| | Coronavirus Announcement, Ranch House Closure
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The following message is being sent to all RVR homeowners and Ranch House Members from RVR Master Association President Yvonne Perry.
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These are unprecedented times – locally, nationally and internationally. The Coronavirus is spreading, and the chances of being infected are growing with each new day.
The time has come for RVR to step up its efforts to address the potential effects of the virus.
Today, we are announcing the temporary closure of the Ranch House.
The facility will be closed beginning tomorrow (Monday, March 16.) We expect the closure to last until at least April 9, or until it’s appropriate to reopen.
In addition, we are cancelling the upcoming RVR Master Association Board meeting, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, March 18. And, we are cancelling all committee meetings and other previously scheduled Ranch House activities – until at least April 9, or whenever the Ranch House reopens.
The RVRMA Board, along with our management team, was unanimous in making these decisions. It is the right thing to do – morally, legally and from a public health standpoint.
If we continued to use the Ranch House in a “business-as-usual” mode, we would potentially be jeopardizing the safety and well-being of both staff and the RVR community.
As you know, “social distancing” is now one of the key measures designed to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. The recommended social distancing – six feet – would be very difficult to maintain if we kept the Ranch House open, particularly in the upstairs fitness center and the exercise classroom.
In addition, we are currently unable to get adequate cleaning and disinfecting materials, such as hand wipes and sanitizing gel. Anyone who’s been to City Market, Target, Walmart, or Costco recently has seen the same empty shelves we are seeing. Our national ordering sources are unable to provide us the needed materials, which are backordered with no estimated date of arrival.
RVR is not alone in taking these actions. Aspen, Glenwood Springs and the Town of Carbondale are all closing their Recreation Centers and other public buildings for similar reasons. And, Carbondale’s Town Hall has become a virtual ghost town, open to Carbondale residents only for critical needs.
We are working closely with our RVR management team to understand the best course of action for employees. A skeleton crew may work inside the Ranch House while it’s closed, utilizing appropriate social distancing. A few may work from home. For some, this will be an opportunity to catch up on projects there’s simply not time for in the normal day-to-day business environment.
Garfield County’s Health Department a few days ago issued an order relating to the COVID-19 virus. You can read that order here.
The order provides guidance, requirements and limitations on group gatherings during these uncertain times. It emphasizes the importance of social distancing in decreasing the risk of transmission to the most vulnerable populations – those over 60 years old, and those with chronic health conditions due to their higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. While RVR is not a retirement community, many of our residents are in the particularly vulnerable 60+ age group.
During the Ranch House closure, our postal facility in the vestibule will continue to operate. It will be open 24/7, as it always is – and will be wiped down and disinfected several times each day. It will be the one part of the Ranch House you will have access to, and we are committed to keeping it sanitized. We do have sufficient cleaning products to take care of this limited area.
When will the Ranch House re-open? We will make this decision based on on-going Garfield County, Town of Carbondale and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. Bottom line: the Ranch House will re-open only when we are confident it is a safe, healthy and hygienic environment for employees and Ranch House members. Before the Ranch House does re-open, it will undergo a thorough deep cleaning to make sure it’s a virus-free environment.
We sincerely hope you understand and support these actions. We apologize for any inconvenience the Ranch House closure may cause you or the RVR community.
If you have questions, please reach out to General Manager Sterling Page or Community Services Manager Kendra Ford.
On behalf of your volunteer RVRMA Board,
Yvonne Perry
Board President
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