The City of Fort Collins has instituted water restrictions due to ongoing drought conditions. Among the restrictions is a ban on landscape watering beginning October 1. The ban will remain in effect until an order of the City Manager lifts it; city officials expect that order to be made by November 30. A declaration made on Friday, September 11 declared the water restrictions, which affect both indoor and outdoor water use.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced this morning that it has issued a proposed rule that would help clarify the definition of independent contractor. The rule includes an "economic reality" test and questions that employers can ask to help them determine classification of the worker.

Environmental factors continue to affect supplies for the landscape industry. Hurricanes in the South and fires in the West have disrupted a market that was already experiencing delays and shortages due to the pandemic. A robust market and increased demand for landscaping services has put further strains the market, according to some sources.

Each year, the Tree of Life Landscapes team gathers to discuss their strategic plan for the coming year. In 2018, company leaders asked staff, “What do you need for inspiration?” That discussion led them to offering a day of education to benefit not just the Tree of Life team but their green industry colleagues.

This week’s weather caught many Coloradans off-guard. The temperature swing’s timing just after the Labor Day holiday weekend also complicated efforts to communicate with and prepare clients for the coming wild weather. Depending on how today’s weather plays out, there may be some tree damage or even sprinkler damage to address in the coming days. [ALCC members: log in to access a downloadable PDF]

September is National Preparedness Month, and several government agencies have partnered to present a disaster preparedness webinar for small business owners. The webinar, “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make your Plan Today,” takes place Wednesday, September 16 at noon. Registration is now open for this free webinar.

The US Small Business Association has announced its annual National Small Business Week (NSBW), rescheduled from its original May date. “Recovery, Adaptation, and Innovation” is the theme of what has now become a virtual conference scheduled for September 22-24, 2020.

Colorado Springs Utilities will host its Fall State of Utilities Business Customer Meeting on Thursday, September 24 at 8:00 AM. The virtual meeting will be hosted by CEO Aram Benyamin and the office team of Springs Utilities. They will discuss issues that impact area businesses and the community.

The meeting will cover Springs Utilities’ sustainable energy plan and implementation of their integrated resource plan, the 2021 budget and rates, and other major projects planned. Business leaders should RSVP online to receive a link to attend the Microsoft Teams meeting and to submit questions in advance of the meeting.

Despite the cancelation of their annual event due to COVID-19 concerns, Welby Gardens continued with their 2020 summer flower trials. A total of 584 plant varieties were grown for evaluation, and voting was done over the course of a week by visitors to the facility. It was an unusual year in every aspect, and voting resulted in numerous ties.

The importance of securing your company's IT system and data have never been more important. With staff working remotely during the pandemic, new vulnerabilities arise. Business owners can help close up security gaps by stressing cyber safety as they do physical safety at work. 

In late July, the city of Lafayette suffered a cyber attack that took down their computer network. The small city paid a $45,000 ransom to the attackers in order to regain access to their files. Similar attacks have happened in small and large towns across the US, as well as at public libraries and medical centers. Taking the time to set up proper security protocols in your company can help prevent you from becoming the next victim.