Bayfield and Ignacio town governments are preparing to close their doors as coronavirus cases spike across the region.
Coronavirus case numbers in the county have increased more in November than they did from March to October. The county’s outbreak meets state criteria for “severe risk,” and the county will implement more stringent public health restrictions Friday.
In response, Bayfield and Ignacio town halls are closing their doors to the public, but their services will continue as normally as possible.
“I started here a month before the shutdown, and I think there was some hope that we would have some normalcy by this time. That has not taken place,” said Katie Sickles, Bayfield town manager. “It is hard. It’s hard on family, businesses, schools ... our community.”
Colorado created a new level of restrictions this week, Level Red or “severe risk,” to try to avoid shutdowns similar to those in March and April. At Level Red, restaurants will be closed to indoor dining, gyms and office-based workplaces will be allowed only 10% capacity, and indoor event venues will close.
Bayfield will close town offices Friday. It plans to reopen Dec. 1, unless the Level Red restrictions remain in effect.
Critical services, such as sewer treatment, water treatment and law enforcement, will continue their essential operations. Nonessential staff members in public works, town hall and parks and recreation will use their sick leave and stay home.
Staff members will be available by email and voicemail, but it could take up to 48 hours to receive a response, Sickles said.
Staff members will not be available to accept cash payments for water station usage. Customers will have to pay in advance if they want to pay by cash Wednesday or Thursday, or they can set up online payments by credit card on the town’s website.
The town has purchased a load of personal protective equipment and “Kindly mask up” signs, which will be distributed to local organizations.
In Bayfield’s 2021 budget, adopted Tuesday, the town will save $400,000 for pandemic response in 2021.
Town staff members and the board of trustees are concerned about the future of local businesses.
“We’ve always been sort of a bedroom community,” said Trustee Brenna Morlan. “It’s been hard to keep our businesses. We need the businesses we currently have. I don’t want to lose any of those. The whole board very much wants to do what they can for the community.”
Ignacio town hall has not reopened since it first shut down because of the pandemic. More staff members were coming to the office, but now the town is limiting its staffing to comply with the new restrictions, said Mark Garcia, interim town manager.
Essential services, such as law enforcement and public works, will maintain their operations. Residents can continue paying bills online or through the town hall drop box.
“I think we’re in a good position to maintain operation,” Garcia said. “We’ve raised our awareness on our own personal behaviors outside of work, and we want to make sure people are making good decisions ... so they don’t infect themselves and then infect coworkers.”
As coronavirus cases rise, Garcia expected to hear more complaints about local grocery store Farmers Fresh Market, which has refused to comply with past public health orders.
“We have limited enforcement capabilities,” Garcia said. “We’ll get the message out to those that are violating the law as we have been, and we’ll be encouraging them to comply.”
Businesses have not reached out to the town government for financial assistance, Garcia said. If people are struggling with COVID-19-related impacts, they could receive support on their utility payments. Businesses can also access La Plata County relief money through Local First and other grants.
“We have not adopted any formal business support plans, and we don’t have any in the wings, either,” Garcia said. “I would see it as possibly being counterproductive if businesses are seeking assistance and getting assistance twice.”
With only $35,000 from the CARES Act relief money, the town can’t afford to hire a liaison or offer funding to businesses.
“We’re doing the best we can,” Garcia said. “Our trustees are pretty well connected to the business community. If there was a significant hardship ... we’d be working with that business.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
