This Week in Longmont – April 10, 2020

Donate Masks and Gloves on Saturday, April 11
On Saturday, April 11 from noon to 4 pm, Longmont Public Safety’s volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the City of Longmont Recreation staff will be hosting a mask and glove drive to benefit essential workers in Longmont. This event will be held in the parking lot of the City of Longmont Recreation Center located at 310 Quail Road. The drive will accept donations of homemade fabric masks, masks intended for commercial use (N95, KN95, FFP2, surgical masks), goggles which seal to the face, face shields, non-latex, and nitrile gloves. We ask that items donated are in new condition in original packaging. See the news release.

Union Reservoir Closed Sunday, April 12

Union Reservoir Nature Area will be closed to all users on Sunday, April 12. The closure is an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in compliance with Public Health Order 20-24 issued by Gov. Jared Polis. That Stay at Home order states that areas conducive to public gathering should be closed. Visitation numbers from past years show that Union Reservoir has been a popular gathering place on Easter Sunday, observed this year on April 12, with approximately 500-1,000 visitors recorded annually since 2017. The one-day closure is intended to help protect visitors and Parks staff at the reservoir. See the news release.

City Building Closures Extended

Based on continuing developments related to COVID-19, the City has extended the closure of all public buildings through April 26. The City also recommends that residents wear cloth face coverings when away from home for essential trips. Closures, safety recommendations, and resources to help individuals and businesses change often. Find current information and answers to your questions at LongmontColorado.gov/coronavirus. You also can sign up to receive the latest news by email. Visit LongmontColorado.gov/news and click on “eNotification Subscription.”

Stay Connected With Online Activities
Although City of Longmont buildings are closed, many programs and activities continue online. You can exercise, create art projects, take virtual tours of cultural events in Longmont and around the world, and keep your mind engaged with numerous Library programs. Visit LongmontColorado.gov/coronavirus and click on “Virtual Programming.”

Help in the Fight Against Potholes
This season’s snowfalls have left behind some unpleasant and inevitable gifts: potholes! Road maintenance crews are out on warmer days applying temporary patches to fill some of the worst potholes on high traffic roads. Report potholes you see by submitting a Streets and Traffic Repair Request at ServiceWorks.LongmontColorado.gov anytime or by calling 303-651-8416 between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Spring Cleanup Disposal Options
Tree branch collection continues this week at addresses south of 9th Avenue. For details visit bit.ly/springbranches. If you miss it, or if you have other yard waste to dispose of, you can take it to the Waste Diversion Center at 140 Martin Street, which remains open for Longmont residents only.

Plant a New Perspective
Tackle that problem area in your yard by planting a beautiful water-wise Garden In A Box this spring. Professionally designed for Colorado yards, these kits are super easy to use and can help you save around 7,300 gallons of water over the garden’s lifetime compared to a traditional grass lawn (not to mention helping you save on your water bill!). Starting at just $86, the garden kits are not only beautiful but affordable. Visit ResourceCentral.org/Gardens today to order your water-wise Garden In A Box.

Annual Water Line Flushing Program Underway
Each spring, City of Longmont water utilities staff flush the main water lines to keep water quality at its highest level and to ensure that fire hydrants are operational. The benefits realized in water quality and fire protection far outweigh the comparatively small amount of water released during the flushing program. 2020 flushing dates are scheduled now through Friday, April 24. (Dates subject to change.) Visit our interactive map for a weekly timeline of water line flushing by area. This map will be updated regularly to show which areas are upcoming for water line flushing, as well as which areas have been completed.

2020 Ralph Price Reservoir Fishing Permit Sale Delayed
The annual sale of 600 fishing permits for Ralph Price Reservoir at Button Rock Preserve has been delayed this year. The permits, which are only able to be sold in person, traditionally go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis beginning April 1 each year. This year, both sale locations—the Memorial Building in Longmont and Lyons Town Hall—are currently closed for public health concerns related to COVID-19. Ralph Price Reservoir, Longmont’s primary water supply located two miles within Button Rock Preserve, is open for fishing by permit only from May 1 – October 31. A new sales date for fishing permits, as well as the opening date for the fishing season, will be evaluated and announced later. For the latest information, visit the Ralph Price Reservoir Fishing Program webpage or call 303-651-8416.