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Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2021
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Sika Day for Condo Restoration Nov 18, 2021 >

Presentations on: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Please join Sika Corporation for informative presentations on your buildings
Structural Engineering

Learn About: concrete restoration, strengthening of concrete, and waterproofing.

Date and time

Thu, November 18, 2021

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

Location

Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club

6842 Main Street

Miami Lakes, FL 33014

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Sunshine Laws” for Condominium Associations

Sunshine Laws” for Condominium Associations

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2021
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Sunshine Laws” for Condominium Associations

by Becker

Florida’s Sunshine in the Government Act, (“Sunshine Laws”) requires transparency and disclosure in government and business. Although the Sunshine Laws do not apply to condominium associations, the Florida Condominium Act (“Act”) found in Chapter 718, Florida Statutes, contains its own set of “sunshine” requirements for these communities, with transparency being the key to compliance. Issues generally arise in condominiums when there is or appears to be a lack of transparency between the board of directors and the association members.

First, boards need to determine which gatherings must be open to association members. While boards may desire to avoid certain topics in open meetings, the Act requires board meetings to be open to members; in fact members have a statutory right to attend such meetings. A “meeting” of the board occurs when a quorum of the board members is present. There are two statutory exceptions to the requirement that board meetings must be open to the members: 1) meetings with the association’s attorney to discuss proposed or pending litigation, if the meeting is held for the purpose of seeking or rendering legal advice, and 2) when “personnel matters” are under discussion. Personnel matters should be limited to discussions of specific issues pertaining to association employees. So, can individual board members meet or call one another to discuss association business as long as the meeting or phone call comprises less than a quorum of the board? Yes. However, remote meetings of a quorum of the board still constitute meetings that must be open to members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Act provides that members of the board of administration may use e-mail as a means of communication but may not cast a vote on an association matter via e-mail.

The second important “sunshine” law is the noticing of meetings. The requirement that meetings be open to members is of little benefit if owners do not know when or where the meetings are taking place. Under the Act, notice of all board meetings must be posted conspicuously on the condominium property for at least 48 hours before the meeting. However, certain meetings, such as meetings where non-emergency special assessments or amendments to rules regarding unit use are considered, require notices to be mailed, delivered, or electronically transmitted to the unit owners AND posted conspicuously on the condominium property not less than 14 days prior to the meeting. The notices also need to clearly identify the agenda items that will be discussed at the meeting.

The Act also provides owners certain rights at board meetings. Owners have a right to speak at all open board meetings on all designated agenda items. The right to speak does not mean that every unit owner is entitled to endlessly debate motions, but it does mean that the owners are entitled to be heard regarding matters the board intends to consider at the meeting. The association may adopt written reasonable rules governing the frequency, duration and manner of unit owner statements. Owners may also record or videotape such meetings.

What about committees? The sunshine laws also apply to committees that are empowered to take final action on behalf of the board, or committees that make recommendations to the board regarding the association budget. Under the Act, all committees are subject to sunshine requirements unless the association bylaws specifically exempt committees from the sunshine laws.
If you have questions about these laws and how to handle meetings in your community, contact your community association attorney.

 

ASK THE ATTORNEYS  with KBR Legal 11/16/2021  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

ASK THE ATTORNEYS  with KBR Legal 11/16/2021  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

  • Posted: Nov 15, 2021
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ASK THE ATTORNEYS  with KBR Legal 11/16/2021  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

WEBINAR Florida

ASK THE ATTORNEYS  11/16/2021  6:30 pm – 8:00 pm  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_onq_UDCzQ0-Bm-WLk3RVrw A town hall-style presentation. Attendees ask association-related questions, and our panel, featuring Florida Bar Board Certified Specialists in Condominium and Planned Development Law, attorneys Robert L. Kaye and Michael S. Bender, answer them live. The format will be as follows: Attendees will use the “Raise Hand” feature on the Zoom interface. We will enable your mic to ask your question, similar to a radio talk show! Hosted by City of Tamarac with Kaye Bender Rembaum.

RSVP Free HERE

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AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT / Lunch and Learn

AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT / Lunch and Learn

November 16 @ 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT / Lunch and Learn

WEBINAR Florida

AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT  1 CEU – COURSE NUMBER: 9628717 Zoom Lunch and Learn Free CEUs for: Property Managers Board Members Tuesday, November 16, 2021 11:30am-12:30pm Ever wondered what is going on with your lake? This course will help you better understand lakes on property, native plants, fish stocking, stormwater maintenance, erosion issues, and more!

Sign up here! RSVP: CSullivan@AllstateManagement.com

 

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Traditional Collection Methods Versus the HOA Business Model

Traditional Collection Methods Versus the HOA Business Model

  • Posted: Nov 04, 2021
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Traditional Collection Methods Versus the HOA Business Model

The Collections Conundrum

Human interaction is the foundation of a good business, that’s a pretty standard assessment. But that interaction gets complicated in a business like a community association. It can be a very muddy concept–homeowners buy a house that comes with a way to try to guarantee property values for a marginal fee, but it isn’t always clear that this agreement makes them part of a larger business model. This complicated relationship can make difficult business practices, like debt collection, all the more painful.

Fabio Ades, owner of PMI Top Florida Properties, who manages Serenity Place IV Condominium, found Axela’s post-foreclosure process to be the key to uncomplicating this unique business relationship, and softening the blow of debt collection.

“Implementing Axela was seamless for my management team because it connected with our existing accounting system. The way Axela’s systems are set up just made things easier for us,” says Ades. “But more importantly, Axela helps our customers. Consistent collections keep up the health of the community and protect members’ assets.”

Traditional Collections in an Untraditional Business Model

Collections are traditionally a process regarded as heartless. It calls to mind thoughts of unending phone calls from aggressive debt collectors armed with threats of asset repossession and loss of livelihood. It creates a general feeling of uneasiness in just about everyone. Unlike other business collections processes, that lack of ease is typically felt on both sides of the table when it comes to collections in a community association.

“It’s hard for people to remember that it’s not Fabio calling to collect–it’s not the Community Association Manager. It’s not the Board Treasurer who’s the bad guy, we’re not the bad guys,” Ades said.

Unfortunately, that’s what homeowners see. They see the person they’ve made friends with, they see their neighbor, the grill master who lives two doors down, or the dog walker on the third floor. They’re being asked by friendly faces for money they’re struggling to make, and those friends and neighbors are just as unhappy to be doing the asking.

But that’s the job. And that job is made a lot harder with the knowledge that there isn’t a lot of wiggle room when it comes to acting on delinquency.

“Management companies frequently have regulations that make it hard to help homeowners,” Ades lamented.

Community associations have little to no flexibility when it comes time to collect on past due payments from a homeowner. This is often a four-step process:

  1. Send an initial courtesy letter to the owner about the unpaid fees, alerting the homeowner of penalty fines if they remain unpaid
  2. Send a second courtesy letter, again warning of penalty fines for unpaid fees
  3. Send a final courtesy letter requesting payment and warning of pending legal action
  4. Refer the case to an attorney to begin pursuing legal action, at cost to the association

When a lawyer is on a collections case and the bank forecloses, it’s game over. If the property is in a super lien state then the association will recover a pittance of what is owed and the attorney will advise the association to “write off” the balance. Also, the attorney will advise the association that they owe him/her for legal services.

All of this happens over the course of 60 to 90 days. For a homeowner struggling to make payments, that time flies by and often isn’t enough to get current on the account.

 

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Sanctuary Gardens – We are open to the public!

Sanctuary Gardens – We are open to the public!

  • Posted: Nov 03, 2021
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Sanctuary Gardens

Sanctuary Gardens specializes in providing exceptional landscape services and quality Installations. We are meticulous in detail, so that any residential or business property would appear at it’s finest. We would take you from the designing of your property all the way to the Installation of the Landscape. If you are a do-it-yourself we can help as well, our nursery carries a variety of different plants and landscape material.

Find us on the Members Directory

Find us on Facebook

Looking for Bromeliads???
Stop in today for really neat exciting bromeliads.
Bromeliad plants provide an exotic touch to the home and landscape bringing a sense of the tropics and sun-kissed climates. Growing a bromeliad as a houseplant is easy and brings interesting texture and color to the interior garden. Learn how to care for a bromeliad plant and you will have a long lasting unique houseplant that is low maintenance.
   
 

We are open to the public!

Monday – Friday  8:00AM to 5:00PM
Saturday – 8:00AM to 3PM
Fab Nunez
V.P
954-394-4625
Sanctuary Gardens
Come visit our garden center, we offer a wide variety of palms, plants, trees, and accessories. We always do our best to accommodate our clients in every possible way. Whether you are looking for garden accessories or ideas you’ll be sure to find it here. We have a live showroom where you can see the type of waterfalls we do, interactive portfolio, and intensive detailed pictures of our landscape design. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will try all of our sources to find it for you. We also offer delivery to many parts of South Florida.
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Electronic Board of Directors and Membership Meetings in a Post-Covid-19 World

Electronic Board of Directors and Membership Meetings in a Post-Covid-19 World

  • Posted: Oct 26, 2021
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Electronic Board of Directors and Membership Meetings in a Post-Covid-19 World

 

Well, it is not quite a post-COVID-19 world yet, but hopefully, it will be one day soon. We are, however, living in a post-governor-ordered-state-of-emergency world, meaning that the emergency powers granted to condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ associations’ boards of directors by virtue of the governor’s emergency orders have come to an end, with this caveat: The emergency authority granted to community association boards of directors after the expiration of the governor’s emergency orders is, generally speaking, “limited to that time reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the association and the owners and their family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees, and to mitigate further damage and make emergency repairs.” As such, each passing day diminishes the arguments supporting a board’s reasonable reliance on the utilization of these emergency powers. However, given the recent uptick in Covid cases plus ever evolving CDC guidance issued towards the end of July, 2021, some community associations may consider relying on the continuance of the emergency powers provision. If so, it is strongly recommended that such a community association receive proper guidance from its legal counsel.

 

Interestingly, until July 1, 2021, electronic meetings of community association members and boards of directors were not specifically addressed in the legislative grant of emergency powers which could be used during a governor-declared state of emergency. Rather, the emergency powers of days gone by provided that association boards of directors could conduct board meetings and membership meetings with notice given in as practicable a manner as possible, including publication, radio, United States mail, the Internet, public service announcements, and conspicuous posting on the common property or any other means the board deems reasonable under the circumstances. Notice of board decisions may be similarly communicated. In addition, the board could cancel and reschedule any association meeting. Under certain circumstances, decisions could be made on the spot, so to speak, without the need for a noticed meeting. The legislative emergency powers can be found in §718.1265, §719.128, and §720.316 of the Florida Statutes for condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ associations, respectively. Nowhere in the pre-July 1, 2021 version of the emergency powers legislation did these powers set forth the clear right of the association to conduct solely electronic board and membership meetings, though due to life safety reasons, such power was inferred. However, it should be noted that effective July 1, 2021 the emergency powers legislation was significantly revised to provide for the use of electronic meetings during a governor declared state of emergency.

 

BOARD MEETINGS

With this as our backdrop, without a declared state of emergency can community associations continue to hold electronic board  meetings via platforms such as zoom? Let us examine the relevant legislation that bears on this important inquiry. As to condominium board meetings,

[a] board or committee member’s participation in a meeting via telephone, real-time videoconferencing, or similar real-time electronic or video communication counts toward a quorum, and such member may vote as if physically present. A speaker must be used so that the conversation of such members may be heard by the board or committee members attending in person as well as by any unit owners present at a meeting… Meetings of the board of administration at which a quorum of the members is present are open to all unit owners… The right to attend such meetings includes the right to speak at such meetings with reference to all designated agenda items… [§718.112(2), Fla. Stat. (2020), Emphasis added]. Note that similar provisions are provided for cooperative associations in §719.106), Fla. Stat. (2020).]

 

As to homeowners’ association board meetings,

[a] meeting of the board of directors of an association occurs whenever a quorum of the board gathers to conduct association business. Meetings of the board must be open to all members, except for meetings between the board and its attorney with respect to proposed or pending litigation where the contents of the discussion would otherwise be governed by the attorney-client privilege. A meeting of the board must be held at a location that is accessible to a physically handicapped person if requested by a physically handicapped person who has a right to attend the meeting… Members have the right to attend all meetings of the board. The right to attend such meetings includes the right to speak at such meetings with reference to all designated items. [§720.303(2), Fla. Stat. (2020), Emphasis Added.]

In addition, the “Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act,” set out in Chapter 617, Florida Statutes, which applies, in large part, to condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ associations, so long as not in conflict with Chapters 718, 719, and 720 of the Florida Statutes (and certain other exceptions not relevant to this analysis), provides that,

Unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors may permit any or all directors to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting. [§617.0820(4), Fla. Stat. (2020).]

Mixing all of these ingredients together so that they all have meaning clearly implies that the community association board can conduct its board meetings via electronic means, like Zoom.  However, in our opinion, a more prudent approach is to also make on-site accommodations available to those who wish to attend in person. This can be easily accomplished by ensuring the meeting is noticed in a physical location where the non-board member owners can listen and participate through use of an on-site speaker phone or computer that is preferably provided or otherwise arranged for by the association. (Reminder that Zoom also has a call in feature for those who do not access to, or are not comfortable with, a computer).

 

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

As to all community association membership meetings, members have a right to speak at meetings of the membership. Pursuant to §718.112(2)(d)7 and §719.106(1)(d)4, Florida Statutes, members of condominium and cooperative associations, respectively, have the right to participate in meetings of the unit owners with reference to all designated agenda items. Pursuant to §720.306(6), Florida Statutes, members of a homeowners’ association have the right to speak with reference to all items opened for discussion or included on the agenda. During elections and other meetings where a vote of the membership is at issue, members should be able to observe the tallying of ballots.

 

As to condominium associations, membership meeting requirements include the following:

An annual meeting of the unit owners must be held at the location provided in the association bylaws and, if the bylaws are silent as to the location, the meeting must be held within 45 miles of the condominium property… [§718.112(2)(d)1, Fla. Stat. (2020).]

 

As to cooperative associations, membership meeting requirements include the following:

There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders… The bylaws must provide the method for calling meetings, including annual meetings… [§719.106(1)(d), Fla. Stat. (2020).]

 

As to homeowners’ associations, membership meeting requirements include the following:

The association shall hold a meeting of its members annually for the transaction of any and all proper business at a time, date, and place stated in, or fixed in accordance with, the bylaws. The election of directors, if one is required to be held, must be held at, or in conjunction with, the annual meeting or as provided in the governing documents… [§720.306(2), Fla. Stat. (2020).]

 

Furthermore, and of great importance, there is the following provision from the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act, a/k/a Chapter 617, Florida Statutes:

If authorized by the board of directors, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the board of directors may adopt, members and proxy holders who are not physically present at a meeting may, by means of remote communication participate in the meeting and be deemed to be present in person and vote at the meeting if:

1)    the corporation implements reasonable means to verify that each person deemed present and authorized to vote by means of remote communication is a member or proxy holder; and

2)    the corporation implements reasonable measures to provide such members or proxy holders with a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the members, including an opportunity to communicate and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrent with the proceedings, and

3)    if any member or proxy holder votes or takes other action by means of remote communication, a record of that member’s participation in the meeting must be maintained by the corporation in accordance with §617.1601.

[§617.0721(3), Fla. Stat. (2020); internal numbering, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting removed; emphasis added.]

 

Therefore, the members at a membership meeting can participate electronically so long as the board has authorized it and has adopted appropriate procedures. Consultation with the association’s attorney is strongly encouraged, most especially if there will be any “live” voting at the membership meeting.

 

How members vote at an electronic membership meeting when the member attends virtually is an interesting question. Presently, there is no definitive procedure set out in the law for the member to cast their vote “live” during a zoom meeting. Rather, §617.0721(3) Fla. Stat. (2020), places the burden on the board of directors to adopt procedures in this regard.   Obviously, if your association has 400 members who all appear virtually at the membership meeting, live voting for all 400 members will prove to be logistically difficult, if not impossible. It may be far easier to have the members  vote i) in advance by proxy, limited proxy, absentee ballot as the case may be, or, ii)  if adopted by the association, vote electronically pursuant to the procedures as set out in §718.128, §719.129, or §720.317 (Fla. Stat. 2020). A hybrid approach could also be utilized where the association provides for electronic voting and proxy voting prior to the meeting and then only the remaining few voters who have yet to cast their ballot could cast their vote “live” during the meeting, subject to the requirements of §617.0721(3).

Practice tip 1: Remember, electronic voting can be used whenever a membership vote is needed, even if the meeting does not have a zoom type option for attendance so long as the association has followed the requirements to provide for electronic voting.

Practice tip 2 (For Homeowners’ Associations): If your association’s governing documents require or otherwise allow nominations from the floor of the election meeting, consider amending and removing this provision from the governing documents to clear the way for an electronic membership meeting and election.

 

IN SUMMARY

Perhaps the initial questions phrased above could be better asked as follows: Absent a declared state of emergency can a community association hold board and membership meetings exclusively via an electronic platform, such as Zoom? Unfortunately, this question has not been satisfactorily addressed by the legislature or the Florida Courts. However, in our opinion, the safer approach, and the one that will avoid the potential for a successful legal challenge by an owner, is to avoid holding meetings exclusively via Zoom when there is no declared state of emergency. Consider using the hybrid approach discussed above where both a physical location is provided along with an electronic component such as Zoom and where members are strongly encouraged to attend and participate electronically.

Can community association board meetings and membership meetings be both electronically and at a physical location for those that want to attend in person even if the business is primarily conducted electronically? The answer is “yes”, so long as certain procedural safeguards are put into place. e.g., the ability of the membership watching via Zoom to fully observe the counting of ballots.

Another approach is to consider amending the association’s bylaws to provide for electronic only board and membership meetings. However, doing so has not yet been legally tested in the Florida courts. Also, remember, too, that a homeowners’ association must provide for a physical location for its board meeting, if requested by a handicapped individual. Also, as these matters are not fully settled in the law, your association’s lawyer may have a different opinion and advise that the association may have electronic board and membership meetings without the need for a physical location.

This journey into the foray of electronic meetings demonstrates a clear need for the Florida Legislature to adopt legislation to make clear that both board and membership meetings may take place electronically without the need to also simultaneously provide for a physical location, most especially so long as the association provides a communal device on association property for not-so-tech-savvy members to observe and participate in the meeting. After all we are blessed to be living in the 21st century. Let’s take advantage of it and add a few tech savvy legislative provisions to our laws governing community associations.

It is recommended you consult with your association legal counsel on the adoption of reasonable rules to ensure your virtual/electronic meetings run smoothly while also ensuring that they are in compliance with the association’s governing documents and Florida Statutes, and for further discussion regarding amending the governing documents of the association to provide clear authorization for electronic board and membership meetings.


The Kaye Bender Rembaum Team Remains Available To You and Your Community Association

Visit KBRLegal.com for awesome free resources, including 2021 Legislation, news with Legal Morsels and Rembaum’s Association Roundup, and our Event Calendar, including upcoming free classes.

 

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3 Common Lake & Pond Management Misconceptions by SOLitude Lake Management

3 Common Lake & Pond Management Misconceptions by SOLitude Lake Management

  • Posted: Oct 17, 2021
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3 Common Lake & Pond Management Misconceptions
Trent Nelson, Aquatic Specialist at SOLitude Lake Management

 

 

As an Aquatic Specialist with more than a decade of experience, I’ve assisted hundreds of property managers with their lake and stormwater pond management needs over the years. Despite the diverse types of lakes and ponds they oversee, I’ve noticed that many clients have the same set of concerns or misconceptions about their waterbodies. These often come to light as we work together to design a freshwater management program. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of these common assumptions. 

  • Lakes and ponds are permanent fixtures in the landscape

While lakes and ponds can be long-lasting features in our communities, they are not permanent. They fill with sediment that erodes from the shoreline or flows in during rainstorms. Weed growth and decomposition may lead to the development of muck. And trash, tree branches, and other pollutants can build up over time. 

The aging of a lake or pond is a natural phenomenon, but can be highly accelerated through human activity and industry, reducing a waterbody’s life by decades. If left unmanaged over the years, your waterbody could eventually fill up until it becomes a marsh or puddle. This is a process called lake and pond succession. 

The best way to prevent this inevitable decline is through proactive, ongoing management aimed at reducing erosion, nutrient pollution, muck development, and nuisance aquatic vegetation. These benefits are two-fold. In addition to prolonging the depth and overall lifespan of your lake or pond, you’ll also help prevent problems like algae, toxic cyanobacteria growth, bad odors, murkiness, invasive species infestations, fish kills, and more.

 

 

  • Herbicides pose a danger to non-targeted plants and animals

The most eco-friendly and long-lasting lake and pond management programs lean on holistic, natural solutions, but sometimes herbicides and algaecides are necessary to set your waterbody up for success. Herbicides tend to be a point of concern for property owners, but I’ve found that once they better understand the strict scientific processes surrounding the use of herbicides, their fears are alleviated. 

Herbicides used in the lake management industry are designed to exclusively target specific weed and algae species without impacting desirable plants and animals. They do so by interfering with the unique growth mechanisms identified in nuisance species that are not found in beneficial ones. Likewise, the concurrent use of eco-friendly compounds called surfactants helps confine herbicides and algaecides to the affected area without migrating elsewhere. Historically, herbicides have been applied by licensed professional ground crews, but new industry technologies like drones are making it possible to remotely apply products with more accuracy and efficiency, particularly in areas that are hard to reach or unsafe to navigate by foot. 

All herbicides must be evaluated and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to collaborating with scientific authorities throughout the US, the EPA also carries out bilateral cooperative programs with the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other countries around the world. Once approved, all herbicides are subject to compliance monitoring and periodic reevaluation processes to ensure lasting safety and success. 

 

  1. All freshwater management programs are the same

It’s not uncommon for a property manager to assume that the solutions used on a friend or colleague’s lake or pond will work on theirs. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to lake and pond problems because no two aquatic ecosystems are the same. 

Your waterbody’s unique makeup and the way it responds to different treatments can be dictated by many factors, including water use, location, surroundings, plant and animal presence, pollution, and weather – just to name a few. Likewise, every stakeholder has different goals and budget requirements. That’s why freshwater management programs are most effective when customized for your unique aquatic environment. 

Typically, the program design process begins by establishing a baseline of your waterbody through a visual survey of the property and comprehensive water quality testing. Your Aquatic Specialist should work with you to identify the challenges your aquatic ecosystem is facing and determine the best course of action based on your needs and limitations. And because all of these factors can change over time, these conversations should continue on a regular basis. 

 

The management of lakes and ponds is truly a science and should be treated as such. When considering a management program, look for a freshwater management firm that prioritizes getting to know you and your aquatic ecosystem before implementing any services. Seek out an Aquatic Specialist who is educated about the responsible use of herbicides and is capable of sharing that knowledge with you in a clear manner. Our lakes and ponds are valued features that our communities rely on every day. If you oversee the management of these water resources, make sure you’re investing in both the present and its future.

 


 

Trent Nelson is an Aquatic Specialist at SOLitude Lake Management, the nation’s leading freshwater management firm specializing in the management of lakes, stormwater ponds, wetlands, and fisheries. Learn more about this topic at www.solitudelakemanagement.com/knowledge

 

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Is Your Association Prepared?  Expect Supply Shortages – KBR Legal

Is Your Association Prepared? Expect Supply Shortages – KBR Legal

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2021
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Is Your Association Prepared?

Expect Supply Shortages  

There’s news once again reporting food and product supply shortages are on the horizon, if not already here, due to what can only be described as a logistics disaster. This morning’s news reported that there are thousands of shipping crates snarled in a logistical nightmare waiting to be off loaded with no relief in sight. One news source reported 250,000 crates are waiting to off load.  While no one is yelling “fire in a crowded theater,” (yet) it likely makes sense to get ahead of your association’s inventory needs. That said, hoarding is never a good idea. But, keeping extra inventory on hand may make sense until the supply chains are working correctly again.

   Sources for the following include CBS News, the Wall Street Journal and Axios:

“American families are going to face a two-pronged assault:

1. Empty shelves at toy and grocery stores
2. Inflated prices on the toys and groceries that are available

  At this very moment, there are 250,000 shipping containers stuck at sea off the east and west coasts, waiting to be unloaded and it could be months before they get to store shelves. But Biden is presiding over one of the biggest supply chain bottlenecks since WWII: [via CBS News]

  • Ships cant dock because ports are full
  • Ports are full because there aren’t enough truck drivers to take the shipping containers away
  • When truckers do arrive, the ports are poorly staffed and they can’t offload fast enough, resulting in truck drivers who used to pick up 20 loads/week, now only able to take six
  • The cost of shipping a container from China to the U.S. is now $20,000, four times higher than this time last year.

  It’s already begun: Stores across the country are already restricting supplies. Try not to have flashbacks to March 2020, but Costo and Walmart have announced they are limiting sales of toilet paper in some stores. And around the country, there are shortages of goods on shelves in Target, Costco, Home Depot, and Sears.

 Warning about your Christmas feast: Axios is reporting that food supplies will also be impacted: “Grocery stores could have limited quantities of a number of products heading into the holidays after some of the country’s biggest food manufacturers say they’re short on supply.”

The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” comes to mind!


 

 Rembaum’s Association Roundup

The community association legal news that you can use!

The free e-magazine for Community Association Managers, Board Members, Owners & Developers

Have an association related question? Find your answer at

RembaumsAssociationRoundup.com

 

Condo Board Member Certification via Zoom on October 22nd

Kaye Bender Rembaum offers free certification courses for homeowners’ association and condominium association board members. Please click here for more information!

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Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last! Time is running out on our amazing offer… By SOLitude

Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last! Time is running out on our amazing offer… By SOLitude

  • Posted: Oct 16, 2021
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Exciting Fountain & Aeration Deal Won’t Last!

Purchase a new fountain or aeration system and receive FREE installation services!

This is not the time to neglect your lake or pond. Achieving a balanced, beautiful waterbody requires year-round attention and, in some cases, aeration. Fountains and aeration systems can provide many benefits to lakes and ponds and are one of our most recommended management solutions.

Purchase your NEW fountain or aeration system today and receive FREE installation services (up to a $700 value). Don’t wait! Offer expires on Oct 31.

PURCHASE MY FOUNTAIN OR AERATION SYSTEM

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We were outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping resource when no one knew what outsourcing was

We were outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping resource when no one knew what outsourcing was

  • Posted: Oct 07, 2021
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We were outsourced Accounting and Bookkeeping resource when no one knew what outsourcing was

Back in 1984 when we opened for business, our first clients turned over their bookkeeping and accounting to us to handle for them. In those days we sent information back and forth by fax and federal express: no one had heard of the internet and the only clouds we knew about were is the sky. But for Clients that could not keep their records in order, we were able to help them get out from under a bookkeeping mess and back to doing what they did best — building their business.
While our methods have changed (no more faxing and Federal Expressing), one thing has never changed; all work is done by our full-time employees that are based in our offices here in Florida. This allows us to be sure that our staff is always available to take your calls, answer your questions, and respond to inquiries from your customers and vendors.

RMS Accounting combines quality cost effective accounting and bookkeeping services with a team of tax accounting professionals to help clients make and save more money.

rms-accounting

Accounting and tax services are about more than just numbers on a page. Unlike other accounting firms, when you call us you will get a live human being not voicemail and unlike other accounting firms we will work with you on your business helping you to grow profits and cut taxes. Unlike other accounting firms we will tell you before we begin work exactly what it will cost for our help.

Our tax accounting professionals will be happy to assist you with; tax planning, tax preparation and tax representation.

Our tax accountants are EA’s (Enrolled to practice before the IRS). They know the tax laws and will make sure you don’t pay one penny more than you have to. Visit us for a free consultation with a tax accountant, who will review your tax situation, with you to determine the best course of action. The tax accountant will provide you with a free fee quotation.

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