call the Granby Rec Dept at (970) 887-3961. 

Let’s Chat! 

Grand County Economic Development is hosting a free Community conversation on current county topics of interest on Monday, February 24 at the Granby Library from 11 am-3 pm. This is your opportunity to join the discussion, give your input and network with community members.  

11 am-12 pm: Peak Health Alliance – Information on an affordable health insurance initiative for Grand County;

12-1 pm: 2020 Census over Lunch (free) – The importance of capturing an accurate population count in the county and how to participate;

1-2 pm: Home Talent Initiative – Come find out what Homegrown Talent Initiative is and how you can be a part of helping our students find their passions, engage with their community, and develop new skills and competencies to develop lifelong learners;

2-3 pm: WorkInGrand.com – Learn about the popular workforce community platform and how to join the movement.

RSVP at gced.events.idloom.com/lets-chat.

SCAM ALERT: Avoiding U.S. Census Scams

It’s almost time for that once-a-decade tradition of counting every person living in the U.S. also known as the U.S. Census. The official head count has already officially begun in Alaska and Census Day is April 1st. In an effort to make sure that census is safe for all participants, the Census Bureau offers these following safety tips to keep in mind:

Avoiding Online Census Scams:

It is important to know that the Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Further, during the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

– Your Social Security number

– Your bank account or credit card numbers

– Money or donations

In addition, the Census Bureau will not contact you on behalf of a political party.

Staying safe at home:

If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, you can do the following to verify their identity:

– First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date.

– If you still have questions about their identity, you can call (800) 923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

Reporting Suspected Census Fraud

If you suspect fraud, call (800) 923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. If it is determined that the visitor who came to your door does not work for the Census Bureau, contact your local police department. 

Winter Park STR Changes

The Town of Winter Park has entered into Voluntary Collection Agreements with both Homeaway (VRBO) and Airbnb effective February 1, 2020. Under these agreements, Homeaway (VRBO) and Airbnb will begin collecting and remitting local sales tax to the Town of Winter Park on all reservations (bookings) made on or after February 1, 2020.

Homeowners and Property Managers are responsible for collecting and remitting the local 7% sales tax to the Town of Winter Park on any reservations (bookings) made prior to February 1st, regardless of the stay dates or the date you receive payment from Homeaway (VRBO) or Airbnb.

For example, if you have a reservation for a stay in March 2020 that was booked by the guest in January 2020, you will be responsible for collecting and remitting local tax on this reservation.  If you have a reservation in March 2020 that was booked by the guest in February 2020, Homeaway (VRBO) or Airbnb will be responsible for collecting and remitting the local 7% sales tax to the Town of Winter Park. Please note the local 7% sales tax is due on all gross revenues generated from your short-term rental for stays less than 30 days. Gross revenues include nightly rental fees, cleaning fees and all non-optional fees charged to your renters.

A valid business license is still required for your short-term rental in compliance with Winter Park Town Code. The Town recommends you reach out to Homeaway (VRBO) and Airbnb directly to obtain a list of future reservations for your property as of January 31, 2020. You will need this information to file upcoming sales tax reports. We also recommend you contact Homeaway (VRBO) and/or Airbnb to confirm your tax remittance responsibility.

If you have questions about this, please contact Susan Kauber at (970) 726-8081×216 or skauber@wpgov.com.

House Committee Tackles Youth Vaping

Last week, the House Committee on Health and Insurance passed, by a vote of 9-1, critical legislation to address the youth vaping epidemic in Colorado. HB20-1001, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Mullica and Colin Larson would raise the age of sale to 21, require cigarette, tobacco and nicotine product retailers to obtain a license and increase enforcement to prevent underage sales.

“The youth vaping epidemic in Colorado is threatening lives and risks reversing the decades of progress we’ve made reducing teen smoking,” said Rep. Mullica (D-Northglen). “These electronic smoking products are dangerous and extremely appealing to minors. There’s a lot more we can do to keep them out of the hands of our youth, and this bill takes several bold steps forward to do just that.”

The bill would significantly enhance underage sales enforcement by requiring retailers to obtain a state license. Under current law, fines are often too low to dissuade retailers from cracking down on underage sales, and no process exists to take away a retailer’s ability to sell nicotine products if they repeatedly sell products to minors. Under HB20-1001, the state could suspend a retailer’s license for repeatedly violating state law. The bill would also mandate more frequent compliance checks and moves that responsibility to the Department of Revenue (DOR).

In addition to raising the age of sale, increasing compliance checks and creating a robust enforcement mechanism, the bill would close a loophole that allows for the sale of vaping products online. The online loophole makes it far easier for Colorado youth to purchase vaping products and then sell them in schools. During the committee hearing, a nine year old testified about how easy it is for a fourth grader to buy vaping devices online and have them delivered directly.

In an effort to further combat youth nicotine use, the bill would prohibit flashy advertising in stores that appeals to youth. It would also prohibit new tobacco product retailers from opening within 500 feet of a school.  

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and many youth who begin using vaping products transition to combustible tobacco products, such as cigarettes. Colorado has the highest rate of youth e-cigarette use in the nation, and 27 percent of Colorado high school students report that they use these products, a rate twice the national average.

E-cigarettes contain cancer-causing chemicals and toxic heavy metal particles such as zinc, lead and nickel. Furthermore, nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that can harm adolescent brain development, including working memory, attention and learning.

Project CHILDSAFE® comes to Granby Police Department

The GPD will provide free firearm safety kits to local residents through a partnership with Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearms safety education program. The safety kits, which include a gun lock and firearm safety education materials, will be available at the GPD and can be picked up Monday – Friday from 8am to 4pm. 

Project ChildSafe, a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), has distributed more than 38 million firearm safety kits throughout the country since 2003. The program receives support from the firearms industry, federal and state grants and from public donations. 

“We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Sgt. Amy Ryan-Williams “Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gun lock. The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home.” 

By partnering with Project ChildSafe, GPD is participating in a national effort to promote firearms safety education to all gun owners. Project ChildSafe distributes gun lock safety kits to all 50 states and the five U.S. territories. 

“We are pleased to have the GPD as a Project ChildSafe partner,” said Bill Brassard Jr., director of Project ChildSafe. “Project ChildSafe is an important step forward in helping ensure that all firearm owners fully understand their responsibilities with respect to the safe handling and storage of firearms.”