Published on March 12, 2020

by E.E. Mullens

WALSENBURG — During their regular meeting this week, the Huerfano County Commissioners announced they would be in Trinidad Tuesday afternoon meeting with their Las Animas County counterparts and representatives of the Las Animas-Huerfano County Health Department in discussions regarding the coronavirus (Covid-19 strain) outbreak.

The board indicated the meeting was to establish level-one disease protocols for the two counties.

The commissioners met with Huerfano County department heads, elected officials and employees on Wednesday at 1 pm to discuss infection prevention methodology.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, March 10, Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a State of Emergency concerning the COVID-19 virus.

Huerfano County Emergency Manager Larry Sanders said late morning Tuesday that county administration has activated an interim policy regarding the health crisis for employees and the necessary paperwork required by the governor’s action. Sanders said in his email, “Effective immediately, any employee performing any work related to COVID-19, including planning or other preparations, needs complete and submit an ICS 214 form for all hours worked, relating in any way to this issue. Please do this for each day’s work, if your activities are in any way, in whole or in part, related to COVID-19. Employees performing normal duties, do not need to complete this form, but if you have any question that your time might apply, please complete the form just to be sure.” Sanders explained the necessity of employees filling out the paperwork, “These completed 214 forms will need to be submitted to HR along with your time-sheets, as the 214 form is now considered a required part of your time-sheet; when applicable. This interim policy is also in effect for any county volunteer employees, and for all persons who may work in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or any other Emergency Operations. This State of Emergency might make State or Federal funds available to Huerfano County. The completed ISC 214 forms are required by the State in order for Huerfano County to be eligible for any potential reimbursement.”

On March 3, the county received a technical update rom Colorado Technicial Services Inc., supplying guidance for counties responses to the virus relative to their position as employers. The update said the best time to prepare for an emergency is before a situation becomes one, and stressed the important for governments to have a contingency plan in place. “One key factor in any contingency plan is to identify critical functions and staff and to consider how an emergency might impact them”, said the CTSI update.

The update also included CDC (U.S. Center for Disease Control) employer guidelines that recommend: encouraging sick employees to stay home; separation of sick employees from healthy ones and once identified, send the ill employee home; continued emphasis on good respiratory etiquette, i.e. covering a sneeze or cough with a tissue or by using an elbow of shoulder and continued hand washing and cleaning and sanitizing of all commonly touched surfaces.

Search & Rescue:

In another area of emergency response, the board of commissioners unanimously approved stipends for volunteers and sheriff’s deputies for duty and training in the sheriff’s office search and rescue department. The volunteers approved into the program will be listed as volunteer employees for insurance coverage purposes.

The motion to approve included a 20 person cap on the stipend program and denoted payments as $20 per training session and $30 per day for a S & R incident response. Also mandated in the motion is the fact volunteers must attend 15 training days minimum.

In other business:

• The board approved three Emergency Watershed Protection program change orders; one for Meridian Partners for $20,480; one for Frontier Environmental Services for $225,830 and another with the same company regarding an area off of Yellowstone Road for $15,000.

• Approved a change order deducting $9,284 from the Judicial Center contract with G.H. Phipps as less expensive carpeting has been obtained. • Approved the county contribution to the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation’s Fox Theatre operation and maintenance budget at $13,630.

• Heard an allegation from Jose Baros, who said he witnessed four county road and bridge employees at a local auto parts retailer buying a single item. He questioned the excessive manpower necessary for such a transaction. He also alleged county employees were driving county vehicles through Westcliffe to the Pueblo West Walmart for shopping. Baros did not provide any evidence to support his claim. Commissioner Max Vezzani said the allegations were serious and said the board would certainly look into them if the complaintant could provide evidence to support his allegations.