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“Why are the light bulbs in my fountain blowing out?” By: Allstate Resource Management

“Why are the light bulbs in my fountain blowing out?” By: Allstate Resource Management

  • Posted: Jun 28, 2021
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“Why are the light bulbs in my fountain blowing out?”

By: Allstate Resource Management

Fountains are a great way to add visual appeal to the landscape and the stirring water is relaxing and tranquil to hear. In addition to their aesthetic qualities, fountains also add a great deal of oxygen into the pond as the tiny droplets make contact with the air and fall back into the pond. But do pond water fountains provide enough aeration? Similar to choosing an aeration system, determining if a fountain is right for your pond will depend on the depth, shape, and size.

Subsurface aeration, like the Pond Aeration Systems, are recommended for deeper ponds to provide complete circulation. For these units, the air is pushed through diffuser plates positioned at the bottom of the pond. As the air bubbles rise, oxygenated water from the surface moves to the bottom, creating a healthy aerobic pond ecosystem.

Allstate Resource Management can add beauty and function to your waterways. Our experts will design the ideal fountain or aeration system for your lake or pond. Floating fountains with decorative spray patterns help to beautify highly visible waterways while assisting nature with many biological benefits. Increased dissolved oxygen levels help to sustain fish populations, assist in controlling undesirable bacteria, and improve the overall health of a waterway system. Bottom diffuser aeration systems help to speed the decomposition of organic sediments, improve circulation, and reduce the potential for fish kills in a water-body.

 

We are often asked, “Why do the fountain bulbs burn out with such frequency?”

The answer may be easier to explain by comparing a fountain that is a few years old with an automobile that has been driven for 100,000 miles.  If you put new tires that are rated for 50,000 miles on an older car which has worn shock absorbers, soft springs, and is out of alignment, the tires may only last for 25,000 miles.

A similar set of circumstances that occur after a fountain has been in operation for a few years reduce the life of a new bulb in the same manner.  The copper inside the power cables, control panel components (circuit breakers, contactors), wire connections, the light sockets that have become corroded from moisture, no longer conduct a consistent voltage to the bulb.  As a result, a bulb that would typically last 3 years under ideal or “new” circumstances may afford only a year of life.

Fountains are often taken for granted and become just part of the horizon, rather than something that is used on a daily basis like your car. These fountains are in operation an average of 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the lights operating about a third of that time.  Accelerating the deterioration process is the fact that they are submerged underwater 24/7, and exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays everyday.

Replacing the bulbs as well as performing scheduled maintenance go a long way with upkeeping an older fountain.

Download Our Company Brochure

Allstate Resource Management

6900 SW 21 Ct. Building 9

Davie, Florida 33317

954-382-9766

 

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CDC EVICTION ORDER EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 31

CDC EVICTION ORDER EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 31

  • Posted: Jun 28, 2021
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CDC EVICTION  ORDER EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 31, 2021
 
ALL EVICTIONS CAN STILL BE FILED AS NORMAL  –  30 DAY NOTICE REQUIREMENT FOR CARES COVERED PROPERTIES STILL IN EFFECT
The CDC Order has been extended for the final time until July 31, 2021.
The CDC Order does not prevent us from filing any type of eviction, (Declaration or no Declaration in place), but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule of May 3 still requires the Tenant gets a special “notice” at the same time the Tenant would get their usual 3 Day Notice and/or possibly the Nonrenewal Notice. 

Your 3 Day or 30 Day Notice (CARES Act covered) still needs to contain the Notice of Rights under the CDC Order or the Notice of Rights can be given along with your 3 or 30 Day Notice. 

We recommend that you either give the wording to the Tenant with the 3 Day or 30 Day Notice and/or Notice of Nonrenewal, or you put this wording ON either notice so it is clear and conspicuous.

Nonpayment, Nonrenewal/holdover, and Noncompliance cases can all still be filed whether the Tenant has provided you with a CDC Declaration or not.

YOUR CURRENT OPEN AND NEW NONPAYMENT OF RENT EVICTIONS 

The final step (removal by the Sheriff), will not occur in a nonpayment case until after July 31 if the Tenant has presented the CDC Declaration UNLESS a judge has previously struck the Declaration down.  
IF NO CDC DECLARATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE TENANT:
Most nonpayment cases are moving through in most counties.

IF  A CDC DECLARATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THE TENANT:
Many judges are striking the Declaration if the Tenant does not qualify under the Declaration requirements.

YOUR NONRENEWAL/NONCOMPLIANCE EVICTIONS:
In most cases, these evictions are moving through and are not being impacted by the CDC ORDER or a submitted Declaration.
YOUR OPTIONS FOR FILED EVICTIONS AND EVICTION AVOIDANCE TECHNIQUES
You still have options with your Tenants.
CASH FOR KEYS – This is often a viable method.  Download the form we provide if needed
AGREEMENT TO VACATE – Many Tenants will indeed sign an Agreement to Vacate Form.  Please see the video we have on this topic and download the form if needed
RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS
Money is still being allocated by the government for rental assistance funds to the Tenant and directly to the Landlord. Keep seeking these funds out.  If an eviction is OPEN, contact us FIRST before accepting any assistance or signing any assistance paperwork.
CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON FINDING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS

PAYMENT PLANS AND STIPULATIONS
Nothing is stopping you from accepting partial rent or entering into payment plans.  If you are dealing with a CURRENT OPEN EVICTION, contact us first before accepting any money so we can get you a STIPULATION.

FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL US AT ANY TIME IN DOUBT?  CONTACT US at info@evict.com

 WWW.EVICT.COM 
ONLINE EVICTION FILING
EVICTION STATUS
EVICT.COM
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THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS CONDOMINIUM COLLAPSE HELPING THOSE IN NEED

THE CHAMPLAIN TOWERS CONDOMINIUM COLLAPSE HELPING THOSE IN NEED

Members, of SFPMA and our Community of Condo and HOA,s are heartbroken for the victims and their families who are suffering as a result of yesterday’s Champlain Towers Condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida. We offer our hopes and prayers to the heroic efforts being led by first responders who are searching for victims in the rubble and where over a hundred people are still missing.

 

While the cause of this tragedy will likely take months to determine, there is already speculation that the building may have been sinking at different rates at different locations by a rate of two millimeters per year, which may have contributed to the catastrophic collapse

 

The Miami Herald graciously published an article to let you know how you can help those in need as a result of the collapse. Selected portions are re-printed below with the hope that together we all can make a positive  difference.

 

 

How to help victims of the Surfside condo collapse

 

BY DEVOUN CETOUTE AND CARLI TEPROFF

 

Published by the Miami Herald on JUNE 24, 2021 06:12 PM:

To Read the article in its entirety, please click this link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article252341023.html#storylink=cpy

 

As news of the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside spread across the nation, organizations began efforts to support victims who were forced out of their homes in the wee hours of the morning with little to nothing.

 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Thursday that the county is working with the American Red Cross, the county’s social service agency and police and fire departments “to make sure those people are properly situated.”

 

“This is a predominantly Jewish community and we’ve had the rabbis and chaplains on hand,” she said. “The people in the community center are getting the support they need. Not only are they getting hotel rooms, they’re getting help with their medicine, with blankets, with clothing, because there they are with nothing.”

 

From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation to Florida Blue, here are ways victims can find aid and others can help donate supplies.

 

Jacob Solomon, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said he went to the scene to “get a better handle on what the needs are.” Solomon said rabbis from across South Florida and from every denomination showed up to offer support and prayers. Israeli Consul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky also went to help comfort those affected by the collapse.

 

“This is a gut-wrenching scene,” he said. “The real challenge is going to be in the long term.” Solomon said the federation will set up a fund that will go directly to the families to “help them rebuild their lives.” He also said that people are encouraged to call 2-1-1, which is the Jewish Community’s 24/7 hotline that can help with housing, counseling and other services. If you have been affected by the collapse, you can call 211 to learn how to get services.

 

By 3:30 p.m. the Greater Miami Jewish Federation had put together a campaign to help Surfside building collapse victims.

 

“Be part of the Jewish community’s response,” the federation said in a mass email. “Help those affected by the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, FL.” The “emergency assistance fund” will help take care of short-term and long-term needs. The federation teamed up with Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and Mishkan Miami, the Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support to provide financial assistance, chaplaincy support, crisis counseling and social services. The federation says that 100 percent of funds collected will be used to provide assistance to those affected.

 

Checks with the notation “Surfside Building Collapse” can be mailed to: Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137. For more information about the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s special relief funds, call 305-576-4000.

 

OPERATION HELPING HANDS

 

Operation Helping Hands is a partnership between United Way of Miami-Dade and the Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald that was created in 1998 in the aftermath of hurricanes Mitch and Georges. Since then, it has been reactivated in response to disasters and other emergency situations such as the COVID-19 global pandemic and now, the aftermath of the building collapse in Surfside. Here’s how to support and assist families with their short- and long-term recovery needs:

 

Operation Helping Hands donation link

VolunteerMiami volunteer link

 

MIAMI HEAT, KNIGHT FOUNDATION AND OTHERS TEAM UP TO CREATE HARDSHIP FUND FOR VICTIMS

 

The Miami Heat, the Miami Heat Charitable Fund, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Miami Foundation are working together to build a hardship fund for those impacted by the Surfside building collapse. This hardship fund will allow residents both locally, and nationwide, to give toward relief efforts.

 

Contributions to the fund can be made here.

 

AMERICAN RED CROSS

 

The American Red Cross is at the scene of the collapse helping authorities with rescue efforts. It offers several online and mail options for donating.

To donate online visit

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html.

 

For those who want to donate by check or to a specific cause, there is a donation form that must be printed and sent to: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839. To donate by phone or to get assistance with your donation, call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669). For Spanish, call 1-800-435-7669, and for a TDD operator call 1-800-220-4095.

 

SHUL OF BAL HARBOUR, SKYLAKE SYNAGOGUE ASK FOR ITEMS IN DONATION TRIAGE

 

A steady flow of donations is pouring into the Shul of Bal Harbour, where on Thursday evening a group of around 20 volunteers unloaded crates of food, blankets, and more to be distributed to community members displaced by the condo collapse.

 

An online donation fund set up by the Shul of Bal Harbour had raised more than $160,000 by Thursday afternoon from over 1,300 donors.

 

Donations will be “dispersed as needed directly for the victims and families” of the building collapse, according to the website the Shul set up.

 

“People are coming together more than ever,” said Ryan Mermer, a member of the Shul and the community engagement coordinator for Holocaust Heroes Worldwide. “The community is coming together.”

 

Mermer said that at noon he started a WhatsApp group for community service in the Surfside Jewish community. An hour later, 50 people had joined. The Shul and Young Israel of Bal Harbour, a Jewish youth group, have set up donation sites in the neighborhood, including one in front of the Shul, a large Orthodox synagogue. Community members are being asked to bring items to the Shul at 9540 Collins Ave. Donation items include: blankets, phone chargers, sweatshirts, Advil, water and snacks, according to the email flier. A security guard outside the synagogue said community members have been bringing donations for families whose homes were destroyed in the building collapse.

 

The Skylake Synagogue, at 1850 NE 183rd St., is also asking for donations, which will be sent to the Shul of Bal Harbour. The Skylake Synagogue is also asking for people who can drive vans to take items.

 

Items being asked for by Skylake are:

▪ Sweatshirts

▪ Phone chargers

▪ Drinks

▪ Blankets

 

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The New Order:  Broward County Emergency Order 21-01

The New Order:  Broward County Emergency Order 21-01

  • Posted: Apr 23, 2021
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Since March 2020, Florida’s Governor has issued a series of Emergency Orders designed to curb the spread of COVID-19, including Emergency Orders prohibiting certain
establishments from operating and imposing regulations on those establishments that were allowed to operate;

Read the New Order: 
Broward County Emergency Order 21-01

 

 

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Board Member Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

Board Member Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

  • Posted: Mar 30, 2021
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Board Member Mistakes: How to Avoid Them

Community association boards are bound to face many difficult decisions in the course of their work. Conflicts between individual owners and the board, financial hardships, unexpected disasters: there are many points where decisions need to be made, and a good board want to make choices that will benefit the entire community, not just a few owners or influential board members. When an HOA board gets it wrong, it can take time and hard work to build back trust and community commitment.

Here are a few examples of mistakes that community association boards can make, and some tips on how to avoid them in your board.

1. Inaction on important issues

Whether it’s refusing to take action against a board member who committed a wrong, or ignoring a troubling budget issue on the horizon, it’s never a good idea for a board to put off taking action. Serious issues won’t just resolve themselves, and odds are that the board will find itself dealing with the same issue in the future. It might also snowball into a worse problem.

Not only does inaction risk a larger problem down the road, it sets a bad precedent for community members and future board members. To avoid this mistake:

  • Recognize issues that are serious or might become serious.
  • Don’t be afraid to take action against any owner or board member if it’s really necessary, no matter how important or vocal they are.
  • If the board can’t come to an agreement about a difficult decision, don’t just abandon it. Call in outside experts and stick with it until something is done.

2. Making policy exceptions for just one or two owners

if your board makes a hasty decision that benefits just one or two community members, it could come back to hurt the entire association in the future. Not only can those decisions be called into question by new boards in the future, they may often be made without proper documentation, budget changes, or policy changes.

While you might genuinely want to help a community member who’s in a tough spot, you need to take a step back and look at what is best for the association as a whole. In the example cited above, waiving fees for members who were hit by a natural disaster caused a budget shortfall for the HOA, and created a tangle of legal and policy issues for a new board. To avoid this mistake:

  • Consider any individual’s request in the context of the association as a whole.
  • Look at existing policies for ways to help them that don’t require special treatment.
  • If you do decide to change policies or make an exception, definitely be sure to document everything in meeting minutes and memos so that future boards are less likely to retaliate.

3. Being “penny wise and pound foolish”

Many community association board mistakes revolve around budgeting, a challenging issue for any board. It can be very tempting to defer maintenance, make inexpensive choices when having work done, or make other decisions intended to reduce expenses. But putting off maintenance now can lead to larger, more costly issues down the line. Doing “band-aid” repairs or maintenance rather than investing in upgrades can also end up costing more over time.

To make good financial choices while staying within the association’s budget:

  • Look at the long-term impact of any maintenance issue that you want to delay – what will it cost if the system breaks in a few months?
  • If you’re considering a “band-aid” type of repair, price out the cost of several such repairs compared to the cost of doing a full repair or replacement.
  • Consider increasing assessments or implementing a special assessment to make necessary repairs and perform maintenance.

To avoid these and other community association board mistakes, consider using a property management company who can improve board decision-making and communication

 

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HOA Income Statements

HOA Income Statements

  • Posted: Mar 30, 2021
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HOA Income Statements

Unlike a balance sheet which shows a quick snapshot of HOA finances at a certain point, the income statement shows financial information over a period of time. Usually, the period of time is the rate at which you prepare your financial documents whether it be monthly, quarterly, or annually.

The income statement is considered the most important document within the financial statement because it shows the financial direction, whether that be positive or negative, of the community association.

 

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What Information Should Be Included

There are four items that should be included in an income statement:

  1. Gross profit
  2. Operational expenses
  3. Gains and losses unrelated to operational costs
  4. Net income

Gross profit is all the money that was made over the time period. If you submit financial documents monthly, it should be all the funds raised within that month. That should include any dues, fees, charges, or donations collected.

Operational expenses would be regular fees such as property maintenance, pool cleaning, landscaping, etc. Anything that is a recurring charge necessary to keep the community up and running.

All other one-time expenses would fall under the Gains and Losses category. Because the income statement shows finances over a certain period of time, any extra expenses need to be reported. If the community playground needed new mulch in March, that expense should appear in that month’s income statement, even if it means the association did not make as much money in March on paper.

Net income is the result of taking gross profit and subtracting all expenses for the period. This is the magic number that the entire report is based on. If your report comes out showing a positive net income, then your association did well and you can put some money in the reserves. If your net profit came out negative, then you should take a deeper look into your finances and see where improvements can be made.

 

Be as Detailed as Possible

All categories should be broken down to be as detailed as possible. For example, gross profit should be broken down between dues, fees, and any other source of income for that time period. Operational expenses should be broken down into landscaping, pool cleaning, etc. The more detail included in any financial document, the more insight it will give to the association board of directors leading to better decision making and financial planning.

 

Ask the Experts

If you are still unsure about how to create a proper income statement, contact the professionals at CSM. We have years of experience working with HOAs from around the United States. With a wide variety of services, our goal is to give community associations all the tools and technology they need to be financially successful, while at the same time still allowing them to remain independent.

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Slow Your Roll: How to Address Speeding Issues in Your Association

Slow Your Roll: How to Address Speeding Issues in Your Association

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2021
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Speeding is a big problem for many community associations — a problem that is not always easily addressed or corrected. How can your board slow the speed of traffic in your community?

by Jennifer Horan

If your association does not currently have traffic rules, you may be able to rely on a nuisance provision in your Declaration. Alternatively, if your board has the authority to adopt rules and regulations regarding the common areas, the board can adopt traffic rules at a duly noticed board meeting. To enforce the rules, the association has a variety of enforcement tools available, including sending warning letters, notices of violation, fining, suspension of use rights, or further legal action.

Fining is the most common “enforcement tool” that is utilized to curb speeding, for associations who monitor speeding. Fining is most effective when pursued against owners/residents in the community. It is more difficult for an association to pursue fines against visitors, guests, invitees, or contractors who speed. So, for the most part, most associations that pursue fines for speeding opt to only pursue fines against owners/residents who speed. Anytime an association intends to fine an owner or resident, the process and procedures for fining must comply with the statute. Therefore, it would require the board to establish a fining committee (if your community does not already have a committee in place). Notice must be provided to the owner or resident of the violation and the owner or resident must be provided with an opportunity to be heard in front of a fining committee.

For those communities who do not want to impose fines, there are a variety of other enforcement tools available, including sending warning letters, notices of violation, suspension of use rights, or further legal action (such as seeking injunctive relief). When it comes to either fining or the suspension of use rights the association must follow the statutory procedure described above. An additional method of enforcement would be through an agreement with the county which would authorize a local law enforcement agency to enforce state traffic laws on the association’s private roads. Section 316.006, Florida Statutes, authorizes local law enforcement agencies to enforce state traffic laws on the private roads of associations pursuant to an agreement between the association and law enforcement. It requires a majority vote of the board of directors of a homeowners’ association to elect to have state traffic laws enforced by local law enforcement agencies on private roads that are controlled by the association.

There are other practical concerns with regard to enforcement against speeders, most notably, evidence of speeding. How can your board of directors “prove” that a vehicle is speeding? Depending on the speed of the vehicle, it could be established simply by the testimony of the person who saw the car speeding. Some communities have purchased equipment that monitors speed and that can also take photos or videos of the speeding vehicle. If your community is considering purchasing a speed gun, it should be noted that there is an administrative rule that deals with “speed measuring devices”. This rule provides that evidence of the speed of a vehicle measured by a radar speed measuring device is inadmissible in “any proceeding with respect to an alleged violation of provisions of law regulating lawful speed of vehicles” unless such evidence of speed is obtained by a law enforcement officer who meets certain requirements, including the satisfactory completion of certain training courses. The rule also requires a visual determination that the vehicle was speeding and a written citation based on evidence obtained from an approved speed measure device. Also, the particular speed measuring device must meet specifications and must be tested in accordance with other procedural rules related to the testing of speed measuring devices.
Slowing traffic helps promote a more relaxed residential environment and as you can see there are various options available. An association need not choose one however to the exclusion of all others. The key is be consistent and properly apply the various options chosen.

 

Jennifer Horan

Jennifer Horan
Jennifer Horan focuses her practice on all aspects of condominium and homeowners’ association law. She has over 12 years of community association law and general litigation experience. In addition to practicing law with a number of Florida-based firms, Jennifer also spent time as a Senior Attorney with the State of Florida Department of Health. Here, day-to-day legal services were provided to seven county health departments and children’s medical services. State contracts were drafted, reviewed and approved while she oversaw and directed EEOC investigations. Prior to her legal career, she acted as the Head of Special Education at Richardson Independent Schools in Dallas, Texas.

 

 

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Join Us Online For A FREE Educational Webinar: 10 Natural Management Solutions for Your Waterbody Wednesday, March 24 @ 2:00 pm (EDT)

Join Us Online For A FREE Educational Webinar: 10 Natural Management Solutions for Your Waterbody Wednesday, March 24 @ 2:00 pm (EDT)

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2021
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10 Natural Management Solutions for Your Waterbody

Wednesday, March 24 @ 2:00 pm (EDT)

We’re only 2 days away! During this much-anticipated webinar, our experts will explore our top 10 natural management techniques and discuss how the right combination of natural solutions can help transform your waterbody.

 

Don’t wait! Register today and start nurturing your waterbody with all-natural solutions that will enhance your lake and pond for years to come.


Registration Is Free. Spots Are Limited. Register Today!

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BIG NEWS ABOUT Glazer and Sachs & Condo Craze and HOAs BLOG – View our new Website!

BIG NEWS ABOUT Glazer and Sachs & Condo Craze and HOAs BLOG – View our new Website!

  • Posted: Mar 22, 2021
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BIG NEWS ABOUT MY BLOGS! by Eric Glazer of Glazer & Sachs

As you know, I have been writing a blog 50 times per year for the last 10 years. That’s over 500 columns that have spoken about virtually every aspect of community association living. Our readers love it. The only complaint about the blog was that it was not searchable by topic. It was difficult to find a specific blog about a specific topic. Not any more!  From now on, by going to either the website for Glazer and Sachs,

Or, by going to the website for Condo Craze and HOAs, you can click on our BLOG link –type a few key words in the search bar- and find a blog about a topic of your choice. You also still have the option to scroll through all our blogs in chronological order.

It’s just another way our firm tries to make the law accessible and enjoyable to everyone with an interest in community association law, whether you’re a Board member, owner, manager or service provider. We hope you enjoy reading them half as much as we enjoy writing them.

 

View our New Website

 

 

 

 

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