Frequently Asked Questions

You should select a funeral home to make final arrangements. The funeral home representative and the Coroner’s Office will coordinate with each other in order to facilitate these arrangements and to eliminate possible delays.

No, our office does not select funeral homes.  Surviving family needs to select the mortuary that they desire to handle funeral arrangements.

No. In a majority of cases, visual identification is not required. Should it become necessary for you to come in or bring other records or x-rays, you will be contacted.

Yes, but keep in mind it may not be advisable.  It will be at the discretion of the Coroner. It is recommended you wait to view at the Funeral Home.

The Coroner is required by law to investigate all deaths (1) that occur outside a physician's care; (2) that are sudden or unexpected; (3) that cannot be ascertained to be a natural death by documented medical history and circumstances. The involvement of the Coroner’s Office does not mean that an autopsy will automatically be performed. The Coroner's Office may take jurisdiction over an apparently natural death if (1) the death was unexpected and no medical cause can be determined; (2) the decedent was not under the care of a physician, and/ or there is no prior documented medical history to explain the death; (3) the death might be a public health hazard; (4) there are extenuating and/ or suspicious circumstances associated with the death.

An autopsy is the examination of the body to determine the cause and manner of death. It is similar to a surgical procedure. Often, an autopsy can reveal an undiagnosed disease process or abnormality. It may also detect a genetic disorder that could be inherited by surviving family members. In an accidental death, the question of how a disease process contributed to the accident (if at all) must be answered. Often insurance companies will deny payment of benefits until the autopsy results are available. If the death is due to apparent natural causes and there is sufficient evidence of a pre-existing illness or medical condition, an autopsy may not be necessary. However, if there is any question that the death may be due to "other than natural causes" an autopsy will be performed. In an obviously traumatic death, the cause of death may appear obvious; however, there may be contributing, underlying factors. Again, the insurance companies may deny benefits until they receive the autopsy results.

Colorado law (CRS 30-10-606) provides the authority for the CORONER’S OFFICE to perform an autopsy as part of an investigation. We use the following guidelines:

1.  If the autopsy is deemed unnecessary for the investigation, it will not be performed. By law, an autopsy cannot be performed by the Coroner's Office solely for "medical curiosity." If the family or Doctor would like a medical curiosity autopsy to be performed, it must be arranged by the family or by the doctor with the family's permission, and be done by the Pathologist of your choice. You should be aware that the financial responsibility falls upon the requesting party and an autopsy can be quite expensive.

2.  If the Coroner's Office deems it necessary to perform an autopsy as part of the investigation, the law grants us the ability to take jurisdiction of the body to perform the autopsy. There is no charge for an autopsy conducted under these circumstances.

3.  If you or your family should disagree with our decision to perform an autopsy in spite of the benefits and the questions it will answer, you must obtain a Court Order through your attorney to prevent the autopsy from taking place. All legal financial obligations incurred are your responsibility.

Yes.  You may obtain a copy by calling the Office of the Grand County Coroner at (970) 724-0083 and requesting a copy.  You will then be instructed to go to the website and fill out the Request for Autopsy Report and send to the office.

Find Form Here

Any personal possessions in the custody of the Coroner may be claimed by the legal next of kin. To avoid any inconvenience to you, call the Grand County Coroner's Office at (970) 724-0083 before coming into the office. We will advise you if any documents will be needed and of any other requirements. 

Clothing is not usually considered property. Unless there is a need to hold clothing as evidence, it is released to the mortuary receiving the deceased. Clothing that presents a health hazard may be disposed of for the safety of all persons involved.

If the Coroner's Office is investigating the case and an autopsy is performed, we will issue the Death Certificate. It is given to the funeral home to be filed with State Vital Statistics. The funeral home will issue you as many copies as you request and pay for. Copies may also be obtained from the County or State Dept. of Vital Statistics.

Approval for release is required by the Coroner's Office for tissue/ organ donation in deaths that fall under Coroner Statutes. Only heart valves, skin, long bones, and corneas can be donated after death. Persons on life support may be eligible for organ donation. A donation will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Normally, no.  However, there are exceptions and you will receive written correspondence when, and if, they apply.

In order to enter, you need to obtain permission from the Law Enforcement agency involved.

Hot Sulphur Springs:

Steamboat Springs:

Lakewood:

Loveland / Ft Collins:

(Some Insurance companies will cover the cost of the cleanup.)

Property tax is calculated by multiplying the assessor’s appraised (actual) value of the property by the assessment rate to get the assessed value. The assessed value is then multiplied by the mill levy.

Mill levies are the rates of taxation set by each taxing authority, not the Assessor’s Office. Each tax authority has a district boundary. A taxpayer’s total mill levy is calculated based upon where their property is located. The county, towns, schools, and special districts each have a separate mill levy, which is indicated on the annual tax bill you receive from the county treasurer. 

The assessment rate is the percentage paid by a taxpayer based on property classification. 

The assessor is required to send you a Notice of Valuation for real property on or before May 1 of each year. 

For intervening years, a notice of valuation included with the tax bill shall fulfill the requirements of C.R.S. 39-5-121(1.2).

The assessor is required to equitably value all property in the county according to Colorado statutes. Real property is reappraised by the Assessor’s Office every odd numbered year. The value determined by the assessor for the year of reappraisal is generally used for the intervening year also. The real property is valued as it existed on January 1 of the current year. The appraisal data used to establish real property value, in a reappraisal year, is from the prior 24 month period ending June 30. Residential property can only be valued based on market sales, per Amendment 1 of the Colorado State Constitution. For all other property classifications, the Assessor’s Office must consider the cost, market, and income approach.

39-1-104 (10.2) (a) (d) CRS Establishes the reappraisal cycle/data gathering period/appraisal date and concludes "said level of value shall be adjusted to the final day of the data gathering period."

Time Adjustment Methodology When price levels are changing significantly, sales prices must be adjusted for time. Separate time adjustment factors, by type of property and geographic area, may be necessary as rates of change in real estate prices often vary with these factors. Most appraisal organizations, such as the Appraisal Institute (Institute) and the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), recognize the need for time adjustment (trending) of sales prices to the date of appraisal.

Determination of market adjustments for time involves the consideration of the four basic techniques of time trend analysis:

• Resale Analysis - the advantage of this technique is that it minimizes quality and location adjustments; however, characteristic changes between sales must be accounted for. The disadvantage of this method is the limited number of these types of sales.
• Paired Sales Analysis - This is a reliable method in areas where homes have minimal differences. This method works well in condominium complexes.
• Multiple Regression Analysis - This is a reliable tool for evaluation of the influence of several independent factors, such as property characteristics or time, on a dependent variable such as sale price.
• Sales Ratio Analysis - This reliable technique is efficient in that it inherently allows for large sample size. It does not require adjustment to the sales, in that it implicitly considers such factors by expressing sale price to assessed value, which should already reflect all relevant physical and location factors.

Defensible space is the system of removing flammable vegetation near a home or structure making it more resistant to wildfire. Please visit the Colorado State Forest Service Firewise website.

Please call Warren D. Ward at 970-531-1120.

Please call Warren D. Ward at 970-531-1120.

Please call Warren D. Ward at 970-531-1120.

Yes, all general contractors and subcontractors are required to be registered in Grand County. 

Contact the Building Division for more information at 725-3255.

• A one-story detached accessory building, which does not exceed 120 square feet, used as a storage shed, playhouse, or similar function, but only when in conjunction with a single family dwelling.
• Fences not over 6 feet high.
• Painting, carpeting, cabinets, and similar finish work.
• Concrete walks or patios not more than 12 inches above grade.

An agricultural building is a structure located on real property classified as agriculture by the Grand County Assessor that is designed, constructed, and used to house farm implements, hay grain, poultry, livestock, or other horticultural products.

This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, nor shall it be a place used by the public.

View the EBT Payment Schedule webpage for details.

Any benefits left at the end of the month in your food assistance EBT account will be carried over into the next month. Any benefits not used will be removed from the card after 365 days. 

Right of Way Use Permits can be obtained online or at the Granby Road and Bridge office from April 15 through October 15 (weather permitting).

Crack sealing is a process used to seal cracks in the road surface without completely resurfacing the road. The cracks in the road are cleared of rocks and debris using an air compressor. Then, the cracks are filled with hot sealant to prevent water damage.

Chip sealing is a resurfacing technique in which oil contact texture is sprayed over the existing asphalt on a road. Rock chips are then spread over the surface followed by a fog seal to complete the process.

Chip sealing is an effective way to improve the road's surface quickly and efficiently.

A STR (also known as a vacation rental) is the nightly or weekly rental of dwellings, dwelling units, mobile homes, rooms or accommodations, excluding hotel and motels, for less than 30 consecutive days, including but not limited to: single family dwellings, duplexes, multi-family dwellings, townhomes, condominiums, time share or similar dwellings. Many hosting sites provide a service to clients listing their properties online for rent to wide audience groups online.  Some examples include, but are not limited to: Vrbo, Airbnb, HomeAway, Trip Advisor, and many other vacation rental hosting sites.

Any property in unincorporated Grand County which is being rented for less than 30 consecutive days must be registered with Grand County’s short term rental (STR) program.  If your property is located in the town of Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs or Kremmling, your property may be required to register with the specific town, as each town has its own application process, fee structure, and regulations.

If you are using your property to generate income in Grand County, as described above, you must have a current Colorado sales Tax ID (Form CR 0100), issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue.  The property owner or property manager shall be responsible for remitting County sales tax and lodging tax. 

Colorado Sales Tax Withholding Account Application

 October 1, 2019 a new House Bill (HB1240) went into effect assigning sales tax collection responsibilities to a marketplace facilitator.  This essentially means that online booking sites, such as Airbnb, Vrbo and others, are now responsible for remitting sales tax on your behalf.  Please verify this with any site your are listing your property for rent.  To read more please visit the Colorado Department of Revenues website :  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax/sales-tax-changes

Income earned from renting your property as a STR is subject to tax in the State of Colorado. Note - you may also be subject to federal taxes.

Yes.  Grand County passes along the processing fee for both credit cards and e-checks.  For the privilege of using a credit card, the additional fee is $.75 + 2.25%, for an e-check it is $1.00.

Each short-term rental shall have a primary and secondary person responsible to manage the Short Term Rental during any period it is occupied.  The 24-hour contact persons may be the property owner or property manager and they must reside in Grand County and be able to respond within one (1) hour or less.  Unless you reside within Grand County, you may not list yourself as a primary or secondary emergency contact.  You must list someone within one hour of the property who can be responsible for emergency situations which arise.  (Excessive trash on site, parking related issues, etc.)

Yes. If your rent your property to anyone for less than 30 days at any time during a calendar year, you must register with Grand County’s short term rental program

Yes. As indicated above, any property in unincorporated Grand County that is rented for less than 30 days for one or more times in a calendar year must be registered with Grand County’s STR program.

No. Any short term rental property must register with Grand County’s STR program, with a unique Colorado Sales Tax License. You may not use your local business license number.

No. The type of ownership, or whether it is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity is irrelevant.  If you are renting a property as a STR to generate income in Grand County, to any party or parties, the property must be registered with Grand County’s STR program.

Airbnb does remit sales and lodging tax to the State of Colorado; however if you list with an additional booking agency, like Vrbo, you are required to obtain your own Colorado Sales Tax license.   Further, if your property is CLOSE to one of the towns (Winter Park, Fraser, Granby or Grand Lake), we have noticed that Airbnb in particular may be charging you MORE taxes than you need to remit. Airbnb often pulls the closest town taxation rate, which is not required for unincorporated Grand County.  This may be an additional 4-6% charge on your property.  Airbnb is now requiring written notice if your property does not require Town Sales Tax; you may contact the Grand County Treasurer’s website to download a the specific tax rates for each town at http://co.grand.co.us/DocumentCenter/View/461

This may be true.  Please provide the name of your management company and contact person, and we will verify this information, and their preferred methods of contact.

The permit fees are used to administer and monitor compliance of terms, conditions and requirements for short term rental operations.  A third party consultant pulls the listing / hosting site data, and staff provide the necessary support to customers.

Yes. The Board of County Commissioners plans to hold a formal review on an annual basis.

Grand County requires a Short Term Rental Permit for "any property to be offered, advertised, operated, or rented as a short term rental." If your property is listed online as a short term rental, you must hold a valid Short Term Rental Permit, even if you don't have any current availability.

You may notify the county of your lease - providing a copy of the contract with expiration dates - and you will be removed from the STR requirement.  Should the lease terminate, and you choose to begin renting your property on a hosting site, or with a property management company for nightly rentals, you will be required to apply for a STR permit.

You may contact the County, notifying staff of this sale.  If the sale closes, staff will change ownership of the property.  If your listing expires, or the sale is terminated, and you choose to list your property on a hosting site, or with a property management company for nightly rentals, you will be required to apply for a STR permit.

Each STR is valid for one calendar year.  Upon issuance of a STR permit, the County will email a copy of the permit, permit number, expiration date, and emergency contact information to the property owner.  We ask that upon receipt, you, or your property manager place the permit on site as soon as possible, (in the kitchen, or other central location.)  Approximately ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the permit, you will be notified about the upcoming expiration / renewal of the permit.

Click here to read the most current Resolution. 

New in 2023: Grand County Board of County Commissioners approved an increase in the Short Term Rental Permit fee to $100.00 per occupant, a cap on maximum occupancy for any short term rental property at 16 people, and further limiting the maximum occupancy to any short term rental property that utilizes an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS/Septic System) to design capacity (2 people per bedroom plus 2 additional occupants).  

GCPH wants to emphasize the importance of taking the necessary precautions to protect each other. We all have a role to play in limiting the spread of this virus. Steps that everyone can take to slow the spread of the virus include:

• Limit gatherings to small groups, do not congregate
• Anyone showing signs or symptoms of being sick must stay home
• Employers conduct symptom screenings of all employees daily
• Limit, where possible, all high and medium risk interactions
• Practice good personal hygiene (wash hands frequently, cover coughs, do not touch your face)
• Wear face coverings in public areas
• Protect our vulnerable populations like the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions
• Maintain 6-foot distancing from others
• Increase ventilation as much as possible in all facilities
• Frequent sanitation of high touch surfaces
• Use cleaning and sanitizing products that meet EPA standards and CDC requirements

For COVID-19, close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19.
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19.
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19, although just passing by a person for a few seconds should not cause you to be overly concerned.
• Being in direct contact with fluids from a sick person with COVID-19. This includes being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.

Disease investigations, including contact tracing, are part of the process of supporting patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. Grand County Public Health (GCPH) completes contact tracing for every positive case in the county. In contact tracing, Grand County Public Health (GCPH) works with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the timeframe while they may have been infectious. They then warn these exposed individuals (contacts) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible. Contacts are provided with education, information, and support to understand their risk, what they should do to separate themselves from others who have not been exposed, monitor themselves for illness, and the possibility that they could spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill. Anyone contacted is assessed for symptoms throughout their quarantine. The contact is then tested for COVID-19 at the end of the 14-day period if symptoms arise. Anyone ordered to quarantine is not able to test out of quarantine due to the long incubation period of the virus.

Quarantine is for people who are not currently sick but who have been or may have been exposed to a communicable disease, like COVID-19. If you have been in contact with someone who has been placed on quarantine: they are not contagious---yet. They are being monitored for symptoms and are not identified as a COVID-19 positive case. Your contact with a quarantined individual does not put you at risk. Quarantined individuals have been in direct contact with a positive COVID-19 case but may not have enough virus in their system to be contagious, or even develop the illness at all. Should that quarantined person develop symptoms or test positive, their contact with you within the investigation timeframe could be considered in their case investigation.

Isolation happens when a person is infected with a communicable disease, like COVID-19, and is separated from people who are healthy.

State and local public health agencies request that Coloradans and visitors from other states or countries voluntarily cooperate with isolation and quarantine instructions. State or local public health agencies may issue isolation and quarantine orders in some high-risk situations or if non-compliance is anticipated. If people do not follow the orders, public health agencies can involve law enforcement. If enforcement were to become necessary, the entity that issued the order (the state or local public health agency) could file an enforcement action in state district court asking a judge to enforce the order. The court could also levy fines but, on the whole, public health is more interested in compliance with the terms of the order.

If you tested positive for COVID-19 using a PCR test, stay away from others and follow the instructions on how to isolate. If you have a positive test result for COVID-19, public health may contact you to collect information about your exposures and give you more information about preventing transmission to others.If you develop symptoms, contact your health care provider or take advantage of other testing sites to get tested. Follow the instructions on how to isolate.

Coloradans who are sick and receive negative COVID-19 test results should continue to stay home while they are sick and should consult with their health care provider about the need for additional testing and the appropriate time to resume normal activities.

If you need medical advice, call a healthcare provider or nurse line. It is important to CALL ahead BEFORE going to see a health care provider, urgent care, or emergency room in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Tell them your symptoms and where or how you might have been exposed. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911. Tell the dispatcher your symptoms.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, but you don’t have symptoms, follow the instructions on how to quarantine for 14 days after exposure. You may also want to get tested, but wait at least seven days after the date you think you were exposed to get tested using a PCR test. If you get tested too early, there may not be enough viral material for the test to detect.

While it’s a good idea to wait about seven days to be tested after the date of exposure if you don’t have symptoms, some people may not become ill for up to 14 days. For that reason, people who have been exposed to COVID-19 should minimize their contact with others for 14 days from the date of their exposure, even if they test negative before the full two weeks have passed.

Grand County Public Health (GCPH) completes contact tracing for every positive case in the county. Contact tracing is the process by which Grand County Public Health finds high-risk contacts and those individuals in very close, prolonged contact with the infected patient. There is a time frame of exposure risk that is investigated for each positive case. Once identified as a close contact, individuals are notified about the possibility of COVID-19 exposure and provided guidance. If you are not notified during the Contact Tracing process, it means that you were not identified by GCPH as someone in close contact, during the time frame of risk, with the individual who tested positive.

Grand County public Health uses the following criteria to determine contact risk exposure during contact tracing. Normally, only individuals identified as Medium and High Risk are contacted during the contact tracing process.

High Risk: 1) Individuals living in the same household as, 2) being an intimate partner of, or 3) providing care in a non-healthcare setting (such as a home) for a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection without using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation

Medium Risk (assumes no exposures in the high-risk category): 1) Individuals who have close contact with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, or 2) Individuals on aircraft who are seated within 6 feet (2 seats in each direction) of a traveler with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection, or 3) Individuals living in the same household as, an intimate partner of, or caring for a person in a non-healthcare setting (such as a home) to a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection while consistently using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation

Low Risk (assumes no exposures in the high-risk category): 1) Individuals having been in the same indoor environment (e.g., a classroom, a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time but not meeting the definition of close contact.

No Identifiable Risk: Individuals having interactions with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection that do not meet any of the high-, medium- or low-risk conditions above, such as walking by the infected person or being briefly in the same room.

No, you need to stay home until the full 14 days of quarantine are over.

Middle Park Health is now offering antibody testing and testing for non-symptomatic individuals. Prices for walk-in cash pay patients (no order required) are $50 for antibody test and $100 for the nasal swab. Please understand that some antibody tests are resulting in what are known as “false positives.” Thus, we encourage everyone to be very cautious about results from an antibody test and understand that the test does not guarantee immunity. You should continue to follow all recommended precautions to avoid catching or spreading COVID-19, even if you think you have had COVID-19 in the past or if you’ve gotten a positive result from an antibody test.

If you meet criteria, yes, you can be tested for COVID-19 in Grand County at any healthcare facility. The tests are then sent to the state laboratory to be processed. Currently, we have no news on the rapid tests being available in Grand County.

Middle Park Health is now offering antibody testing and testing for non-symptomatic individuals. Prices for walk-in cash pay patients (no order required) are $50 for antibody test and $100 for the nasal swab.

The industry sector, recreation, event, and other activities’ Protective Measures and operating protocols contained in the Grand County COVID-19 Suppression Plan and Playbooks shall apply for all applicable businesses and activities at all times until further notice. These Activity Specific Protective Measures change regularly depending on the COVID-19 health of the County and State. In particular, due to the dynamic nature of CDPHE Public Health Orders and variability of COVID-19 threats locally, capacity limits for different industries, activities, events, and sectors may change regularly.

Businesses, employers, sole proprietors, and organizers of events and activities shall submit a Compliance Verification Form through Grand County Public Health for each activity subject to Activity Specific Protection Measures and display approved acceptance documentation prior to opening and receiving customers, or commencing an event or other activity.

Protect Our Neighbors means that communities that meet certain criteria have less stringent restrictions than under Stay at Home and Safer at Home. Strong local public health and health care systems are the key to reopening the economy. Different communities will be at different phases, based on local conditions and capabilities. Local communities can also still apply for a variance from Safer at Home.

Grand County has to meet specific criteria to apply for the Protect Our Neighbors level and ensure that the following are met within our county:

• Sufficient hospital bed capacity.
• Sufficient PPE Supply.
• Stable or declining COVID-19 hospitalizations.
• Fewer new cases.
• Sufficient testing capacity.
• Ability to implement case investigation and contact tracing protocol.
• Documented surge-capacity plan for case investigation and contact tracing.
• Documented strategies to offer testing to close contacts.

People should be aware of and follow the rules in their specific community and in the communities they are visiting.

Grand County’s Public Health Order is complementary to State public health orders. Therefore, the Order should

not be relied upon solely. To the extent any State orders or laws conflict with the express terms of this Order, the provisions of this local June 26, 2020 GCPH Public Health Order control, regardless of whether the State orders or laws are more or less restrictive than what is set forth herein. However, except for those specifically identified measures contained herein, the Order is not intended to limit, rescind, alter, or amend any other applicable public health orders, restrictions, or requirements of the federal, state or local governments.

All members of the public are responsible for following all other provisions of the Governor’s orders, CDPHE orders, and local orders that do not conflict with the specific protective measures in the Grand County COVID- 19 Suppression Plan and Playbooks. Individuals should be aware that new orders are being issued on a regular basis from Governor Polis and CDPHE.

Yes and there are protective measures in place that are meant for private, short-term vacation-style rentals such as those arranged through an online hosting platform, including but not limited to VRBO or Airbnb, homeowner rentals, and privately owned residences for rent that are rented for thirty (30) days or less per stay.

Owners, managers, operators, and/or employers must implement the protective measures found in the Grand County Lodging Playbook in addition to filling out a Compliance Verification Form prior to taking renters.

Businesses, employers, sole proprietors, and organizers of events and activities shall submit a Compliance Verification Form through Grand County Public Health for each activity subject to Activity Specific Protection Measures and display approved acceptance documentation prior to opening and receiving customers, or commencing an event or other activity.

Antibody tests, antibody blood tests, and serologic tests refer to the same thing. It is a test to check your blood to look for antibodies, which are proteins that help fight off infections. Antibody tests can show if you had a previous infection with a virus.

According to the CDC, the test may not find antibodies in someone with a current COVID-19 infection. It depends on when someone was infected and the timing of the test.

• Antibody tests cannot be used as the only way to diagnose someone as currently being sick with COVID-19.
• We don’t yet know if a positive antibody test means you are immune to COVID-19.
• Antibody tests may react with other seasonal viruses and result in false-positive results.

Information on this dashboard may change as new or different information is discovered through case investigations performed at the local level. Labs, hospitals, and state and local public health agencies enter initial data into CEDRS. Then, local health agency epidemiologists investigate the cases to gather more information. As they gather more information about a case, they update the data reported to their local public health agencies and to the state via CEDRS. Therefore, numbers and information provided by local agencies may be more up-to-date than this statewide dashboard.

Cases and deaths are attributed to the county of residence of each individual.

People who test positive for COVID-19 in Colorado while visiting are included in the county where they were identified.

The total number of cases includes both confirmed and probable cases.  

• Cases are considered confirmed when there has been a positive molecular amplification test (such as PCR) performed by a lab. These tests commonly involve taking a nasal swab which is then sent to specific laboratories for results. 
• A molecular amplification test detects genetic material from the virus indicating the presence of the virus.
• Cases are considered probable when they meet one of the following criteria: 
  • A person exhibited symptoms AND had close contact with someone who tested positive 
    • OR
  • A person exhibited symptoms AND tested positive using an antigen or serologic test. 
    • An antigen or serologic test is a blood test that looks for antibodies in your blood. This test can detect the body’s immune response to the infection caused by the virus rather than detecting the virus itself. 
    • OR
  • A person has an epidemiologic link^*AND has tested positive using an antigen or serologic test
    • *An epidemiologically-link is close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 disease OR travel to or residence in an area with sustained, ongoing community transmission OR a member of a risk cohort as defined by public health authorities during an outbreak.
    • OR
• A death certificate lists COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19.

If you are wondering where to find resources to supplement lost income because of COVID-19, you can find them on the “Healthy Grand County” website. Healthy Grand County is the result of a community-wide strategic plan for Mental Health; Maternal, Infant and Child Health (MICH); and Health Information and Awareness. The need for greater awareness of existing services in Grand County and the ability for residents and providers to easily find those services is a top priority.

Primary healthcare providers throughout the county are offering different options for services. All of Middle Park Health’s campuses, Denver Health in Winter Park, Fraser Medical Clinic, and Byers Peak Family Medicine are offering telemedicine options and in-person care. Please call prior to visiting any provider, as services and operational hours vary. Let your primary care provider know if you are concerned about payment. They can connect you with resources such as A.C.H.E.S. & P.A.I.N.S. vouchers from the Grand County Rural Health Network for our low-income and uninsured residents. For Coloradans who lose their jobs and their health insurance, coverage through the Connect for Health Colorado website is available: www.connectforhealthco.com

If you are stressed, anxious, lonely, depressed, angry, or all of the above, you are not alone. We are in this together, and caring mental health professionals are available if you need to talk. Just call 877-519-7505. MindSpringsHealth.org/COVID and Facebook.com/MindSpringsHealth offer self-guided meditations, soothing self-care exercises, and coping and resiliency skills, with new resources added every day. All Mind Springs Health offices are open for business virtually, providing services by video or over the phone. Call 970-887-2179 to learn more or to make an appointment. You can also call Colorado Crisis Services for free, confidential, professional, 24/7 support (1-844-493-8255; Text “TALK” to 38255).

The hearing and visually impaired can also receive warning alarms by connecting a specially-designed weather radio to other kinds of attention-getting devices like strobe lights, bed-shakers, personal computers and text printers. Many pager companies now offer alerting pagers that provide the latest weather information.

For more information on Special Needs Weather Radio receivers, go to: https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/NWR/ , or http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/special_need.htm .

Yes, NOAA Weather Radio is considered an “All-Hazards” public warning system, and will alert the listening public to non-weather emergencies, but ONLY when requested by the appropriate state or local officials. These include technological accidents (e.g., chemical releases, oil spills, nuclear power plant emergencies), AMBER alerts (for abducted children), and terrorist attacks.

Generally, only those watches and warnings associated with an immediate or short-fused event are toned and alarmed. That means that Winter Storm watches and warnings are NOT alarmed, except for Blizzard warnings and for those Winter Storm warnings when the lead time is very short. Normally, Winter Storm warnings are issued many hours before the precipitation begins, as opposed to Tornado or Flash Flood warnings, where the lead time may only be minutes.

The following products are broadcast with the 1050 Hz alarm and the SAME tones:

Blizzard Warning – BZW

Child Abduction Emergency - CAE

Civil Emergency Message – CEM

Coastal Flood Warning - CFW

Coastal Flood Watch - CFA

Flash Flood Warning - FFW

Flash Flood Watch - FFA

High Wind Warning - HWW

Hurricane Warning - HUW

Hurricane Watch - HUA

River Flood Warning - FLW

Routine Weekly Test – RWT

Special Marine Warning - SMW

Severe Weather Statement - SVS

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - SVR

Severe Thunderstorm Watch – SVA

Tropical Storm Warning - TRW

Tropical Storm Watch - TRA

Tornado Warning - TOR

Tornado Watch - TOA

Tsunami Warning - TSW

Tsunami Watch - TSA

The National Weather Service has maps of NOAA Weather Radio coverage by state, and listings of coverage by both state and county. There are also computer-projected signal reception maps for each transmitter. Go to: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/listcov.htm

A special feature of the NOAA Weather Radio system that evolved in the 1960's was the transmission of a single tone at 1050 Hz prior to the broadcast of any message about a life or property threatening event. This became known as the Warning Alarm Tone (WAT). Special receivers were made by several companies to remain electronically on and receiving the broadcast signal, but with the speaker muted. When this type of radio detected the WAT, it automatically turned on the speaker allowing the message to be heard without the need for the owner/user to do anything.

In the Spring of 1974, the largest recorded outbreak of tornadoes in the nation’s history occurred. Conclusions of a survey following the disaster recommended the expansion of the Weather Radio network and to designate it as the only Federally operated broadcast system to communicate life and property threatening information “directly” to the public. This system was also tasked to disseminate nuclear attack warnings and other national emergencies. Techniques were developed allowing warnings broadcast over the Weather Radio to be rebroadcast over commercial radio and television stations as part of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS).

The analog WAT technology served the Weather Radio network well until the mid 1980s, when the rapid expansion of cable television and the automation of commercial radio and television began to isolate the public from local sources of warning information. Typically, the WAT was transmitted for any watch or warning over an area of approximately 5,000 square miles, or about seven to ten average-sized counties.

Therefore, the typical receiver in the service area of the station might be activated many times for events far from its location for every time it alarmed for an event in the immediate area. Without staff at media facilities to manually evaluate the need to rebroadcast a Weather Radio message using the EBS, automatic rebroadcasting of all messages preceded by just the WAT was unacceptable and impractical. Even if stations and others with that type of need were willing to allow for this type of automatic capture, assuming the events for activation were critical, there was no way for automated equipment at the station to know when the message was complete and restore it back to normal operation. There was also the perception by the general public with WAT decoding receivers that any message that set their radio off that did not apply to their geographical area was a “false alarm” regardless of whether the warning may have been valid for another area or county in the service area of the Weather Radio transmitter.

Starting in 1985, the NWS began experimenting with putting special digital codes at the beginning and end of any message concerning life or property threatening event. The intent was to ultimately transmit a code with the initial broadcast of all Weather Radio messages. This system evolved into what is known today as NOAA Weather Radio Specific Area Message Encoding (NWR SAME). The SAME was adopted by the NWS for national implementation in 1988. Full scale implementation was funded by the NWS in early 1996 when the SAME technique was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of its new Emergency Alert System (EAS) that replaced the EBS in January 1997. The NOAA Weather Radio was an officially designated source for EAS messages from the NWS.

The SAME process was originally achieved using an encoder panel consisting of a number of buttons representing the functions to be performed, types or content of messages, the affected areas, and valid time of the message. A microprocessor in the panel interpreted button active status and created the proper codes and places them at the beginning and end of each message. The panel was electronically connected to the various types of message programming and playback consoles used by the NWS to broadcast messages over the Weather Radio transmitters. In 1998, the NWS replaced all of its existing inventory of message recording and playback equipment with the Console Replacement System (CRS). The SAME coding process is an integrated part of CRS. The existing encoder panels are only used as emergency backup in CRS.

NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the country. The broadcasts include warnings, watches, forecasts, current weather observations, and other hazard information, 24 hours a day.

Working with the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio is an "all hazards" radio network, making it the single source for the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public. It broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - both natural (such as tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis) and technological (such as chemical releases or oil spills). NOAA Weather Radio will also be used to broadcast AMBER alerts for missing children.

Known as the "Voice of the National Weather Service," the NOAA Weather Radio network has more than 750 transmitters, covering nearly 90% of the 50 states, along with the adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts in the VHF public service band (between 162.400 and 162.550 megahertz (MHz)) and hence you need a special radio receiver or scanner in order to pick up the signal.

Many workers in the tourism industry face barriers to employment due to the lack of housing near their workplace, while others are unable to work as many hours due to the high cost of child care. Dedicating funds to these areas would help local businesses serving tourists by supporting the workforce in the areas many need it the most.

At this time, the BOCC is considering the following allocation, based on the needs in the community:

• No less than 50% dedicated to continued tourism marketing 
• No less than 30% to support other uses allowed by state legislation, such as housing, childcare, and other services that would enhance visitor experiences
• About 20% would remain flexible to address specific needs each year. 

The allocation of this flexible 20% would be determined each year through a public process of calculating annual revenues, assessing local needs, hearing from residents and stakeholders, and making a final decision by December for the ensuing year. 

Grand County’s tourism organizations would continue to receive the same amount of funding for their marketing and visitor experience expenses. Depending on how much revenue is generated through the increased tax each year, there may actually be more money available. By leaving about 20% undefined, there is the added flexibility to help the tourism industry where it is feeling the most pressure and needs additional support. 

Withdrawals do not change land or mineral ownership in anyway. Withdrawals can close areas to mineral entry, meaning, the minerals can not be developed when under a withdrawal. This is for federal mineral ownership only. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or other federal government entities, do not have jurisdiction over privately owned minerals.

Submit comments about the Federal Mineral Estate Withdraw by September 6th, 2024.

Blue represents federal mineral rights that are within the boundary of the proposed withdrawal.

Pink represents privately-owned mineral rights. Property owners should look at their property ownership documents to determine who owns the mineral rights on their property. Privately-owned mineral rights would NOT be affected by the proposed withdrawal.

The property is encumbered by federally-owned and privately-owned mineral rights. Blue represents federal mineral rights that are within the boundary of the proposed withdrawal. Pink represents privately-owned mineral rights. Property owners should look at their property ownership documents to determine who owns the mineral rights on their property. Privately-owned mineral rights would NOT be affected by the proposed withdrawal.

If the proposed withdrawal is successful, the government would NOT be able to enter your property to develop the minerals.

No. privately-owned mineral rights would NOT be effected by the proposed withdrawal.

Cliffview is funded three primary ways:

1. Private Pay: Residents pay rent until they are unable to financially do so (also known as "private pay").
2. Medicaid: Once / if residents are unable to afford to pay rent, they can apply for Medicaid. If approved, Medicaid is billed. 
3. Grand County Subsidy: Each year, Grand County subsidizes Cliffview's financial shortfalls. In 2025, the County budgeted more than $800,000 for Cliffview operations and facility maintenance.  

It is important to the Board of County Commissioners that citizens understand the financial commitment needed by taxpayers to operate the facility. Because Medicaid rates do not keep up with rising operating costs, funding Cliffview Assisted Living Center could include seeking voter support for a potential tax increase in the future.

At this time, NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. The community poll is our first step to understanding the community's thoughts about Cliffview, and starting a conversation. 

Take the poll.

Submit additional questions via email to GCHousingAuthority@co.grand.co.us.

Yes! Below are links to:

•  Cliffview Living Center's 2023 Profit and Loss Detail (2024 has not yet been audited), 
• Cliffview Living Center's 2025 Budget (pages extracted from full final budget document),
• Grand County's full 2025 Final Budget

As you review these documents, please be aware that in order for Cliffview's budget to balance, Grand County subsidizes any loss. In 2025, the amount budgeted by Grand County to cover the projected financial shortfall is $813,167.00. If you have specific questions about Cliffview's finances, please email GCHousingAuthority@co.grand.co.us.

Cliffview Assisted Living Center Profit and Loss Detail, January - December 2023

2025 Grand County Budget - Cliffview Pages Only (This document is only the three pages extracted from the full 2025 Grand County Budget that are related to Cliffview Assisted Living Center.) 

FULL 2025 Grand County Final Budget (This document is Grand County's FULL 2025 final budget. Cliffview's budget are pages 87 to 89.)

Cliffview Assisted Living Center in Kremmling is owned by the Grand County Housing Authority, and managed by Middle Park Health. 

Grand County Housing Authority (GCHA) was formed by the Board of County Commissioners in 1977 to acquire, develop, lease and operate affordable housing for Grand County residents with limited incomes. GCHA operates as an independent entity (it is not a department organized under Grand County Government).  

Any time you light a fire outdoors, you are open burning. Slash pile burning is effective and efficient for private landowners to dispose of tree slash or other vegetative material.

Since 2001, Grand County Natural Resources (GCNR) operates under authority from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Open burning pollutes the air and poses a fire hazard; the State and County regulate it to protect public health and the environment in our beautiful state. This pollution can cause serious short and long-term health problems, obscure visibility, and create odors impacting not only you but the health of your neighbors. Burning produces many harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, dioxins (a known carcinogen) and others that can irritate the eyes, nose and lungs. 

t opens after three to six inches of season-long snow has accumulated (usually sometime in November) and stays open while there is enough snow on the ground (usually through March). 

Any day of the week with favorable conditions for smoke dispersal. GCNR makes a daily determination based on forecasts from the National Weather Service. Burning on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day is not allowed. 

f you are burning piles greater than 3’ x 3’ and 2’ in height. You do not need a permit for cooking or “recreational” sized fires less than 3’ x 3’ and 2’ in height. Agricultural burns, defined as “the burning of cover vegetation for the purpose of preparing the soil for crop production, weed control, or maintenance of water conveyance structures related to agricultural operations” do not require a permit. Open burning of household trash, wood or yard debris on agricultural land is NOT agricultural burning!

Burn permits are available from the Natural Resource office in Granby beginning in mid-October, and are available online. Office hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., starting November 4. The permits are also in a box outside the office at 469 East Topaz in Granby. You may email, mail, fax or drop off your completed application any time; this information is on the permit. 

Private Property permits/Standard permits are $20 per property. A Commercial permit is for an entity/person collecting slash from other properties and burning it elsewhere OR a property that exceeds 900,000 cubic feet of material in aggregate; and these are $100. 

GCNR personnel will inspect your piles and notify you once approved, sending you a copy of a signed and numbered permit. Once issued a burn permit, you must call 970-887-0745 on each of your desired burn day(s) to see if atmospheric conditions will allow a burn day. Remember, there should be SNOW on the GROUND where you are burning. 

Slash piles and other vegetation debris, stumps are not allowed. If you live within the limits of any of the towns (excluding Parshall or Tabernash) or an HOA, check with your town hall and covenants to determine if burning is allowed. 

Stumps, material that contains food wastes, plastic, coated or treated wood products, rubber, insulation, tires, car bodies, insulated wire, motor oil, aerosol cans, hazardous or toxic materials, or other materials that will produce substantial amounts of smoke and particulates are prohibited. Sawdust, slabs, chips, shavings, mill trim, or other wood products derived from wood processing, construction debris or buildings/structures for demolition purposes are also NOT ALLOWED. 

To take advantage of the typical 6-hour burn windows in our area, GCNR recommends that piles be 10 to 15’ in diameter and at least 8’ high. Teepee shapes work well for shedding snow and burning well/clean. Larger piles are allowed, but winter air quality conditions will limit how many days you have available to burn larger piles. 

Because it is against the law! Burn barrels are defined as incinerators by the Sates Air Quality Control Commission’s Common Provisions Regulation. They do not combust efficiently due to lower air flow and temperatures, thereby creating more particulate matter and toxins. 

Call the Grand County dispatch non-emergency number at 970-725-3311 to report smoke or an illegal open burn. The Daily Burn List on the GCNR webpage lists all of the approved and permitted open burners in the County each day, and will also state if it is NOT a burn day. 

Grand County Alerts is the official emergency alert and warning system used by Grand County, Colorado.  It is primarily used to inform the public about active or ongoing disasters; warn them of the risks and impacts likely with potential hazards; and to provide necessary instructions.

Emergency alerts can quickly give you important life-saving information. Alerts are most commonly sent when a potentially life or health-threatening hazard requires individuals to take action.

No, your information is private and will not be used or distributed in any manner. The information that you provide is exempt from public disclosure and will be used for emergency purposes only.

Personal information provided to Grand County Alerts is private and only used to notify you in the event of an emergency. Your information is not used for marketing purposes and will not be sold to telemarketers or data-mining organizations. A variety of “opt-in” mechanisms are available to ensure you are getting the messages you want to receive, delivered via the devices and communications modes that you choose.

Grand County Alerts utilizes the highest standards in physical and computer security technologies and conducts regular audits to ensure all information is kept secure. Privacy policies are also outlined in the Terms and Conditions you review when you sign up to receive Grand County Alerts notifications.

When you register, you will be asked to "Confirm Address." If a suggested address doesn't match the address your entered, that is OK! More important than the typed address is that your house is placed correctly on the map.

• If the red pin on the map is correct, click the green "Confirm This Address" button.
• If it is not correct, simply use your mouse (on a laptop) or fingers (on a mobile device) to drag the red pin to the correct location. Once the red pin is in the correct location, click the green "Confirm This Address" button.

Some of the smaller carriers may not be listed. However, the system should default to the correct carrier whose cell phone tower your carrier uses, or to one of the big three (T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T)

If you are already signed up for Smart911 in another county or city, you can simply add your Grand County address to your profile. Be sure to also opt-in to Grand County Alerts under the alerts tab. 

Alerts will come from one or all of the following channels, depending on what you opt-in to. 

• Text Message (SMS): 226787, 67283, 78015, 77295, or 22911
• Email: co-grandcounty@alerts.co.grand.co.us
• Phone Caller ID: 970-725-3800
• App: Smart911 Push Notification

When an emergency occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert to the public, public safety officials will gather the necessary information and push out an alert to the affected area. Alerts can be sent out countywide to everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area. Emergencies or disasters you might get alerts about include, but are not limited to:

• Wildfires
• Floods
• Evacuations

This service is provided at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply depending on your provider and phone services.