Our highest priority as County Commissioners is to keep Gilpin County safe. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working strategically and diligently to take steps to help reduce health risks to the residents and county employees, while ensuring the financial viability of the County and keeping essential functions operating.
In March, prior to the stay at home order, Gilpin County took precautionary measures and closed the Gilpin County offices. Administration acted quickly and implemented new tools and resources that allow employees to work from home and stay socially distanced. Those employees whose work functions could not be performed at home, were required to maintain the Center for Disease Control’s recommended distance and wear personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves. The County also ensures that all office spaces continually undergo a deep cleaning and disinfecting.
Additionally, in April, the County Board of Health enacted a new public health order to close county roads to non-residents to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
We appreciate the residents’ and employees’ support in complying with the recent orders that went into effect at State and County levels. Anonymous cell phone tracking statistics have shown that between April 1 and April 20, Gilpin County was consistently in the top three Colorado counties for compliance. These efforts have been effective. To date, Gilpin County has only one known case of coronavirus.
Effective April 27, 2020 the State shifted to the “safer at home” phase, and the Governor along with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment gave local Boards of Health guidelines to follow in determining how best to keep everyone safe and healthy. With that guidance, Gilpin County decided to extend the County stay at home order until May 8, 2020.
While Gilpin County has a low number of new infections, regional hospitals have inadequate resources to handle the number of hospitalizations the pandemic may cause and we do not have any ability to do targeted testing. We do not have the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to allow our first responders to administer tests, nor do we have adequate resources to complete appropriate contact tracing. Because of this, we do not meet the necessary criteria to move to the “safer at home” phase. Our Emergency Operating Center is in the process of procuring more PPE along with masks and gloves.
We also looked at the differences between the stay at home and the safer at home order. The age of “Vulnerable Individuals” is now 65 or older under safer at home. All other requirements for Vulnerable Individuals remain the same. For those under 65, the order asks individuals to stay home as much as possible, and to limit travel to trips within our county when possible.
Bars remain closed under both orders. Restaurants are still allowed only to provide takeout and delivery. Some retail stores are allowed to provide curbside pickup and in instances where they can demonstrate proper social distancing, open doors to customers on a limited basis. Grocery and liquor stores, marijuana shops, and gas stations all are operating in the same manner they were since the first order was implemented.
The small businesses in Gilpin County that are not already open, as well as our casinos, would remain closed under either order.
Nearly all of our adjacent counties have implemented stay at home orders. Travel to any of them will fall under the stay at home requirements for anyone who travels out to those counties for services.
Given all those inputs, we decided it was in the best interest of all of us to continue to stay at home for the additional two weeks.
While safety is a top concern, we are constantly mindful of our primary obligation to serve the community courteously, efficiently and effectively. It is our responsibility to ensure that the County utilizes tax funds wisely to sustain the County and provide the necessary resources to the residents.
Due to the large economic impact of Coronavirus to the County and lack of Cares Act funding, the decision was made to temporarily close the Community Center. Additionally, the Gilpin County Public Library Board of Trustees made the decision to temporarily suspend a large portion of library services. Effective May 2, 2020, approximately sixty employees that work in these areas will be furloughed.
We are continuing to work with the federal government on funding opportunities. As changes are made that impact Gilpin County, the information will be posted on our website.
We encourage you to visit the website to learn about resources and services available to residents during this difficult time. Please also join us for the next virtual Town Hall on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM to receive County updates. To join the town hall and submit questions in advance please visit www.gilpincounty.org.
Sincerely,
Gilpin County Commissioners
Ron Engels, District 1
Linda Isenhart, District 2
Gail Watson, District 3