the clear creek connection
By Megan Hiler, PIO to subscribe, email: mhiler@clearcreekcounty.usFollow along!
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County Calendar: April 2023
April 4th: BoCC Meeting
April 6th: BOA Meaning
April 7th: CCC Community
Learning Series: Healthy Relationships with Resilience 1220
April 8th: CCMRD Egg-stravaganza
April 12th: OSC Meeting
April 18th: BoCC Meeting
April 19th: Planning Commission
Meeting
April 29th: County
Health Fair
Job Openings
-Mechanic Equipment Operator (Road/Bridge)
-Deputy Sheriff (patrol)
-Control Technician
-Detentions Deputy
-Code Enforcement Officer
-Dispatcher -MYN Youth Rep. (Part-time/temp.)
-Facilities Technician
-Engineering Technician
-Capital Projects Manager
-Facilities Maintenance Worker
-Accounting Specialist
-Deputy Clerk
-Paramedic
-Trails Supervisor
-Tails Technician
-Administrative Asst./Property Transfer Tech./Mail Clerk
Resident thanks Clear Creek EMS for saving his life
"I was a Ranger in the Army. I've faced death a thousand times, but this was something that was out of my control, but it was in their control. Their control saved my life."
Those are the words of Clear Creek County resident Dave Itrich as he thinks about Clear Creek EMS saving his life when he had an anaphylactic reaction just a few weeks ago while working. Itrich says he came into contact with a customer who had touched or eaten shellfish--something he is allergic to. He says he has never been more terrified in his life.
"I was scared to death, I was dying and Clark said, 'I am here and we've got you,' and he did."
Captain Clark Church with Clear Creek EMS held Itrich's hand as the team administered medications to him. The medications are designed to put the patient to sleep and relax their musculature so that the team can breathe for them. These lifesaving measures are known as Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) Even more incredibly, the critical care certification needed to be able to do this was something some of the team members had just obtained, and is something that only a handful of other EMS providers have in the state.
"We all couldn't be more pleased to hear from Dave. On scene, a lot of things came together just right for this outcome." Captain Church said. "Paul and Ariel initially responded to the call with Melissa and I following close behind. Upon arrival, Paul identified that Dave was a candidate for RSI and we called John, our other critical care paramedic, and Zach who were close by so that we could preform the procedure. By the time John arrived, Dave was being placed in the ambulance and we were all prepped and ready to go. Everyone did an amazing job and we couldn't be more proud of our team's work. "
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While the rest of our crew was working to provide physical care to Dave, I had the opportunity to speak with him. It was important to me, and all of us here, that his last memories before falling asleep weren't fearful. Dave sent me an email that said 'I was scared and you made me not afraid' and to hear that we were able to provide him not only the medical care that he needed, but also comfort is overwhelming. I spoke with Dave on the phone and the generosity of his praise is something I won't forget."
RSI is used when a patients airway and breathing is severely compromised. The procedure causes unresponsiveness and muscular relaxation and is the safest and most effective means of controlling the emergency airway. Clear Creek EMS took years of trainings and classes to be able to do this, and had protocols in place mere days before it came into action.
"We looked at data from our calls and saw that we were seeing around 15 calls a year that needed this type of training," Captain Aaron Crawley said. "We are really proud to be able to do this and save more patients."
Itrich is glad, too.
"I have a grandbaby and I get to hold him today because because of what they did," he said. "From the bottom of my soul and from my heart, my wife's heart, from my mother, from my grandbaby thank you."
Itrich adds he can't wait to meet everyone again and thank them with a hug.
"They're rock stars. There's no other word for it, and they gave me the greatest gift you can give to any human being."
Clear Creek County Public Health, EMS, to take part in Health Fair
Both Clear Creek EMS and Clear Creek Public Health will be taking part in a county-wide health fair at the end of this month. Hosted by 365 Health, the fair will take place at the Clear Creek Recreation Center on Saturday, April 29th. The following screenings will be available for free: blood pressure, foot screening, stress management screening, vision screening, free covid vaccinations, body fat, skin fold, spinal screen, oral health/dental consult, height, weight, BMI, health professional reviews, and more.
People can also choose to pay for other screenings such as: hemoglobin A1C screenings, blood type screenings, sensitivity C-Rreactive Protein screenings, prostate antigen test, COVID antibody screenigs, blood count screening, testosterone screenings, vitamin screenings, take-home colon cancer kits, and more.
You can also get free blood tests and more at the Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center. For more information, visit www.clearcreekcounty.us/275/Public-Health.
Trails Team reminds hikers to pick up after their pups
As snow begins to melt, dog waste left behind last fall is being uncovered--and as the weather warms, more people and their pups will once again be utilizing Clear Creek County's trails. That's why the Clear Creek County trails team is reminding residents to pack waste bags and pick up after their pets.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dog waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which can deplete oxygen that fish and other water-based life need to survive, as well as encourage the growth of harmful algae. It is also considered a significant source of pathogens like fecal coliform, a disease-causing bacteria. In addition, dog waste left behind in nature reserves can result in over-fertilization of the ground which is also harmful to environment.
It is also important to note that not picking up after your pet makes trails less enjoyable for others. So if the envronmental negative effects aren't enough to sway you, think of your fellow hikers and bikers using the same trails as you. Thank you for your help in keeping Clear Creek County's trails and nature clean and healthy!
Unhappy with your Internet? Clear Creek County publishes online broadband map as it works to get residents better, faster Internet access
Clear Creek County is currently in the middle of its push to get broadband to everyone who needs it here in the County. The County has assembled Broadband Team to tackle this, and now it is looking for your feedback on what your Internet access is like where you live. The more feedback Clear Creek County can get--the better shot at funding from the state and federal government it has.
"We believe everyone should have fast, reliable Internet access, and we know that is not the case for a lot of people in Clear Creek County right now," Operations Director Beth Luther said. "Some of the Internet speeds and feedback we have gotten back so far are shocking, and show how needed this funding is."
Pictured above is a story map created by GIS Technician Stephanie Kline with feedback from people in the county about their Internet access. Click here to see it.
You can help the County's effort by taking this five-minute survey. Your information will not be shared with anyone other than government entities. Thank you for your time!
Clear Creek County OEM teams up with the Red Cross to keep residents prepared
Do you feel prepared for a disaster to strike in your community? Are you looking to learn more about how you can not only prepare for an impending disaster, but how you can volunteer to help your Clear Creek County community in the event of a disaster? If so, the Clear Creek County Office of Emergency Management is hosting a Community Emergency Preparedness event this Spring (date to be announced soon) with our local community partners and the Red Cross to highlight the services available to you during disasters and how you can get involved with these helpful organizations to help out your neighbors and your community. At this event, each community partner will have a booth highlighting their organization, their volunteer needs, and ways you can get involved.
Did you know you can stay in the comfort of your home and be a valuable asset to your community as Red Cross volunteer? According to Clear Creek County OEM Emergency Management Coordinator Melissa Lewis, you can volunteer on your schedule.
"Not all volunteering takes muscle or takes you away from your family," she said. "We’re excited to bring the community together to build a more resilient county, continue build upon our special community, and make Clear Creek stronger than it’s ever been."
Stay tuned to Clear Creek County's Social Media pages for more information to come.
Mountain Youth Network hosts Partner Gathering
Mountain Youth Network (MYN) hosted its Quarterly Partner Gathering last month to share updates on their program and focuses going forward. The event took place at Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub in Idaho Springs on March 28th The event highlighted the data trends in youth substance abuse and educate attendees about some of MYN's programs, such as the TREK Outdoors Program which has seen massive growth this past year. Attendees also came to the event to meet the MYN team, network with coalition members, learn about the programs and enjoy some food.
"The MYN Partner Gatherings are vital because all our work should be informed and directed by our community. Everyone is welcome, and we want to make sure our community is represented well," MYN Manager Becca Bernal said. " The March meeting was important to begin formalizing the way we've functioned for over six years now: for everyone to have a voice and shared leadership in our process of creating a healthy, more supportive community for our youth. We are so grateful for all our partners."
As the weather gets warmer, MYN has a variety of different programs for kids and teens to get involved with. For more information, visit www.mountainyouthnetwork.org.
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month: What you need to know
In 1989, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, child abuse and neglect awareness activities have been promoted across the country during April of each year. Everyone has a role in keeping children safe. Learn more about the warning signs of child abuse and neglect here. To report child abuse or neglect, call in Colorado: 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437) or nationally: 1-800-422-4453.
Thanks to concerned Coloradans who made calls to the hotline in 2022, local county human services agencies in Colorado assessed the safety of more than 50,678 children. Of those children, 10,918 children experienced abuse or neglect and an additional 17,024 children’s families received voluntary support from social services to help strengthen their families and prevent child abuse or neglect in the future.
You can help in other ways too! Some examples of how community partners and neighbors can lend support to families and relieve some of the overload experienced by parents and caregivers include:
• Offer to babysit to give parents a break
• Coordinate a meal sign-up calendar for new parents or a neighborhood family in need
• Organize a neighborhood gathering so families can meet each other
• Ask a family if they need something picked up the next time you run to the store
In addition, there are five protective factors shown to help reduce the risk of a child experiencing abuse and or neglect:
Parental resilience: Managing stress and functioning well when faced with challenges, adversity and trauma
Social connections: Positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support
Knowledge of parenting and child development: Understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development
Concrete support in times of need: Access to concrete support and services that address a family’s needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges
Social and emotional competence of children: Family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships
For more ways to help strengthen families, visit www.co4kids.org/myrole. To learn more about child abuse and neglect prevention and activities happening around the state, visit CO4Kids.org.
The Clear Creek County Mapping Department is unveiling two potential redistricting maps for the Board of County Commissioners' districts. Redistricting is the process to redraw county commissioner district boundaries so they accurately reflect population changes in Colorado.
By law, all counties must review their commissioner district boundaries after each federal census to make sure the districts are as equal in population as possible. Usually, this review occurs the year following the census and has to be completed by September 30th. However, significant delays in availability of population data from the 2020 Census due to the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for counties to conduct this mandated review by the statutory deadline in 2021. A bill (HB21-1047) enacted in the legislative session attempted to correct this issue by making a multiple important changes to the county redistricting statute – including the timing of this mandated review. The new deadline to review and complete redistricting is September 30th, 2023.
According to the revised Statutory Requirements for County Redistricting CRS 30-10-306(1): “In no event shall there be more than five percent deviation between the most populous and the least populous district in each county, at the time such district boundaries are adopted.” In the past, the statue only stated that the commissioner districts had to be “as nearly equal in population as possible,” but there were no specific numeric requirements.
As directed in HB 1047, data was acquired from the Legislative Council’s website. The 2020 data lists Clear Creek County’s population at 9,397, which is up from the 2010 census of 9,088.
Internal Services Division Director Matt Taylor presented the proposed redistricting maps to the BoCC and discussed the proposed changes to the commissioner districts on February 21st, March 7th, and April 18th.
The County is also seeking public comment on the proposed commissioner districts which can be made on Tuesday, May 2nd at 10:15 a.m., or Tuesday, May 16th at 9:05 a.m. Click here for more information.
The proposed county redistricting maps (above and on the next page) can be viewed online here, or in person at the Annex Building located at 1111 Rose St. in Georgetown. Clear Creek County is currently considering two options for redistricting. These options are labeled as options 1A and 1B.
The Clear Creek County Recreation in the Outdoors Management Plan (ROMP) is moving to another step in its process. For background, the ROMP is a county-wide recreation planning project funded by a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant The goal of the ROMP is to identify vision and values, key projects, partnerships, and funding mechanisms that will help Clear Creek County protect our natural resources and provide high quality recreational amenities for residents that can support a sustainable economy. Since the start of this project, multiple tools were used to gather community feedback including a county-wide survey aimed at residents, and a survey aimed at recreators as a whole in Clear Creek County. In total, the County collected nearly 550 responses.
Based on the results, a majority of residents about 58 percent feel positively about Clear Creek County as an outdoor recreation destination. In addition, 42 percent of recreators support an “all-of-the-above” approach to recreation management, which means they are in favor of more trails, but also more emphasis on trail upkeep and protecting the environment. Unincorporated residents near popular recreation amenities place most emphasis on managing existing recreational opportunities (30 percent) and those who viewed outdoor recreation negatively were more likely to support a “none of the above” approach and less likely to support additional recreation opportunities, although each group mostly supported tackling the issues mentioned above.
"I think this survey was really helpful in finding out what means the most to residents and to people who use our trails here in the County," Strategic and Community Planning Director Amy Saxton said. "We are excited to learn more as the Clear Creek ROMP progresses."
Click here to read more about the results.
It's time to clean your dirty dryer ducts
By Einar Jensen, Risk Reduction Coordinator for Evergreen Fire/Rescue
For many of us, spring cleaning begins in earnest in April. Targeting clutter in the garage and closets makes sense after a long winter.
It’s also a great time to target fire hazards.
When was the last time you cleaned the lint screen in your clothes dryer? Most people clean the screen after every load. That’s the best practice, especially if your clothes shed as much as mine.
When was the last time you cleaned the duct work that vents air from your dryer? Lint, hair, and dust that collect in that ductwork is flammable. Worse, it collects along a channel for superheated air.
Remember, only three components are needed for a fire: oxygen, heat, and fuel. The fuel absorbs heat. Initially that heat causes any water content to evaporate, and then it causes solid fuels to disintegrate into their gaseous form. With adequate heat, those gaseous particles can ignite.
The ductwork from your dryer isn’t strong enough to prevent flames from escaping into walls. Fires in dirty duct work can grow into the dryer and laundry room, ignite the exterior wall, and spread fire within wall spaces.
A duct full of lint, such as the one in the photograph, also reduces the efficiency of your dryer, which means you spend more money on energy.
This spring, save money and prevent fires by cleaning the lint from inside and outside your dryer. For information on other safety issues and our commitment to our community, visit www.evergreenfirerescue.com.
Building Department preps to present new building codes to BoCC
Clear Creek County will consider the migration from enforcing the current 2015 International Building Code, the 2009 International Energy Consumption Code, and all other active building codes to the 2021 International Residential Code, 2021International Building Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. In addition, there have also been amendments to this code proposed for Clear Creek County. The public may visit the County Annex at 1111 Rose Street anytime between 7:30am and 5:30pm Monday through Thursday to review these codes. Due to copyright infringement laws, the County cannot photocopy the codes or distribute sections of the codes.
The International Code Council produces a new version of the International Building Codes every 3 years. Clear Creek County adopts every other version of the codes, therefore adopting a new code every 6 years. 2021 is the most recent version of the International Building Code and therefore the county is adopting in 2023.”
The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and the Clear Creek County Building Department will convene a public hearing to consider these new Codes at a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, at 10:45 AM at the Clear Creek County Courthouse located at 405 Argentine St. in Georgetown, Colorado People are able to make public comment here in person, or can appear via Zoom for public comment. Click here for the BoCC meeting Zoom link.
County looking for feedback on new business hours
As the trial period for Clear Creek County's four-day work week with longer hours comes to a close, we are are hoping to hear feedback from you about this change in hours and how you think Clear Creek County could improve. Since January, the County and all County buildings (except the Health and Wellness Center) have been open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Please scan or click the QR code to the right to take the survey!
District II: Southeast Clear Creek County
District III: Approximately Fall River Road and west to Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel & Berthoud Pass.
District I: Approximately Floyd Hill to Fall River Road.