City of Glenwood Springs rescinds indoor mask order effective January 31

City of Glenwood Springs

In observation of the downward trend in COVID cases in Garfield County, the City of Glenwood Springs will rescind the city-wide mask order for indoor public-facing spaces effective January 31, 2022. Community members are strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks indoors, especially in crowded spaces. Please follow requests from facilities or businesses that may still require masks.

Glenwood Springs City Hall walk-in services remain temporarily closed to the public with services continuing by appointment, virtually and by drop-off. These protocols have been extended through February 11; however, we are carefully monitoring the COVID omicron outbreak in consultation with local health officials and will adjust as necessary.

Virtual Services

The community development and engineering permit desks will continue to serve customers through digital submissions or by appointment similarly to previous COVID protocols. You can reach the community development department at 970-384-6450.

Utility bills and other fees can be paid online, by phone, by mail or by using a payment drop off box (located at the eastern entrance outside city hall or in the parking lot drop box on the west side of city hall). Customers are encouraged to setup automatic direct debit payments. For more information, visit www.cogs.us/Pay or call 970-384-6455.

Police administrative services is open by appointment. For non-emergency inquiries, the police department can be reached at 970-384-6500.

Community Center

The community center remains open with masks encouraged. Individuals who are sick are asked to not enter the building. If you believe you have been exposed, please seek testing and follow applicable isolation or quarantine protocols. Self-screening and disposable masks are available at entrances in addition to public health reminders throughout the building.

Municipal Court

All court dates through February 11 will be by phone. Defendants should call in beginning at 7:45 a.m. on their scheduled court date to 970-384-6530. If the lines are busy, please hang up and keep trying as the lines may get backed up. Defendants are still required to appear by phone, on their scheduled court date and must call in as the municipal court will not call you on your court date.  If you need to discuss your case or court date, please contact the court prior to the court date. When court is in session, a Spanish interpreter is available. In person court dates will resume February 15 at 8 a.m.

Public Meetings

All city public meetings with more than 10 people will be held via virtual conference through February 11. This includes city council and all city board and commission meetings. The public can find conference call information on the agendas for each meeting, which are posted at city hall and online at www.cogs.us. Public meetings can be attended via Zoom or by calling in with the conference information.

City of Glenwood Springs rescinds indoor mask order effective January 31

COGS: City of Glenwood Springs Implements City-Wide Mask Order Due to COVID-19 Spread

City of Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs, Colo. – Upon review of the latest data from public health officials, the City of Glenwood Springs issued a public health order for all individuals two years of age or older to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when entering, inside, or moving within any public indoor space within the city limits. The order will become effective on December 29, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until further notice. This public health order will be reevaluated in January 2022 with advisement from local public health professionals and hospitals. Exemptions and exceptions can be read in the public health order.

The city-wide mask order is intended to help reduce community transmission amongst surging local cases. According to public health officials, the Omicron variant is more contagious than any previous variant and is now the leading form of COVID-19 in the United States. Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties have seen dramatic increases in COVID-19 case rates recently. The test positivity rate in Garfield County has doubled in the last week from approximately 8% to 16%. 

“Reducing infections is a critical regional concern because we are seeing a dramatic increase in cases and the Omicron variant is so infectious,” said Assistant City Manager Jenn Ooton. “Requiring masks indoors is one of several precautions we can take to combat COVID and we encourage folks to continue utilizing other strategies like getting tested, getting vaccinated, and staying home if you’re sick.”

In addition to wearing masks indoors in public spaces, the City would like to strongly recommend that businesses and other entities follow best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Masks, frequent handwashing and staying at home if sick are effective strategies to help reduce spreading illness. Testing is available at multiple locations through Roaring Fork, including: free COVID testing, state testing site in Rifle on Sundays 12 – 4 p.m. at 195 W. 14th St., at medical provider offices throughout Garfield County, and for purchase at big box stores.

COGS: City of Glenwood Springs Implements City-Wide Mask Order Due to COVID-19 Spread

COGS: City of Glenwood Springs implements operational changes due to COVID-19 spread

City of Glenwood Springs

Mask protocol implemented for inside city facilities; public meetings to be virtual-only participation

Due to the high level of COVID-19 cases in neighboring Eagle and Pitkin counties and the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, Glenwood Springs City Manager Debra Figueroa issued an order for all City facilities that requires all staff and visitors to wear surgical-style masks while indoors effective immediately through January 2022. This protocol includes the indoor areas of City Hall, the Community Center, the Recycle Center and the South Canyon Landfill. Masks are available at the entrances of City Hall and the Community Center.

January Public Meetings

Additionally, all City public meetings with more than 10 people will be held via virtual conference only for the month of January. This includes City Council and all City board and commission meetings. The public can find conference call information on the agendas for each meeting, which are posted at City Hall and online at www.cogs.us. Public meetings can be attended via Zoom or by calling in with the conference information.

Municipal Court

All January Court Dates will be by phone. Defendants should call in beginning at 7:45 a.m. on their scheduled court date to 970-384-6530. If the lines are busy, please hang up and keep trying as the lines may get backed up. Defendants are still required to appear by phone, on their scheduled Court date and must call in as the Municipal Court will not call you on your Court Date.  If you need to discuss your Case or Court Date, please contact the Court prior to the Court Date.

Operational Changes

According to public health officials, the Omicron variant is more contagious than any previous variant and is now the leading form of COVID-19 in the U.S.

“By requiring surgical masks indoors and shifting public meetings to a virtual format, we are aiming to create a safer environment in our civic spaces for our neighbors and employees and to help minimize further staffing crunches and gaps in services,” said Figueroa. “We are expecting that there will be some impacts to the level of City services and at times it may be difficult to keep up with snow plowing and other City business at our normal pace. We respectfully ask for patience as our community weathers the effects of this wave.”

The City facility mask protocol, virtual public meetings, and Municipal Court by phone operational changes will be evaluated in January.

The City would like to strongly recommend that businesses and other entities follow best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Masks, frequent handwashing and staying at home if sick are effective strategies to help reduce spreading illness. Testing is available at multiple locations through Roaring Fork, including: free COVID testing, state testing site in Rifle on Sundays 12 – 4 p.m. at 195 W. 14th St., at medical provider offices throughout Garfield County, and for purchase at big box stores.

COGS: City of Glenwood Springs implements operational changes due to COVID-19 spread

COGS: No outdoor water use in Glenwood Springs

Garco 911

12:27 pm, July 30 – Glenwood Springs: No outdoor water use until Wednesday, August 4th at 6:00 pm. A message will be sent when the issue has been resolved.

City of Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs issues increased water use restrictions for July 31 until August 2
9:32 pm, July 30, 2021

NO LAWN WATERING or outdoor usage restriction implemented 

Glenwood Springs, Colo. – The City of Glenwood Springs has issued increased water restrictions for July 31, 2021 until 8 a.m. on August 2, 2021 following heavy rains over both the Grizzly Creek and Lake Christine burn scars and heavy debris into the Roaring Fork River and No Name Creek. No exterior water use including lawn watering, washing cars, and filling pools. Water remains safe for regular indoor use and consumption.

“Right now, all of our water tanks in town are at a good level for indoor water use, but we expect the debris in our water supplies to remain rather heavy with all the recent rain,” said Public Works Director Matt Langhorst. “Forecasts indicate there is still more rain to come which likely means even more debris, so it is important that everyone take action now to tun off outdoor water systems, which use very high amounts of water, until the debris lessens.”

The City is working with large water users on the City water to turn off outdoor water systems. Water restriction violations can be reported to Glenwood Police at 970-384-6500. These restrictions will be reviewed daily.

Debris flows

There have been several slides into the water supplies. 

“For a sense of how much debris we’re clearing, we currently have a turbidity reading of about 300-400 NTU coming from the Roaring Fork and approximately 4,000 NTU from No Name. A typical reading for our water sources is less than 6 NTU,” said Langhorst.

NTU stands for nephelometric turbidity units and is a measurement for cloudiness in water. Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality.

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
1 de agosto de 2021

Glenwood Springs emite mayores restricciones de uso de agua al aire libre del 31 de julio hasta el 2 de agosto

Se implementan restricciones de NO REGAR EL CÉSPED o de uso de agua en exteriores

Glenwood Springs, Colorado – La ciudad de Glenwood Springs ha emitido un aumento de las restricciones de uso del agua del 31 de julio de 2021 hasta las 8 a.m. del 2 de agosto de 2021 después de las fuertes lluvias sobre las marcas de los incendios de Grizzly Creek y el lago Christine y los fuertes escombros en el río Roaring Fork y No Name Creek. No se podrá utilizar el agua en el exterior, incluyendo el riego del césped, el lavado de coches y el llenado de piscinas. El agua sigue siendo segura para su uso y consumo en interiores.

En este momento, todos nuestros tanques de agua en la ciudad están en un buen nivel para el uso de agua en interiores, pero esperamos que los escombros en nuestros suministros de agua sigan siendo bastante pesados con toda la lluvia reciente”, dijo el Director de Obras Públicas Matt Langhorst. “Los pronósticos indican que todavía hay más lluvia por venir, lo que probablemente significa aún más escombros, por lo que es importante que todos tomen medidas ahora para apagar los sistemas de agua al aire libre, que utilizan cantidades muy altas de agua, hasta que los escombros disminuyan”.

La ciudad está trabajando con los grandes usuarios de agua de la ciudad para apagar los sistemas de agua al aire libre. Las violaciones a las restricciones de agua pueden reportarse a la policía de Glenwood al 970-384-6500. Estas restricciones se revisarán diariamente.

Flujos de escombros

Ha habido varios deslizamientos en los suministros de agua.

“Para tener una idea de la cantidad de escombros que estamos despejando, actualmente tenemos una lectura de turbidez de alrededor de 300-400 NTU procedentes del Roaring Fork y aproximadamente 4.000 NTU de No Name. Una lectura típica para nuestras fuentes de agua es de menos de 6 NTU”, dijo Langhorst.

NTU son las siglas de unidades nefelométricas de turbidez y es una medida de la nubosidad del agua. La turbidez es la nubosidad o la confusión de un fluido causada por un gran número de partículas individuales que suelen ser invisibles a simple vista, como el humo en el aire. La medición de la turbidez es una prueba clave de la calidad del agua.

Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

8:18 pm, July 31, 2021

Glenwood Springs: No outdoor water use until Monday August 2nd at 8:00 am. A message will be sent when the issue has been resolved.

COGS: No outdoor water use in Glenwood Springs