ALCC news center
New info about Emerald Ash Borer Email
News
Monday, February 08, 2016 02:00 AM

 

emerald ash borerColorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has released an updated brochure for dealing with the threat of Emerald Ash Borer. View or print the brochure, “Emerald Ash Borer: Options for Safe Handling of Ash Tree Wood.”

Colorado Green NOW spoke with Laura Pottorff, M.S., CGG about the latest information available. Laura is CDA’s Program Manager (Nursery, Phytosanitary, Plant-Pest Quarantine, Seed).

Colorado Green NOW: Are there developments with Emerald Ash Borer that have surprised you? Or is it developing as expected?

Laura Pottorff: Since we only have 2 to 3 seasons of observations it's hard to draw any conclusions. Similar to the Mid-west, this pest is very hard for us to detect early. If anything, we have been surprised and frustrated with how hard the pest is to detect.

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VIDEO: Millennials in the workplace Email
News
Monday, February 08, 2016 02:00 AM

 

Millennials are the largest single demographic and will soon be the majority of the workforce. Hear what Mountain States Employers Council has to say about adapting to the wants and needs of this next generation.

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Making hiring salespeople successful Email
News
Monday, February 08, 2016 02:00 AM

 

Hiring successful salespeopleI just completed recruiting engagements with two companies. One required a salesperson and the other, a sales manager.

Here are three things I discovered:

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How Native Edge retains valuable staff year-round Email
News
Monday, February 08, 2016 02:00 AM

 

Native Edge masonTom Sunderland and Becky Hammond of Native Edge Landscapes recently shared with Colorado Green NOW the story of they developed a way to turn terrific seasonal employees into year-round staff members.

Mid-summer last year, we realized at Native Edge that we had put together a really great team of employees who may not be available next year. We didn't want to take a chance of losing anyone by having to lay off people when the winter months arrived, as we had in the past. We decided to find a way to keep this team year-round.

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State bill would help simplify Colorado sales tax system Email
Friday, February 05, 2016 02:00 AM

Simplify Colorado Sales Tax

On Tuesday, February 9, at 2:00 PM, the Colorado Senate Finance Committee is scheduled for a hearing on SB36, which will help reform the Colorado sales tax system. ALCC will testify in support of the bill. View the fact sheet about the bill here.

Read more...
 
Contact your representative about H-2B delays Email
Thursday, February 04, 2016 02:00 AM


H-2B myths vs. facts

There are two letters circulating on the Hill asking to address the processing delays in the H-2B program. One letter is from Rep. Andy Harris to Secretary Perez (view/download here) and the other is from Reps. Keating and Benishek to Asst. Secretary Wu (view/download here). Please reach out to your House representative and ask them to sign on to these letters. Explain the urgency that you and other landscape companies and seasonal businesses in Colorado are facing.

It’s possible that a Senate version of this will come up in the coming days. Watch the LAB for updates as they are available. Contact Kristen Fefes at 303 757-5611 if you would like to discuss.

 

Recently on the LAB:
The effect of H-2B processing delays
H-2B program experiencing delays

 

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The effect of H-2B processing delays Email
Tuesday, February 02, 2016 02:00 AM


H-2B myths vs. facts

Many business owners have expressed frustration about the delays at DHS and DOL that threaten their ability to get workers on time and have additional consequences related to running a business. The delays and breakdowns appear to be at many points along the process.

 

ALCC invites members to take a few minutes to send a sentence or two about what it means if you don’t get your workers on time (e.g., “If I don’t have them April 1, it will mean X US workers laid, off $500,000 in business, etc”). Submit your comments by Friday so ALCC can share it along with employer testimonials from around the country. The goal is to show the systemic problem within the program.

 

 

Those of you who are experiencing delays, please also reach out to Senators Bennet and Gardner as well as your House Representative. You can find their contact information here, or you can reach them via the Capitol switchboard (202-225-3121).


In the meantime, the H-2B Workforce Coalition is continuing to reach out to Congress and discuss additional oversight of DOL and DHS through letters, phone calls, appropriations hearings and other mechanisms. Your efforts to contact the Hill to share your concerns will greatly enhance those efforts. Please contact Kristen Fefes if you’d like to discuss.

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Fleet management tip from Swingle Email
News
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 07:00 AM

 

Swingle fleet managementFleet management tip from Swingle 

With a fleet of 170 vehicles, Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care’s fleet manager Terry Overhuls uses many strategies to save time and lower the impact of maintenance on day-to-day operations. One time saver he employs is consolidating all vehicle registrations into a common vehicle registration date.

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New "Worker Endangerment Initiative" May Increase Criminal Prosecutions of Workplace Safety Violations Email
News
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 06:00 AM

 

Workplace safetyOn December 17, 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a plan to increase the frequency and effectiveness of criminal prosecutions of safety and environmental violations affecting workers − the “Worker Endangerment Initiative.” A new “Memorandum of Understanding” between the DOL and the DOJ explains how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), and the DOJ will cooperate more closely to investigate and where appropriate, refer employers for criminal prosecution. Only the DOJ can seek criminal prosecutions in the federal courts. 

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Using your logo on social media Email
News
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 05:00 AM

 

logo placementMany of us have experienced this: you want to use an image in your online account, but it just won’t fit into the box provided. Perhaps you have a rectangular logo, and the box is square. Perhaps the size of your image is too big for the box.

There are many ways to fix these issues, but one easy solution is available with Canva. The site is free and hosted online, so there’s no software to download. Colorado Green NOW has created a tutorial to help you through this simple process.

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Time to review OSHA records and reports Email
News
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 04:00 AM


OSHA safety reportingAccording to OSHA’s standard regulations for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illness, it’s time for business owners to review their 2015 records. Their recordkeeping regulations state that at the end of each calendar year, a company executive must:

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IRS announced decreased mileage rates for 2016 Email
News
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 02:00 AM

 

odometerThe Internal Revenue Service issued the 2016 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

As of Jan. 1, 2016, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

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President vetoes Congressional attempt to repeal WOTUS rule Email
Friday, January 22, 2016 02:00 AM

 

Waters of the United States

On January 19, President Obama vetoed Senate Joint Resolution 22, Congress's attempt to nullify the Waters of the US (WOTUS) rule, using the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

On Thursday, opponents of the WOTUS rule attempted to override the President's veto. The effort did not garner the 60 votes needed, ending with a 52-40 vote in the Senate.

Read the President's veto statement here.

Read the statement from Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) regarding his vote on Thursday to override the veto.

Previously on the LAB:
House to vote disapproval of WOTUS rule
WOTUS Resolution Passes Senate, Moves to House

What is a WOTUS?

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