This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Boulder County Closures and Cancellations due to COVID-19

The county remains open to provide services, but access to buildings and in-person services is limited

(Boulder County, Colo.) -- As of Sunday, March 15, three presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Boulder County. With growing concerns around community spread in Colorado, Boulder County is taking additional immediate measures to help reduce the rate of transmission by limiting opportunities for exposure. This will help protect our most vulnerable residents and reduce strain on our healthcare system.

Social distancing is the most effective method to accomplish this. While Boulder County will remain open to provide necessary services to county residents, many buildings and offices will be closed to the public and some services will be accessible by phone or online only.

Below is a list of Boulder County closures and cancellations, and information on how to access services.

Message from the Boulder County Administrator

“We know that in times of crisis, our community needs our services more than ever,” said Boulder County Administrator Jana Petersen. “By limiting our contact with the public to only those essential activities, we are doing all we can to ensure that county government operations help to reduce the spread of COVID-19."

"At the same time, we want to make sure that community members in need have resources available to help them," Petersen added. "I am grateful to everyone in public service who is responding to this uncertain situation, and I want to thank Boulder County employees for all they are doing every day in service to our community.”

This list is subject to change and will be updated as additional decisions are made. Please continue to check www.BoulderCounty.org for updates

Cancelations (these are in addition to previously announced cancelations):

• Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 has been canceled.
• The Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 26 has been canceled.
  
  

Closures:

• Boulder County Head Start: Closed through March 27. Parents will be informed of any additional closures through Head Start's typical notification processes.
• Hazardous Materials Management Facility, 19014 63rd St, Boulder, is closed indefinitely.
  
  

Limited Access to Buildings

The Downtown Boulder County Courthouse in Boulder and the Clerk & Recorder's Offices will remain open for statutorily required services only (subject to change based on future decisions by the State of Colorado.)

Buildings closed to public access

• Community Planning & Permitting, Courthouse Annex, 2045 13th St. Boulder
• Ron Stewart Parks and Open Space, 5201 St. Vrain Rd. Longmont
• Workforce Boulder County, Boulder location, 5755 Central Ave. Suite B, Boulder
• Coroner's Office, 5610 Flat Iron's Parkway, Boulder
• Public Works, 2525 13th Street, Boulder 
• Housing and Human Services, 2525 13th Street, Boulder
  
  

Community Planning & Permitting Department

• Community Planning & Permitting webpage
  New planning applications and building permit requests are currently not being accepted; the county is working to establish an online process as quickly as possible.
• Building issues related to health and safety needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 
• For more information, contact 303-441-3930 (which will go to voicemail) or use the following email contacts:
  • Building Code & Building Plan Review: [email protected]
  • Floodplain Permits: [email protected]
  • Permits & Contractor License Applications: [email protected]
  • Planning/Zoning: [email protected]
  • Transportation Development Review: [email protected]

Department of Community Services Limited Staffing

The following Community Services functions will have no face-to-face or walk-in appointments beginning  Monday, March 16. Residents can call instead: 

• Area Agency on Aging 
  Community events, trainings and classes are canceled but other services will continue and will be provided remotely. 
  Meal services are changing and will no longer be site-based. 
  For more information about nutrition programs, call 303-441-4995. 
  For general inquiries about Aging Services, email [email protected] or call 303-441-3570.
• Community Justice Services,  303-441-3690 (Boulder) or 303-682-6854 (Longmont).
  Pretrial Supervision Only: email contact [email protected]

• Workforce Boulder County
  Call 303-413-7555, 720-864-6600, 720-618-7184 or [email protected]
• For Job Search: www.connectingcolorado.com
  For Virtual Resume Critique or Interview Prep: [email protected]
  For Business Customers: [email protected]
  For Information about Unemployment Insurance and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: https://myui.coworkforce.com/Welcome
  Unemployment Insurance Call In:
  Denver Metro: 303-318-9000/ Toll-Free: 1-800-388-5515
  Spanish Denver Metro: 303-318-9333 Toll-Free: 1-866-422-0402
  Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY) Denver Metro: 303-318-9016 Toll Free: 1-800-894-7730

• Veterans Services
  Call 303-319-8746
  
  

Department of Housing and Human Services Limited Staffing

Housing and Human Services (HHS) will have limited staff available at the North Broadway Campus, 3400 North Broadway, in Boulder and at the St. Vrain Community Hub, 515 Coffman Street, in Longmont. 

• Residents who need assistance are encouraged to contact HHS by phone or text (303-441-1069) or email at [email protected]. Participants can also use the live chat function at www.BoulderCountyConnect.org during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Our child and adult protection services will continue as normal. To report abuse or neglect of a child or adult, residents can call the hotline at 303-441-1309.
• Participants can also sign up for and manage public assistance benefits online through Colorado Peak at https://coloradopeak.secure.force.com/. Complete information is available at www.BoulderCountyHHS.org. 

Public Works Department

• Roadways and maintenance services
  For roadways, road maintenance services including snow and ice control will continue.
  All Utility Construction, Oversize Load and Overweight Load permit applications must be submitted online at https://www.bouldercounty.org/transportation/permits/utility-construction/ and may be picked up in person only on Thursdays at the Longmont Public Works office, 5201 St. Vrain Road, Building 5.
  
  

Online Accessible Services

Boulder County is compiling a list of all services accessible online at Online Services. The page is continuously being updated. 

Limited Staffing

County staff who are able to work remotely will be doing so, which may delay responses to general inquiries. However, many county employees will continue to report to their regular work locations to perform duties in response to the COVID-19 emergency or to perform functions that are related to public safety or are required by statute.

For updates related to the novel coronavirus (COVII-19), go to www.BoCo.org/COVID-19.