Beginning Monday, March 23, USDA service centers will be instituting locked door policies, with no public access to USDA offices. One employee per agency will be permitted in the office (one conservation district employee, one NRCS employee, one FSA employee, etc.) on a rotating schedule. High-risk employees will not be subject to rotation during this full telework plan. We encourage all conservation district and partner offices to follow the protocols outlined by USDA during this time. Some things to keep in mind:

• District employees that are not a part of the NRCS Partnership (DCT/Salinity technicians),  are encouraged to telework from home.  If you must work in the office, please work with your local NRCS staff to be included in their rotating schedule.  

• Files/documents MUST stay AT the field office

• DCT/Salinity techs should be approved for telework by the District board (and District manager) first, then work with NRCS team lead on workload/paperwork that must be filed federally 

• If a district manager needs to get in the office, plesae work closely with NRCS and be sure to set up communication channels

• USDA anticipates program deadlines will likely be extended, but the agency intends to make payments to our nation’s producers and landowners on time

• Current office closures include Gunnison, reopening time has not been determined at this time.  Canon City, Silver Cliff, and the State office all through March 27th. Montrose through April 3rd.  The Pueblo office is being reviewed for closure and employees are being encouraged to start working with their RTL on telework policies if a closure is to occur.  

USDA will be making another assessment about this full telework policy on April 3, but changes to plans may occur between now and then. Visit USDA’s COVID-19 website for national updates: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus 

Conservation Districts are asked to meet virtually during this pandemic. There are several resources available to conduct remote meetings (see the comparison of popular remote meeting tools in the examples and templates section).  Some steps must be taken to encourage public participation. 

• • Post meeting notice and share dial in number

  • Utilize ALL communication channels-website, public posting, office location, social media

  • Tell people where to find more information (website, Facebook, etc.) - if you have to go on lockdown or ‘stay-in-place’ they need to know where to find information

  • Use CAUTION on recording the meeting (webinar/teleconference/etc.) - if you start recording the meeting (even once) you will set a precedent that will require ALL future meetings to be recorded. 

• Deadline is in statute, as of now, no change to due date

• Gather signatures through email, scan, snail mail and send in ALL pages. DORA will accept as long as the majority sign/approve. No board resolution is required.

• Do your best!