Shop owners, workers see widespread compliance in Breckenridge mask zone

Breckenridge’s walkable Main Street looked a little bit different this weekend as people were required to wear face coverings or masks while in the town’s new mandatory mask zone. 

After hearing reports of people not wearing masks when walking around, the Breckenridge Town Council voted Thursday, July 9, to require masks for the entire walkable Main Street. Signs went up around town on Thursday informing people they were in the mandatory mask zone. 

The mask zone extends from the Blue River on the west to South Ridge Street on the east. The north boundary is at North French Street while the southern boundary extends past the southern end of Main Street.  

The council took Summit County’s requirement that everyone wear a face covering in buildings open to the public and outside when a 6-foot distance isn’t possible one step further in its emergency ordinance. Under the ordinance, people are required to wear a mask whenever entering or inside a place of business, in an outdoor public place while in the mask zone and outside of the mask zone if a 6-foot distance isn’t possible. 

The town placed two community service officers on Main Street while shops are open in order to inform people of the ordinance. If a person is caught without a mask they can be fined $50 for the first offense, $250 for the second offense and $500 for the third and all subsequent offenses.

“If people don’t want to be compliant with this, we’re going to try to educate them,” he said. “Then if they’re going to be obstinate and they’re going to mistreat the (community service officers) or our front-line workers then there will be a fine structure. That’s how we’ll see this proceeding.”  Said Mayor Eric Mamula  

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 12, 2020

The following animals are available for adoption at the Summit County Animal Shelter. Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit http://www.summitcountyco.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.

Cats

ASPEN, 6 months, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female  

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray and gray tabby, neutered male

LUCKY, 7 years, domestic shorthair, dilute calico and white, spayed female  

PEPPER, 7 years, domestic shorthair, black, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

CHANCE, 2 years, border collie mix, black, neutered male

DAISY, 11 months, great Dane mix, white and brown, spayed female

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

JAKEY, 5 months, Rhodesian ridgeback mix, red, neutered male

SOFIA, 6 years, Mastiff mix, white and brown, spayed female

YETI, 3 years, border collie and Labrador retriever mix, black and white, spayed female

ZOSO, 3 years, Australian cattle dog mix, black, neutered male

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Breckenridge designates mandatory mask zone, creates penalty for health order violations and is set to impose a curfew

Breckenridge Town Council on Thursday unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to establish a mandatory mask zone in the core of town. Council also unanimously passed a second emergency ordinance to create a process for penalizing businesses that violate the public health order. Both ordinances took effect immediately. An order from the town manager’s office to impose an 11 p.m. curfew on drinking and dining establishments also was agreed upon.

The first ordinance requires facial coverings to be worn in public at all times, including when outdoors, in a specified area. The previous rule only required masks outdoors when a 6-foot distance could not be maintained.

The boundary for mandatory masks generally extends from the Blue River on the west to Ridge Street on the east with the north boundary at North French Street. The southern boundary extends past the southern end of Main Street, including the gondola base area. The boundary includes the Riverwalk Center lawn and the Tiger Dredge parking lot.  

“While people are in an outdoor public place located within this mandatory mask zone, they are required to have a mask on,” Town Manager Rick Holman said. “It is no longer discretionary if they’re only within 6 feet.”

Outside the mandatory mask zone, Holman said, masks must be worn outdoors only when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Of course, a mask is not required while eating or drinking, and performers do not have to wear a mask if they are 25 feet from spectators, Holman said.  Violators can be fined $50 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third and subsequent offense. Mayor Eric Mamula noted that someone would have to “really be a nuisance to get a fine.” He said the town is looking at an ambassador program that would focus initially on education. 

“I don’t think there’s any doubt right now in the country — with what’s going on immediately around us, in the states immediately around us — we’re in the middle of a firestorm of the virus right now, and this is an action that this Town Council can take to potentially stem the tide in our community to keep our businesses open,” Mamula said. “That’s what this is all about.”

As for enforcement, Holman said community service officers would be reassigned immediately to help enforce the mandatory mask zone and that additional staff members could be implemented later. Holman said signage alerting people about the mandatory mask zone was expected to be up by the end of the day Thursday.

The second ordinance authorizes the suspension or revocation of Breckenridge business and occupational tax licenses for violation of the Summit County public health order. If a hearing determines that there is cause for sanctions, a license can be suspended for 30 days, and the establishment will be fined $2,650. 

Council member Erin Gigliello said she is not concerned with business compliance but advocated for a curfew. Council discussed a restaurant and bar closure time, which Holman said has been proposed as a countywide measure. Council member Kelly Owens said she would prefer Breckenridge to take the lead on this concept as it could take time for a countywide rule to take effect. 

Gigliello was concerned that issues could arise if Breckenridge has a curfew but the rest of the county does not. The majority of council members agreed to an 11 p.m. curfew, which will be set by order from the town manager’s office. Holman said he expects the order to take effect Thursday night and that it would apply to all businesses that serve alcoholic beverages or food.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is open for summer operations

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which opened for summer July 2, is offering scenic chairlift rides, outdoor dining, yoga classes, hiking, mountain biking and disc golf.​ Lift hours are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and require a ticket. 

The disc golf course, hiking and biking trails are open every day and are free to use. Outdoor yoga classes require a reservation and are offered at 11 a.m. Fridays and Sundays.

The Arapahoe Sports retail store and Black Mountain Lodge also are open with the lodge operating from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and the retail store open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The ski area’s 6th Alley Bar & Grill is operating, as well.

Breckenridge to require masks at all times in designated downtown area

Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula called a special town council meeting Tuesday morning, July 7, to discuss facial coverings in town, including an idea that would require masks at all times, including outside.

Mamula said he called the meeting to address his concerns about the lack of people wearing facial coverings. Mamula said he has had constant interactions with people who walk into places of business with their shirt or jacket up around their mouth or otherwise have no mask present. 

Council members all agreed the lack of compliance with the mask rule was a problem. 

 Town Manager Rick Holman said there’s been a lot of discussion in the community about how to increase compliance of the town ordinance requiring facial coverings to be worn in public when physical distancing cannot be maintained. He said that while enforcement inside businesses has been a challenge, there are also issues with compliance on Main Street and in the core of town with large numbers of people visiting.

Holman suggested creating mandatory mask areas in certain parts of town but said he doesn’t think law enforcement should be handing out tickets to those who do not comply.  Mamula said the town needs to spend money on community service officers or ambassadors to remind people about the rule, and council was largely in support.

Mamula suggested requiring masks in all areas within a certain boundary, from the gondola through Main Street Station and including Ridge Street, Main Street and part of French Street. 

“I think this is how we support our business community: We make the entire downtown area a mandatory mask zone,” Mamula said.

Council member Erin Gigliello said she was concerned that a wider-ranging mask ordinance could divert attention from the priority of keeping the local workforce safe. Council member Dick Carleton said he believed a mask zone actually would help the restaurant and retail community. 

Making people wear masks in the downtown area at all times also could take some of the pressure off business owners from having to educate customers about the rule, Mamula said.

Council member Jeffrey Bergeron called the move necessary, and councilor Kelly Owens said it could help create clarity on when and where facial coverings are required.

“This is all about, (at) the end of the day, Breckenridge not having to shut itself down,” council member Gary Gallagher said, expressing his support of a mask zone, though he said it should be a larger area. “Because when that happens, we all know we’ve got employees that aren’t working, we’ve got employees back in food lines, we’ve got employees looking for rent assistance. The whole thing just turns on itself and it’s really not just about somebody’s health, which is important, but it’s also what it does to the economy.”

Holman said Breckenridge would reassign community service officers into the downtown area to work on mask compliance. He said paid ambassadors would take time to hire but that the town could look into reassigning employees or consider volunteers as an option. He also said the council should be realistic about the size of the mask zone, keeping in mind that it would need to be signed and controlled.

Holman proposed amending the emergency ordinance to require facial coverings at all times in certain areas. Council plans to reconvene at 8 a.m. Thursday to approve the amendment and have the updated order active over the coming weekend. At the meeting, council will finalize the area where masks are required at all times and how it will be enforced.

Summit County extends safer-at-home order, discusses next phase of reopening

 Summit County’s extended safer-at-home public health order went into effect Wednesday, July 1, allowing for buses to hold up to 50% capacity and maintaining the county’s mask requirement.  

Public Health Director Amy Wineland signed the order Friday, June 26. It’s now set to expire July 31. The order continues to follow the lead of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with minimal exceptions. 

Summit County’s order requires masks or face coverings whenever people are in a building open to the public or outside and a 6-foot distance isn’t possible. The state’s order only “urges” the public to wear face coverings.

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 5, 2020

 Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit SummitCountyCo.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.  

Cats

ACE, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, white and black, neutered male  

ASPEN, 5 years, domestic shorthair, calico, spayed female

CEDRIC, 7 years, domestic mediumhair, white and gray tabby, neutered male  

CREEK, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, dilute calico, spayed female

FINNEGAN, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, black, neutered male

FOG, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male

GYPSY, 6 years, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray tabby, neutered male

LUCKY, 7 years, domestic shorthair, dilute calico and white, spayed female

MIST, 1 year 6 months, domestic shorthair, white and brown tabby, spayed female

PEPPER, 7 years, domestic shorthair, black, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

STREAM, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, dilute calico, spayed female  

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

BILLY, 16 weeks, pug and schnauzer — miniature mix, tan and black, neutered male

BLONDIE, 1 year 7 months, Labrador retriever and pit bull terrier mix, white, spayed female

BUZZ, 16 weeks, pug and schnauzer — miniature mix, black, neutered male

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

MILLIE, 9 months, Australian cattle dog mix, blue merle and tan, spayed female

Summit County realtors see big boost in business in June

Despite a dismal April and May, Summit County Realtors are seeing a shocking jump in the market. 

The past two weeks have been record-breaking for Land Title Guarantee Co., which oversees 90% of business in Summit County. Land Title Director of Sales and Marketing Brooke Roberts said June orders were up 116% from June 2019. 

 A major factor in Land Title’s jump in business is that the company recently hired two additional closers from Stewart Title, who brought their business with them. However the jump in activity is being seen across Summit County and in other resort markets. 

Roberts said her counterpart in Eagle County is seeing a similar jump, and she’s even heard of a steady market in Tahoe, California.  

“This was a complete shock to me and my entire staff at Land Title,” she said. “We had absolutely no idea this was going to happen.”   

The demographics are changing. Rental income is not as important.  Mountain property has become more of an oasis for people to enjoy time with their family. If they can’t move here full time, many are fully expecting that their careers will allow them to spend a significant amount of time here and work here rather than tethered to an office.

Regardless of the reasoning behind the boom, Realtors agree it’s a promising sign for the future of the county’s real estate market. 

Frisco business owners share mixed reaction to Main Street promenade

It’s been two weeks since the town of Frisco opened its Main Street promenade, and business owners are starting to see its effects. 

At a virtual business meeting Wednesday, July 1, Frisco Town Council members spoke with business owners about their reactions to the promenade. The results were mixed. While some business owners felt the promenade gave them a much needed boost, others worried that blocking off Main Street is a detriment to their revenue.  

Town Manager Nancy Kerry shared a message from Mayor Hunter Mortensen, who was unable to attend the meeting:

“We are health-forward. Everything is about making sure we meet the health standards first so that we can allow businesses to stay open,” Kerry said on Mortensen’s behalf.  In general, restaurant owners are pleased about the outcome of the promenade and are seeing business pick up. 

“Being here in the core of the promenade, I just want to reiterate again, (it has been) extremely successful,” Greco’s Pizza owner Jonny Greco said. “Probably, for my business, saving it for the summer.”

However, some retailers and lodgers said the promenade is taking away from their business, with many people just perusing the stores rather than buying anything. 

“I’ve heard this from some retailers, that (the shoppers) are millennials that don’t have the money to spend,” council member Dan Fallon said. “They’re just out enjoying the social aspect of the promenade. They’re not out there to shop.”

Susan Wentworth, who owns the Frisco Lodge Bed & Breakfast and the Frisco Inn on Galena, said in the chat room of the meeting that “the promenade is not highly utilized by any shoppers.”

“Don’t see any guests carrying shopping bags,” she wrote. “Just restaurant areas busy. I sit at 4th and Main and watch kids and bikers cruise into (the) intersection without even slowing down or looking for vehicles crossing. It’s just a matter of time until someone gets injured. It appears great for the restaurants but no one else.”

Bruce Knoepful, owner of Frisco Lodge and Frisco Inn on Galena, said the promenade has hurt his businesses and many of his guests are worried that people aren’t social distancing and wearing masks. 

“My guests continue to pass on to me when they go on the promenade they’re extremely worried about the lack of social distancing and mask wearing on Main Street,” he said. “It’s a huge turnoff for them. I just feel the promenade, if it’s going to continue, it needs to be done in a safe way. I don’t think that’s happening.”

Knoepful said he also depends on people being able to see his business, which is not possible with Main Street closed to traffic. 

“We’re really struggling with the promenade because both at the Frisco Lodge and the Frisco Inn on Galena, we depend on people being able to see our businesses,” he said. “Just yesterday, I saw three cars come down Main to the Fifth Avenue barricade, turn around, go back to the Summit Boulevard and leave. I’m just very concerned about the promenade.”

Mary Waldman, owner of Summit Mountain Rentals, said her customers have had a different reaction to the promenade. 

“All the guests that I’ve booked to come into town are excited about Main Street being a walkable Main Street,” she said. “Whether they actually come and partake and spend money, but the idea of it is very appealing for them to choose Frisco. … I think it’s fantastic, and I’d love to see the Main Street promenade stay open.”

Bob Kato, owner of Tavern West, said that although his business is not included in the promenade, he’s supportive of anything that brings visitors to town.

“It doesn’t help me out at all down where I’m at,” Kato said. “The main thing about the promenade, and I’ve gotten feedback from my customers that come there, is that it’s a real good experience. Even though the promenade probably hurts me, if it’s bringing people into Frisco … then it’s good for everybody.”

Any changes that might be made to the regulations surrounding the promenade will be determined at the Town Council meeting July 14.

Summit County to close bars at direction of the governor

 Less than two weeks after Colorado bars opened at 25% capacity, Gov. Jared Polis has closed them once again. 

At a news conference Tuesday, Polis announced bars and nightclubs, which were allowed to open at 25% capacity June 18, will have to close in response to rising case numbers of the novel coronavirus in Colorado and nearby states like Texas and Arizona. 

“In my eagerness to get Colorado reopened and back to a semblance of normalcy, our guidance on June 18 allowed bars and nightclubs to open in a reduced capacity,” Polis said at the news conference. “I was excited. … I know they’re important. They’re important economically, not only for the people that work in bars but an important way to get your frustrations out.”  

The news also impacts restaurants, which will have to close their bar areas again. While bartenders can use the area to make drinks, customers will not be allowed to sit at the bar, Wineland said. 

Bars still will be allowed to offer takeout drink options. 

Polis said the nature of bars and nightclubs makes it increasingly difficult to prevent the spread of the disease.

Summit County prepares for a physically distanced Fourth of July weekend with no fireworks

The Fourth of July is going to look a bit different this year with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but organizations and towns around the county are working to provide a bit of festivity for locals. 

While typical Breckenridge Fourth of July events, such as the Independence Day parade, have been canceled, Breckenridge Creative Arts is putting together several home-based, family-friendly activities for the holiday.

Melany Beck, marketing manager for Breckenridge Creative Arts, said the organization knows creativity is important for mental health. 

 “Just because it’s not our traditional Fourth of July parade on Main Street, we thought it was still important to have creative offerings for our community,” Beck said. “So we just created a way to have offerings but in a socially distanced or at-home way.”

The organization will host the BreckCreate Chalk Art Competition. Participants of all ages can enter artwork by uploading a photo to Facebook or Instagram, tagging @breckcreate and using the hashtag #breckcreatestreetarts along with their name, age and title of the artwork, which should be 2 by 2 feet or smaller.  

In Dillon, the Nacho Men will perform on a PonTune, a pontoon boat that will float along the shoreline of Dillon Reservoir from the Tiki Bar to the beach behind the Dillon Amphitheater. The amphitheater will be open for concessions from 3-6 p.m. 

“Folks can bring takeout and/or grab a beer while enjoying the view of the Gore Range and Ten(mile),” Kerstin Anderson, marketing and events director for the town of Dillon, wrote in an email. 

Anderson added that physical distancing, masks and frequent hand-washing are required for participants.  

Vanessa Agee, marketing and communications director for the town of Frisco, said the town does not have any planned events for the Fourth of July due to group size limits, but she said the town has prepared a list of things people can do to celebrate the holiday, which includes ideas like picnics, biking, kite flying and hiking. 

In Silverthorne, a drive-in movie night is July 3 for First Friday. The event in partnership with Breck Film Fest will feature the movie “Cars.” The drive-in movie sold out June 25, shortly after the town announced the event. The town noted on its social media announcement that those who were not able to reserve tickets can tune in to radio station KSMT The Mountain to listen to the live performance of The Beau Thomas Band from 7:30-8:30 p.m. 

Keystone Resort: No plans to open Ranch golf course at this time

 Vail Resorts spokeswoman Sara Lococo said Friday there are currently no plans to open up the Keystone Ranch Golf Course.

Lococo added there is no damage to the course’s 18 holes due to ice forcing the closure. Rather, Keystone is “focusing operations on one course with the River Course for now.”

Along with the Keystone River Course, other golf courses currently open in Summit County include Breckenridge Golf Club and The Raven at Three Peaks. Copper Creek Golf Course’s 18 holes at Copper Mountain Resort opened last Friday.

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of June 28, 2020

Michael Yearout Photography

Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit SummitCountyCo.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols. 

Cats

CEDRIC, 7 years, domestic mediumhair, white and gray tabby, neutered male  

FAYE, 2 years, domestic mediumhair, calico, spayed female

GYPSY, 6 years, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male  

JANICE, 10 weeks, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray and gray tab, neutered male

ROSIE, 11 months, domestic shorthair, calico, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

SNOWFLAKE, 2 years, domestic longhair, white, neutered male

WILLOW, 12 years, domestic mediumhair, gray and white, spayed female

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

BESSIE, 4 years, English foxhound mix, red and white, spayed female

BLUEBEARD, 2 years, German shepherd mix, tan and black, neutered male

DILL, 1 year, Dachshund mix, black and tricolor, neutered male

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

HONEY, 2 years, black mouth cur and Brittany mix, tan and white, spayed female

Breckenridge Town Council plans to seek outside advice for Social Equity Advisory Commission

Michael Yearout Photography

Breckenridge Town Council has decided to seek advice for the Social Equity Advisory Commission before moving forward. Council discussed the commission at their Tuesday work session meeting. Council Member Dick Carleton, who has been one of the leaders of the commission, said the initial step was for members of council and staff to get together to develop a draft of the application. 

Carleton noted that he wants the town to continue to put out information about the commission to get people excited and stressed that the town should make sure everyone feels safe in the process of forming and running the commission. Council Member Erin Gigliello said she doesn’t think the town should make any assumptions while laying the groundwork for the commission. 

“I think that we make a misstep when we start defining the problems. I think our community  needs to address how they’re feeling because this is all about perception … here, it’s community based and it’s the community’s perception that is important,” Gigliello said.  

Gigliello said there should be a forum to ask the community to contribute first and express how they’re feeling before the town acts. Mayor Eric Mamula said he thinks the town should ask for written comments but that a forum can be intimidating so comments should be provided differently, such as via email. He said that Carleton and Gigliello should be the ones to interview people for the commission and that the commission should write its own mission statement.

“I see this as extremely important, this is going to be a marathon, it’s not going to be a sprint. … I believe there are groups out there that have addressed issues like this and have a history, have a track record and I’m just wondering would it make sense as we begin to get going here that we have some conversations with some folks … to really help us come up with the appropriate guidelines,” Council Member Gary Gallagher said, noting the council should look beyond Summit County.  

Council agreed to seek advice for the commission and to let Gigliello and Carleton lead council’s efforts.

Breckenridge, Silverthorne recreation centers reflect on reopening, plan expansions

More than a week-and-a-half into their reopenings, the Breckenridge and Silverthorne recreation centers are planning on tweaking operations to accommodate more recreators and to provide more offerings amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking Wednesday morning, June 24, town of Breckenridge Recreation Director Scott Reid said since the public rec center’s reopening on June 10, operations have gone very smoothly, with recreators showing up ready to workout in the center’s 75-minute time blocks after pre-registering.

Starting next week, on Wednesday, July 1, Reid said the recreation center will bump up daily opening hours by 90 minutes, to 5:30 a.m., in turn offering one more 75-minute workout slot per day. With the change, Reid said, the center will make a slight change to its cleaning approach to serve more guests throughout the day. 

 Also, come July 1, the recreation center will begin selling passes again. That means those recreators who are not existing passholders for the first time will be able to use the facility if they purchase new passes. Reid said that goes for anyone, whether they be Summit County locals, seasonal residents or visitors. Walk-in guests will not be permitted.

As of Wednesday, Reid said, the recreation center is still requiring recreators to wear a mask while working out indoors. He said this is pursuant to the town of Breckenridge’s ordinance.  

“There’s been really good compliance,” he said. “I know the mask thing has been an issue for some, but that’s our stance currently until some other things change. … Once the town’s ordinance changes, we’d be open to that (change), but we are not going to be the ones setting the policy.

“As a community, masks are so important in our town because we welcome the world,” Reid added. “We bring people from all over. And the only way to remain open, for the community to function, we have to prevent spread, if that’s the best way to do it we’re all about it.”

Summit County plans to extend safer-at-home order

Summit County officials are leaning towards extending the local safer-at-home public health order, a move that would keep the county-wide face covering requirement. 

The county’s safer-at-home order expires on June 30. Much of the order falls in line with recommendations and mandates from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Summit County’s order requires that members of the public wear face coverings, or masks, in buildings open to the public and outside when a 6-foot distance from others isn’t possible.  The state order only “urges” people to wear face coverings in public. However, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has emphasized the importance of face coverings in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus in both social media posts and new conferences. 

“Our progress in Colorado is testament to the people of the state continuing to wear a mask, keep distance whenever possible and all of the additional protections around many of our older Coloradans, who are still staying home whenever they can,” Polis said at a news conference Wednesday.  At a joint meeting Tuesday, members of the county’s board of health and board of county commissioners expressed concern that letting the order expire would send a message that the county no longer cares about the mask rule. 

“I do see significant value in the mask component being a mandate,” County Manager Scott Vargo said. “My big fear is that, if we turn it off, it will give folks this indication that, perhaps, the county no longer thinks there is a value to mask-wearing and I think we will see a dramatic decrease in the amount of folks wearing masks locally.”

Public Health Director Amy Wineland and county commissioners Elisabeth Lawrence and Thomas Davidson agreed with Vargo. 

“I personally think the face masks are a key component of the non-pharmaceutical arsenal that we have to fight this illness,” Wineland said.

Local ski areas gear up for opening of summer activities

After months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Keystone Resort and Copper Mountain have all set dates to open for summer operations in upcoming weeks. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area plans to reopen as well although a date has not yet been set. 

First to open will be Keystone on Friday, June 26. While the Keystone River Course and outdoor play at the Keystone Tennis Center are already operating, rides on the River Run Gondola, hiking trails and prepackaged food and drink options at the Summit House will become available on Friday.  

The Keystone Bike Park will remain closed. Keystone Communications Manager Loryn Roberson said running the bike park “would require significant adjustments to operating protocols and our priority during this period of recovery is getting the basic planning and execution right.”

Keystone will operate Fridays through Sundays throughout the summer.  Breckenridge will open July 4 with rides on the BreckConnect Gondola, scenic chairlift rides on the Colorado SuperChair, hiking trails, the Alpine slides, the Gold Runner Coaster and prepackaged food and drink options will be available at Ski Hill Grill.  With certain activities like the golf course open again, Roberson said things are so far going well and that everyone seems to be happy to be outside doing the activities they love. She said the resorts have asked guests and employees to “take on an additional level of personal accountability to ensure the safety of our mountain communities,” similar to the Skier Responsibility Code.

Roberson said that while it is difficult to speculate what kind of demand the resorts will receive, the resorts are confident they can “accommodate all visitors this summer” given the expansive outdoor settings.

“We think that guests are looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the resorts again. We’re fortunate that our resorts provide outdoor settings to experience nature and practice physical distancing so that our guests can return to the activities they love,” Roberson said in an email. 

Both Breckenridge and Copper will open for summer activities on July 4. At Copper, Copper Creek Golf Course will open on July 3 for 18 holes of golf. On July 4, the mountain will offer hiking, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, the Rocky Mountain Coaster, weekend yoga and limited dining options. On-snow lessons in Woodward’s Central Park begin July 5 and will serve as sport-specific day lessons rather than the usual residential summer camp. Lift-served mountain biking off of Woodward Express, which was first available last summer, will continue again this year.

Colorado releases amended public health order, opening bars and expanding capacity at large restaurants

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has amended its safer-at-home order for the seventh time, opening nearly all businesses including bars. 

Summit County’s current public health order defers to the state’s guidance on all regulations. The county plans to fall in line with the state guidelines, Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier said.

“We have seen good progress, our numbers are at the level where we want to them to be,” she said. “Of course we’d like to see no cases, but we’ve had very few additional cases.”  Businesses that are able to reopen in Summit County will be required to fill out a physical distancing protocol form. The county is also keeping its face-covering requirement for people who are in a building open to the public or outside where a 6-foot distance isn’t possible.

The state’s amended order, which went into effect Thursday and was released Friday, allows bars to open at 25% capacity or with up to 50 people at a time, whichever is fewer. Regulations for bars are very similar to the guidelines that have been used for restaurants since they opened May 27. There is a limit of eight people per group, and customers in different parties have to remain 6 feet apart.  The ability to open bars will be great for the county’s economy, Stiegelmeier said. 

“Of course the concern there is, it’s all about socializing,” she said. “So hopefully we will have people socializing in safe ways.”

The state health department also released official guidance on indoor activities, outdoor activities and residential camps. The new guidance on indoor and outdoor activities allows for theaters and malls to open. It also gives the OK to trade shows, auctions, parades, festivals, receptions and fairs. 

However, there are capacity limitations based on the size of each venue. Both outdoor and indoor venues can use the state’s social distancing space calculator to determine how many people are allowed at the venue. The maximum number of people for an outdoor venue is 175 while the maximum for an indoor venue is 100. 

Under the new guidance for indoor venues, extra-large businesses and organizations (more than 7,200 square feet) that had already opened, like restaurants and houses of worship, are allowed to have up to 100 people at a time. Previously, all restaurants were allowed a maximum of 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever was fewer. Tables and groups at restaurants are still limited to eight people and groups must be 6 feet apart.

The order also requires employees at all venues to wear face coverings and be screened for symptoms at the start of their shifts.

Residential camps are allowed to open under the amended order, as well. Groups are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. 

The order continues to ban “establishments primarily based on smoking,” which includes cigar bars, hookah lounges and companies with cannabis social-use licenses. Casinos, amusement parks and arcades also remain closed, and bounce houses and ball pits are prohibited at any public or commercial venue.

The amended safer-at-home order is separate from the protect-our-neighbors phase of reopening, which Polis announced Monday along with the changes to the order. The new phase will open everything at 50% capacity or up to 500 people, whichever is fewer. 

That phase is not yet finalized, and the state has released only a draft framework of what it will look like. The department expects the final framework to be released in late June or early July.

Once the state transitions to the protect-our-neighbors phase, it will be available only to counties that meet certain thresholds. The state health department will approve counties that can prove a commitment to contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, community testing and targeted public health orders. 

The state has not yet established the specific criteria the counties will have to meet to move into the phase, so it’s difficult for Summit County officials to know when the county will be able to loosen its restrictions.