HOP to IT 5% Pay Increase by Mike Wiggins [email protected]
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INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD ON TAP, PAGE 2 COUNTY NEARS HIRE OF ROADS BOSS, PAGE 8 5 0 ¢April 8-14, 2021 50¢April THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF RIDGWAY, OURAY, AND OURAY COUNTY YEAR 143, NO. 45OURAYNEWS.COM County: Continue masking up Mirroring last year's order, commissioners require facial coverings indoors By Liz Teitz them in public indoor places af- space,” the order instructs, in- wear masks for medical reasons, when distancing isn’t possible. [email protected] ter the state relaxed restrictions cluding any publicly or privately and while masks are required The order went into effect at 6 last week. owned indoor area that is open inside restaurants, they can be p.m. Wednesday. Ouray County commissioners Facial coverings must be worn to the public or a place of em- removed when seated. Masks The decision mirrors the one voted Wednesday to adopt a “when waiting to enter, enter- ployment. Children under 11 are are not required in most out- local mask mandate, requiring ing or within any public indoor exempt, as are those who cannot door spaces, but are encouraged SEE MASK ON PAGE 16 City workers get HOP TO IT 5% pay increase By Mike Wiggins [email protected] Ouray City Administrator Silas Clarke this week gave every city employee a 5 percent pay raise, a move he said was needed to boost sagging morale in workers who haven’t received a salary increase for years. Clarke, who said he discussed the plan with city councilors individually, unveiled it to the public for the first time during Monday’s City Council meeting. The pay raises took effect April 3. The salary increases affect 22 full-time employees and 29-part-time employees and will cost the city about $96,000, an amount Clarke said accounts for less than 1 percent of the city’s annual budget. He said he is the only employee not receiving a raise. In an interview, Clarke said he realizes he may take some heat for his decision. But he said he felt it was important to reward current employees for their hard work and perseverance through the pandemic, with- standing constant turnover within the city adminis- trator job the last few years and covering for multiple positions elsewhere in the city that haven’t been filled for months. He hopes, in turn, that employees will back him. “When I got here, there were very large morale issues with staff,” said Clarke, who moved from Nebraska to become the city administrator at the beginning of December. The Ouray Elks Lodge Easter egg hunt attract- He said city employees haven’t received mer- ed more than 100 people to Fellin Park on it-based pay increases in six years, receiving only Easter Sunday. cost of living adjustments during that time. He said the city conducted a pay rate survey in 2016 compar - The lodge was unable to host the event last ing employee salaries with those in similarly sized year due to the pandemic and limitations on communities, and he said almost all employees are group events. Such restrictions are loosening still paid at the lowest level on those now 6-year-old now with available vaccination and testing for survey scales. COVID-19. Clarke also said the city hasn’t conducted employee evaluations or established performance measures for Erin McIntyre — several years. Ouray County Plaindealer “Organizationally, yes, that is alarming. But coming into Ouray, you haven’t had a consistent city admin- istrator since the last time evaluations were complet- ed,” he said. The city hasn’t had a full-time city administrator for more than a year since Patrick Rondinelli resigned in 2017. SEE PAY ON PAGE 10 Ouray Peggy Lindsey Gifts for Locals, too! 970-325-4478 Open Daily Ridgway Broker/Owner 970-626-5462 644 MAIN ST., OURAY OurayRealEstateCorp.com 970-325-4408 970-596-1219 www.csbcolorado.com MountainFeverShirts.com 2 OURAY COUNTY PLAINDEALER — OURAYNEWS.COM APRIL 8-14, 2021 Debris removed, officials look to rebuild infrastructure for ice park, hydro plant By Mike Wiggins [email protected] Replacing penstock, water line, bridge will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars The hard work is done. A helicopter last week hauled away from the bottom of the Uncompahgre River Gorge the mangled steel building blocks of the Ouray Ice Park and the Ouray Hydroelectric Power Plant. Now comes the really hard work: the re- build. Managers of both organizations are devel- oping design plans, raising donations and dipping into savings to reconstruct multiple pieces of infrastructure that serve separate but important purposes. One is a vital cog in Ouray’s winter economy. The other is the oldest operating hydropower plant in the U.S. and a source of renewable energy. They face a tall order, thanks to an incident late on the night of March 15 in which an estimated 12,000 pounds of rock sheared off the canyon wall. It ripped out the penstock that carries water to the power plant and the trestle that holds up the 30-inch line. It also destroyed the 4-inch line that supplies water for the ice park and the metal walkway that accesses the park’s most popular ice climbs. Needing to remove the debris before the spring runoff, Jacobson turned to pilot Lorne Glick and Mountain Blade Runner Helicopters. Among other things, the Mon- trose-based helicopter services company specializes in high-altitude assignments. The Photos courtesy Jacob Raab/jacobraab.com K-Max 1200 helicopter that was brought into Workers remove the penstock, trestle and other debris belonging to the Ouray Hydroelectric Power Plant from the bottom of the Uncompahgre River Gorge on April 1, a little more than two weeks after 12,000 pounds of rockfall destroyed the infrastructure. SEE DEBRIS ON PAGE 10 COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Update OURAY COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN LEVEL GREEN - PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS PHASE 2 OF THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION Current Vaccine Current as of 4/2/21 distribution: Total doses administered: Phase 2 - General Public 3,027 *ages 16 and older First dose: 1,381 FULLY vaccinated: 1,646 State Mask Mandate Total tests administered still in effect. Ouray County Public Health 7,268 970-325-4670 Sign-up for a vaccine: www.ouraycountyco.gov Colorado Vaccine Hotline 1-877- CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926) APRIL 8-14, 2021 OURAY COUNTY PLAINDEALER — OURAYNEWS.COM 3 Seeking vaccines for teens a 'goose chase' As of Tuesday, Ouray County Public County discusses possible Health has administered 3,027 shots, and 1,646 people are considered “fully immu- clinic with Pfizer shots nized,” with either two doses of Moderna or one J&J shot, Kingery said. By Liz Teitz That number includes people who live [email protected] outside the county but have been vacci- nated here, but does not include locals After the state announced last week who have gone elsewhere to get shots. that anyone over 16 would be eligible for There are no geographic or residency a COVID-19 vaccine, Niki Dow began requirements for receiving the vaccine, searching. and providers have been instructed to She’d already been vaccinated at the vaccinate anyone who makes an appoint- 4-H Center in Ridgway, but she wanted ment at their site. to find a shot for her 17-year-old daugh- He’s hoping to have more information ter, who became eligible when the state’s on how many people have traveled for “Phase 2” opened on Friday. What she vaccines later this week. hoped would be a simple process turned While eligibility has expanded, the into “wild goose chase.” county is continuing its vaccination While the state is now allowing anyone clinics as it has for earlier, more limit- over 16 to be vaccinated, the Pfizer vac - ed phases, Kingery said. “The process cine is the only one approved for 16- and and setup and everything is going to be 17-year-olds. The Moderna and Johnson the same,” he said. Anyone interested & Johnson vaccines, which Ouray County should sign up online through the county has been receiving and distributing, are website, and will be able to schedule an only authorized for ages 18 and older. Liz Teitz — Ouray County Plaindealer appointment. Each week, the county requests vac- Selena Calderon, who lives in Ridgway, got her first COVID-19 vaccine from Public Health There are currently about 700 people cines and the state determines how many Nurse Rebekah Stewart at the 4-H Center. The county has given more than 3,000 shots so left to vaccinate on the county’s list, he far, and more than 1,600 people are considered "fully immunized," having received two of each type will be sent to each provider. said. The county is working through an Moderna shots or one Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But the Pfizer vaccine must be stored in existing supply of Moderna vaccines this an ultracold freezer, which Ouray County get vaccines, but no information about harder for teens to get shots. week for first and second doses. After a doesn’t have, so the Public Health Agen- which type was available at each site. Public Health Director Tanner Kingery previous order for J&J doses was denied, cy can’t order and receive that type. “It’s really frustrating,” she said. “I’ve said he and Public Health Nurse Rebekah the county’s latest order for 300 doses been on at least half a dozen websites Stewart are working on solutions. “We’re was approved. Those are expected to “It's really frustrating. for pharmacies and gone through their going to try to organize something with arrive this week, and Kingery is planning process, just to reach a dead end.” the schools, and work with our neighbor- J&J clinics next week.