GCLD Offers Drive Thru and Curbside

Based on guidance from Colorado’s Safer at Home Public Health Order and Grand County’s Standing Public Health Order, all Grand County Library District (GCLD) library branches will allow the checkout of physical library materials either by drive thru service or curbside pickup.

Granby Library currently allows the checkout of materials via the library’s drive thru window. Beginning Monday, May 4, Fraser Valley, Juniper, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Kremmling Libraries began offering curbside pickup. In order to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 through the transfer of library materials to different locations, only items within each library’s collection will be available for checkout from that branch location.

Pet Pals Update

We are still keeping our doors closed for a few weeks due to COVID-19. Please call the shelter at (970) 887-2988 and leave a voice message if you are interested in any of the adoptable dogs and cats. We can’t wait to reopen our doors to our wonderful volunteers. 

The Pet Pals Board of Directors completed a Bark Park clean up on May 7th and are tentatively going to open the Bark Park on Sunday, May 10. They have also been working on some improvements at the Park and making sure it’s all cleaned up before the gates open. As always, please clean up after your dogs. So many dog parks have been closed because owners weren’t picking up after their pets – we don’t want to be one of those parks! 

Suspension of Fraser Disposable Bag Fee Extended

As part of the continued effort to lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure while local businesses begin the process of reopening, the Town of Fraser is extending the suspension of disposable bag fees to May 31, 2020. While Town sustainability initiatives are a priority, lowering the risk to our residents and guests during this pandemic is vital. Thank you for your help in keeping our community healthy and resilient!

US CENSUS suspends invitations to your door.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the delivery of 2020 Census invitations to physical addresses has been suspended. However, residents are able to respond without a Census ID. To respond online, visit 2020census.gov. To respond by phone, call (844) 330-2020 for English and (844) 468-2020 for Spanish, 9 am to 4 pm, seven days a week. After you complete the 2020 Census, send a copy of your response receipt, proof of physical address matching the response receipt, and a mailing address to Grand County’s Complete Count Committee Chair at akimbrough@co.grand.co.us to receive a $25 VISA gift card and a limited edition enamel pin, while supplies last.

We are in this together

No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone. Call (844) 493-TALK, or text TALK to 38255. coloradocrisisservices.org

Colorado facing serious budget challenges

Budget-slashing in the governor’s economic development office is calling for a sweeping reduction of Colorado’s tourism and marketing budget.  The Joint Budget Committee is weighing an 87% cut to the $18.5 million Colorado Tourism Office budget as gambling revenue evaporates under COVID-19 closures. Nearly $15 million of the state’s tourism promotion fund comes from gambling and casinos.

Take the Survey!

This week, GCLD is excited to launch a community survey to gather information about how our libraries are serving the Grand County community. We want to understand our strengths, as well as any areas where we have an opportunity for growth. The responses we receive will be used to inform our long-term strategic planning over the next five years.  

The survey takes approximately six to eight minutes to complete. We are looking to hear from everyone in our community, including current library users and those who have never visited one of our libraries. Everyone’s voice matters.

Participants will be given the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card to a local Grand County business. All responses will remain anonymous and will direct the vision of GCLD for you, our community, and people visiting Grand County.

Thank you very much for your feedback and support of GCLD!

Take the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/GCLD_CommunitySurvey

Business Owner Resources 

Resources for business owners on how to navigate the financial and legal ramifications of COVID-19. Learn about available loans, grants, funds, and more at workingrand.com.

Any business, public or private gathering, or organized recreation that intends to open or take place while the Governor’s and CDPHE’s COVID-19 “Safer at Home” and other state and local public health orders remain in place must also comply with the Grand County COVID-19 Mitigation and Suppression Plan. Compliance includes submitting a Compliance Verification Form through Grand County Public Health and displaying approved acceptance documentation prior to opening. The form can be found at co.grand.co.us/saferathome.

For questions regarding Grand County’s COVID-19 response please contact the Grand County Joint Information Center at (970) 725-3803 or email jicgrandcounty@gmail.com. For questions regarding the state’s Safer at Home order, visit covid19.colorado.gov/safer-at-home-faq. To report violations of this order, visit co.grand.co.us/violation.

Supplies for Businesses

Energizecolorado.com is mobilizing to help Colorado businesses. In a few short days, they will be selling surgical masks, cloth masks, vinyl gloves, hand sanitizer, and more (at cost) ONLY to Colorado businesses. The process will be manual – you’ll need to complete a form, order, and pay over the phone. Supplies should ship within 3 days. Check their website for updated information.

Emergency Business Consulting

Sign up for a complimentary appointment with an Emergency Business Consultant from the Northern Colorado Small Business Development Center. These consulting sessions are free and confidential. Your business must be located within Grand County, CO. To make an appointment, visit clients.coloradosbdc.org.

Forest Service institutes Fire Restrictions

To protect public health, safety, and natural resources by preventing wildfires, as Firefighting and Law Enforcement resources are limited, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rocky Mountain Region, which includes Arapaho National Forest, has instituted fire restrictions through May 31, or until rescinded. 

The Order prohibits the following acts: 

  1. Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves. 36 CFR §261.52(a). 
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building. 36 CFR § 261.52(c). 

EXEMPTIONS: Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from specified Prohibitions of this Order: 

  1. Persons with a Forest Permit, Form FS-7700-48, specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order.
  2. Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty is exempt from Prohibitions. 
  3. Persons using pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials are exempt from Prohibition #1. 
  4. Residents, owners or lessees within the area who are using a fire in a permanent dwelling with an effective and properly installed USDA- or SAE- approved spark arrestor, are exempt from Prohibition #1.

Holders of valid Forest Service permits, leases and authorizations and all other persons are on notice that when proceeding with activities that are authorized pursuant to these Exemptions, such persons are responsible for conducting authorized activities in a safe and prudent manner using extra precautions and are electing to proceed at their own risk. An exemption does not absolve an individual or organization from liability or responsibility for damage, injury or loss to the United States for any fire started while undertaking the exempted activity.

Emergency repairs underway in the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel

Emergency repairs due to water damage continue to shut down one lane in the eastbound side of the Interstate 70 Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT).  The lane will be closed 24/7 until repairs are completed, which is expected the latter part of next week. Delays have been minimal due to light traffic volume.  The other eastbound lane through the tunnel remains open to traffic. The emergency repairs are not impacting westbound I-70 through EJMT.  Those lanes are open.

The heavier snow this winter season led to more runoff than usual, resulting in groundwater drainage problems in the south tunnel which was constructed in 1979.

Once emergency repairs are complete, work will begin on a longer term project to resurface the pavement in the EJMT.  Work will include  asphalt removal and paving, concrete improvements, utility repairs and roadway re-striping.  The project will improve driving conditions and safety.

Travel impacts will include day- and nighttime single lane closures in each direction during the month of May through early June and from early September through late October.  Nighttime closures will continue through the summer. 

There will be full bore tunnel closures during the course of the project, with most of those closures expected to occur in the fall.  Full bore tunnel closures will take place at night. During the full-bore closures, traffic will be detoured through the other tunnel. For example, when the eastbound tunnel is closed, traffic will be alternated in both directions via a pilot car in the westbound tunnel. 

Work will occur Sunday night through Friday.  

Brannan Sand and Gravel, of Denver, is the prime contractor on this project. Work is expected to be complete by the end of October. For information, email: EJMTresurfacing@gmail.com or call the Project information line: (970) 423-0093. For the latest road conditions, visit cotrip.org.

REMEMBER: Slow for the Cone Zone!

Motorists are encouraged to limit travel to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  When traveling, heed the speed limit and slow down in work zones. 

  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!