Montezuma County commissioners Tuesday ordered a fire ban to begin Monday and reviewed COVID-19 preparations.
Sheriff Steve Nowlin recommended a fire ban after talking with fire chiefs across the county. He reported five out-of-control burns in the past two weeks.
The ban has no end date, but Nowlin said he hoped it would be lifted by mid-summer, when monsoons usually start. Residents may obtain a burn permit from a local fire district.
“I don’t want to keep it on if we don’t need it,” Nowlin said.
Nowlin said permitted burns would be observed by firefighters, who would be on site to help contain the burn.
The fire ban, approved 3-0, will go into effect at 6 a.m. Monday.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings, the meeting was held with participants at home and videoing in their participation. It was carried live and recorded on the county’s YouTube page.
Montezuma County Emergency Manager Jim Spratlen said his office expects delivery of rapid-testing equipment for COVID-19 this week.
The county also is developing an information system for restriction requirements, assistance programs and other county efforts to deal with the novel coronavirus. Spratlen said the system could be used in future disaster scenarios.
“Hopefully, we won’t every have to use it again,” he said.
He noted residents have been generous with donations of supplies to Southwest Memorial Hospital and other medical providers. Ford Motor Co., has donated 500 face shields to the county.
The county is creating a database to identify residents with special needs to help service providers.
To aid businesses after Colorado’s stay-at-home order is lifted April 27, county Administrator Shak Powers has drafted a letter that provides information to businesses to appeal any state-ordered closure after April 27.
Powers said it is likely many restrictions will be lifted gradually after April 27.
However, Powers said an essential element of freedom in the U.S. Constitution is the right to petition for redress of grievances, and he said his letter will offer businesses guidance on how to appeal any restriction imposed by the Colorado Department of Pubic Health and Environment that might limit or preclude commerce after April 27.
Commissioner Keenan Ertel noted that the World Wrestling Entertainment has been deemed an essential business in Florida, and based on that logic, he believes all businesses in Montezuma County could be viewed as essential and should be open.
“If they’ve determined WWE is an essential business in Florida, well then I think every business in Montezuma County should be open by that measure,” he said. “I don’t see letting these businesses go bankrupt when they consider WWE to be an essential business.”
parmijo@durangoherald.com
