Gaughan Institute Releases 2020 Schedule
Over the years, Gaughan Association Management has not only recognized the need to ensure their staff is well educated but also the knowledge the Board of Directors and Homeowners need to receive.
The more education provided to the Board and Homeowners, the more efficiently the associations can operate.
Each member of the Board of Directors volunteers their services while taking on significant responsibilities and liabilities. Through our educational sessions, the Boards can become more confident in their decisions. Educated Homeowners also feel secure in their Boards’ leadership.
Gaughan Association Management is excited to release the following schedule of educational sessions for 2020:
Board Basics Insurance: Types of Policies, Market Trends
Presented By: Eric Skarnes, Insurance Warehouse
When: Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Location: Water’s Edge Clubhouse in Hugo
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
HOA Lending Solutions
Presented By: George Toubekis, Pacific Premier Bank (PPBI)
When: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Location: The Tavern Grill in Blaine
Time: 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Roundtable Presentations & Discussions
Reserves: Components, Updates and Statutory Requirements
Presented By: Finn Jacobsen, Smith Jadin Johnson
Landscape – Winter Kill/Pet Damage/Grub Control/Chemical Applications
Presented By: Lunseth
Irrigation – Make Every Drop Count: The New Reality of Negligent Irrigation
Presented By: Matt Kuha, Irrigation By Design
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D&O): Non-Monetary/Personal/Individual Protection
Presented By: Tony Ciro, American Family Insurance
When: Saturday, March 7, 2020
Location: Smith Jadin Johnson Conference Room in Bloomington
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Board Basics: Efficient Board & Annual Meetings
Presented By: Smith Jadin Johnson
When: Wednesday April 22, 2020
Location: Smith Jadin Johnson Conference Room in Bloomington
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Board Basics: Landscape & Snow Removal Contracts
Presented By: Birch, Inc
When: Monday, September 21, 2020
Location: Birch, Inc in Little Canada
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Roundtable Presentations & Discussions
Maintenance Obligations: Limited Common vs Common vs Unit – Who is Responsible?
Presented By: Nancy Polomis, Hellmuth & Johnson
Surplus Funds/Minutes and Conducting Reviews/Audits
Presented By: Michael Mullen, Michael P Mullen CPA|PLLC
Insurance: Crime/Fidelity/Employee Dishonesty
Presented By: Jake Nelson, Wise Insurance Agency
Slip & Fall Liability
Presented By: KC Ahrens, Hellmuth & Johnson
When: Saturday, November 7, 2020
Location: Hellmuth & Johnson in Edina
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Contact us today to register for one or all of the sessions.
We look forward to you joining us!
Tips to Prevent and Deal with Pipes Freezing
This past Thursday, our Senior Community Manager, Kari Ross, attended the Community Associations Institute (CAI-MN) education session “WHAT TO DO BEFORE WINTER STRIKES!” The session focused on ways for community managers and homeowners to prepare for Minnesota’s frigid winter season and presented tips to prevent and deal with pipes freezing.
PREVENTION TIPS FROM ALL WAYS DRAINS
Guest speaker Justin Moe of All Ways Drains provided these prevention tips:
• Stop cold air from coming in where the pipes are located.
• Insulate as necessary, taking care to insulate the room and not the pipes.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
If you fear a risk of pipes freezing, leave a small trickle of water running from one of your faucets. Fun fact: Hot water freezes faster than cold water. Running the water is cheaper than a frozen pipe and emergency plumber bill!
Are you a snowbird or taking a trip? Keep your kitchen cabinet doors open as that also allows heat inside your cupboards.
Winters with lots of snow are better than those with less snowfall, as snow provides a nice blanket of insulation on the ground for underground pipes.
Finally, it’s always good idea to keep garage doors shut as it’s common for pipes to run under garage floors. Leaving your garage door open for just 10 minutes on a very cold day can cause water to start freezing.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PIPES FREEZE
• First, turn the water off.
• Turn the faucet on to allow somewhere for the water to drain out once thawed.
• Heat the area where the pipe is frozen but do not risk fire!
• Hair dryers are better than heat guns.
• Call a professional.
If your pipes freeze and burst, it is important to call a professional immediately. Water can cause damage in a very short period of time. In addition, check with your individual insurance provider about your insurance limits for “sewer backup.” According to Paul Davis Restoration, the minimum average cost for sewer backup is about $10,000.
Gaughan Companies offers expert, comprehensive community and association management services, including facilities maintenance with 24-hour emergency service, routine inspections, and preventative maintenance plans. Contact us to learn how we can help ensure the safety, longevity, and appeal of your property and community.
GAUGHAN INSTITUTE: First Training Session!
Gaughan Association Management launched Gaughan Institute to a full house this past Saturday! Our team has been working together for the past few months to put together a training format and content that we feel will be extremely relevant and helpful to what volunteer board members deal with on a regular basis.The first session, held at the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, featured speakers Gretchen Schellhas of Chestnut Cambronne, Karly Kauf and Anthony Smith of Smith Jadin Johnson and Amanda Glader of Gaughan Association Management. Topics of discussion included items such as board member roles, responsibilities and liabilities; Duty of Care; association records and minutes; enforcement of governing documents; and understanding your financial reports.
We are in the final planning stages of our next session which is scheduled for early March. As soon as we have our speakers confirmed, we will circulate the invitation and begin accepting RSVP’s. Please email us at associations@gaughancompanies.com if you are interested in receiving notifications for upcoming GAUGHAN INSTITUTE events.
MN Snow and Ice is Hard to Avoid!
Even with contracted snow removal service, we still experience freeze/thaw cycles that can wreak havoc on our sidewalks and driveways. But there are steps you can take to avoid a fall.
1) Walk slowly and carefully.
2) Ever heard of the Minnesota shuffle? Take small steps.
3) Keep both hands free to allow for better balance or use of handrails.
4) Step out of vehicles, don’t jump.
5) Walk as flat-footed as possible.
6) Wear appropriate footwear for conditions.
If you do fall, you may be able to reduce any injury by;
1) Rolling with the fall. Relax as much as possible.
2) Don’t protect what you’re carrying! Protect yourself and toss anything if you need to break your fall.
Gaughan Tech Talk: Air Conditioner Care
Now that warm weather is approaching, it’ll soon be time to turn on the air conditioner. Here are a few tips on air conditioner care so you can keep your A/C in top working condition.
- Replace the pleated air filter every 3 months.
- Remove any sticks, leaves, grass, etc. from the condenser unit located outside. Debris on the outside of the unit will drastically affect performance. (I recommend an annual cleaning by an HVAC technician.)
- To clean the outside of the unit, use a little car polish on the box; that will shine it up. On the inside of the unit, a water hose and coil cleaner are used to clean the condenser coil.
- Do not cover the condenser with a cover or tarp in the off season. This will hold in moisture.
- Indoors, check the evaporator drain line to make sure it isn’t plugged. This removes condensation from the air handler, and it must be kept clear.
- It is a good idea to change the thermostat batteries at the start of every cooling season.
These are just a few things you can do to help your air conditioner run efficiently this season.
Gaughan Roofing Tech Talk: Downspout Problems
Although the snow can be beautiful, Minnesota winters can cause a lot of damage to a property. Avoid downspout problems through upkeep of all gutters and downspouts. It will minimize the negative effects of winter on a property’s outside drainage system.
Here are a few upkeep tips:
- Twice a year do routine inspections of roof-to-ground downspouts.
- Inspect general operation; clean out sticks and debris stuck in downspouts.
- Check straps. Are they still secured to the wall? Are screws missing?
- Are they damaged to a point that a new full or partial downspout is required?
- Get these repaired or replaced as soon as possible to avoid other associated problems.
Gaughan Companies Property Spotlight: Shalimar Estates
Gaughan Companies’ Property Spotlight: Shalimar Estates
Shalimar Estates is a 48 unit, condo-style rental property located in beautiful Burnsville, Minnesota. Shalimar Estates is conveniently located near Interstates 35E & 35W and Highway 77. Residents are just minutes away from popular amenities and local attractions such as Mall of America, Burnsville Shopping, MSP International Airport and just a quick drive to both Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The individual units at Shalimar Estates, consisting of 1,066 square feet, feature 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in a spacious and well laid out floor plan. Each unit comes with 2 separate balconies that allow the resident to utilize and enjoy the outdoor living space during the precious summer months. Semi-private entries, attached garages with remotes, air conditioning, and individual furnace and water heaters provide each unit with a single family home feel within a shared community. A courteous onsite staff and a 24 hour emergency maintenance service provide peace of mind to your living experience.
Located in a family friendly neighborhood, Shalimar Estates is located in the I.S.D. #191 School District near Sky Oaks Elementary, Joseph Nicollet Junior High and Burnsville High School. Onsite residents enjoy a recreational area that includes picnic space and a playground plus several community parks are located within walking distance. Other family attractions in close proximity to the property include the Minnesota Zoo, Buck Hill, and the Waterpark of America.
If you are interested in calling Shalimar Estates your home, please contact the leasing office at 952-432-3101. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting in finding your family a home in our community.
Rising Cost of Insurance Coverage
Rising Cost of Insurance Coverage As we start to put 2014 in the rear view mirror and look ahead to 2015, there is still some questions homeowners have in regards to the rising cost of association dues. Why do your dues seem to increase each year? What is this increase paying for?
One of the largest contributors to the recent increase in association dues is related to the significant increase in insurance costs. This is in no way a reflection the association’s insurance agent, but more on our own state. Minnesota has been one of the top three catastrophic loss states three of the last seven years. This has generated some red flags from the multifamily insurance group.
One of the largest storms to hit Minnesota recently was August 6, 2013. This storm came through much of the Twin Cities metro area, but most of the severe weather was in Eden Prairie, Eagan, Edina and Minneapolis. This storm alone caused an estimated $800 million and likely more! Both 2007 and 2008 also went over $1 billion in metro storm losses while 2008 reached $1.5 billion.
As an insurance carrier reviews a potential policy for a homeowners association many of the mentioned facts and history come in to play when offering coverage. This has increased the premiums for many carriers and even pushing some carriers to no longer offer property insurance in Minnesota.
Summer storms are bad enough, and now you have to factor in that severe weather has extended to the winter months as well. Severe cold temperatures has caused a large number of frozen pipe claims in the metro area. We have not even mentioned the damaged caused by a number of ice dam claims that are on the rise.
Hopefully the number of claims will slow, along with the severe weather, and the cost insurance coverage will also begin to slow down.
If you would like further information in regards to some helpful insurance tips please e-mail us at hoa@gaughancompanies.com. For all of your association needs you can check out our web page at www.gaughancompanies.com/hoa.
David Bruneau, CMCA Corporate Association Manager
6 Signs You Have a Great Relationship with Your Drain Cleaning Company
By Joey Launderville, Construction Manager, Gaughan Companies
As published in MHA newsletter
We’re all busy. Managing properties, projects and tenants requires us to wear many hats. Having strong relationships with service companies is key to being able to get things done smoothly and efficiently. The drain cleaning company you work with is no exception.
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