Jeffco moves to CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level Medium 

Amid rising case counts and positivity rates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved Jefferson County from COVID-19 Community Level Low, to Community Level Medium. 

On May 1 the Jeffco seven-day case count was 677. As of May 17, that seven-day count had nearly doubled to 1,241. 

The updated status brings changes to statewide requirements and local recommendations. 

For members of the Jeffco community, and per Colorado state Public Health Order 20-38, updated May 19, 2022 by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), masking is now required in non-medical congregate settings serving at-risk populations, including homeless shelters, prisons, jails, community corrections, substance use and day treatment programs. Adult day centers and day programs also are included in the new guidelines. 

These locations must require masking of participants, visitors and staff when COVID-19 community levels are medium or high in accordance with COVID-19 Community Levels. Participants and visitors must wear face coverings, staff must wear medical grade masks or respirators. 

Christine Billings, interim director of emergency preparedness and infectious disease at JCPH said the additional precautions are necessary to prevent a repeat of the virus’ more serious community effects.

“While the community has experienced a recent respite from COVID-19’s toll, we know that this virus is here to stay in our community. That means that at times additional precautions need to be taken during times of higher transmission to best protect against the kinds of disease spread, severe illness and loss we saw during the last two years,” she said. “We have the tools to control COVID-19 infections in Jeffco, and we’ve all gotten very good at using them. We’ve seen how bad it can get, and together, we can keep it from getting there again.”  

Jeffco to sell Golden-area property for $8 million

The county government plans to sell its unused 51-acre lot, called the Ramstetter Property, along Highway 93 near North Table Mountain Park.

During a May 24 meeting, the county commissioners approved entering into an agreement with Bauknight Enterprises and Ball Properties to sell the Ramstetter Property for $4.15 per square foot. Although the exact acreage to be sold is still being finalized, staff members have estimated an $8 million price tag.

Deputy County Manager Kate Newman estimated the sale won't be finalized until this time next year, adding that Jeffco will retain at least three acres for future trail and road connections.

According to Newman, in 2000, Jeffco bought the property in the 5000 block of Highway 93 to build a residential treatment facility. However, that plan never went forward, and the property has been sitting vacant since.

Jeffco has received several unsolicited offers for the Ramstetter Property over the years, Newman described, and after identifying it as surplus, decided to solicit official offers last year.

Bauknight Enterprises and Ball Properties intends an industrial use for the property, and must go through the planning and zoning process before the sale can be finalized. The property is adjacent to the City of Golden boundaries, and the potential buyers might want to be annexed to obtain water and sewer access, Newman said.