Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA)
May 14 at 2:27 PM ·
We're sorry to interrupt your business operations as we are now one week away from Memorial Day Weekend and know how busy you are, but you need to know that your business along with every other business in Michigan is under major threat!
Please read the following information. The important facts were taken from the website link below. If anyone claims your employees came into contact with someone regardless of 6' spacing rules, your business could be forced to close for 14 days each occurrence!
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/principles-contact-tracing.html
Certain core principles of contact tracing must always be adhered to:
Contact tracing is part of the process of supporting patients with suspected or confirmed infection.
In contact tracing, public health staff work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact (Understand that it doesn’t ask if contact was measured by any distance) during the timeframe while they may have been infectious.
Public health staff then warn these exposed individuals (contacts) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible.
To protect patient privacy, contacts are only informed that they may have been exposed to a patient with the infection. They are not told the identity of the patient who may have exposed them.
Contacts are provided with education, information, and support to understand their risk, what they should do to separate themselves from others who are not exposed, monitor themselves for illness, and the possibility that they could spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill.
Contacts are encouraged to stay home and maintain social distance from others (at least 6 feet) until 14 days after their last exposure, in case they also become ill. They should monitor themselves by checking their temperature twice daily and watching for cough or shortness of breath. To the extent possible, public health staff should check in with contacts to make sure they are self-monitoring and have not developed symptoms. Contacts who develop symptoms should promptly isolate themselves and notify public health staff. They should be promptly evaluated for infection and for the need for medical care. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html)
Contact tracers need to:
Immediately identify and interview people with SARS CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 (i.e., disease) (Now they’re looking for multi-infections and testing for something that has been around for years!)
Support isolation of those who are infected
Warn contacts of their exposure, assess their symptoms and risk, and provide instructions for next steps
Link those with symptoms to testing and care
Donations Needed for MGI-PAC Fund Advocating for the Green Industry
Now more than ever, the MGIA needs your financial support by donating to the Michigan Green Industry Political Committee (MGI-PAC).
Decisions that affect our lives, businesses and communities are a daily occurrence in Lansing. The MGI-PAC helps to provide a cohesive and unified message of who our members are and what we represent. In other words, the PAC serves as an important way to unify landscape professionals and speak in a singular voice on vital public policy matters. The MGI-PAC allows us to represent all MGIA members to law makers through a well-organized, well-informed and united front.
One of the most important tools that we have at our disposal to represent your interests is our political action committee, MGI–PAC. MGI-PAC is a vehicle that allows us to speak with a united voice on behalf of landscape professionals. In politics, an individual may not be powerful enough to successfully persuade members of the legislature to take action. However, an organized effort representing the combined interests of an association of many like-minded professionals, such as what is offered by the MGI-PAC, offers a more powerful voice.
MGI-PAC increases the opportunity for the interests of landscape professionals to be taken into consideration on a multitude of issues that could impact your business and community. The PAC provides a way for us to be more proactive in getting out front on issues with state office holders. That way, we are involved in the conversations that affect us. In other words, decisions are more likely to be made with us, and not for us.
Our goal is to raise $100,000 to garner industry support on both sides of the aisle ensuring our voices are clearly understood.
Download the MGI-PAC Donation form (PDF): https://www.landscape.org/files/MGI-PACDonation.pdf
Donations must be a personal check or credit card. Business checks NOT allowable. A PAC can only take personal monies.
Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA)
April 22 at 9:21 PM ·
Governor Whitmer’s Update
Governor Whitmer addressed in her press conference this afternoon that she is seeing cautiously optimistic numbers showing we as a state are heading in the right direction. She identified that she will be making a decision next week how she will be allowing certain businesses to begin working yet she maintains that we are still not out of the woods and shared how vital it is that we move forward safely with social distancing and wearing masks and protective PPE.
University of Michigan School of Health epidemiologists were asked to join the press conference showing their models which support a predictive theory how a second wave in May could impact us all. Governor Whitmer lays out her case that her powers under a State of Emergency should remain unchanged. On April 9th, our Governor extended the Stay at Home order justifying that we had not reached a peak but theorized a peak hitting Michigan this week, however, this has not happened. In fact, the data has shown a completely opposite direction where she did confirm and thanked Michiganders for all doing their part helping keep hospital capacity very low with supplies now plenty on hand for the next 30-40 days.
She eluded to making a decision by this Friday regarding how certain businesses could get back to work as she plans to extend the deadline for many others. The Governor then addressed the need to focus on her Emergency plan which includes widespread testing and contact tracing.
As an Association, we request all members maintain absolute professionalism when going back to work. We understand the Governor's failure to help fix a broken unemployment system preventing those from getting financial help is now in its 5th week yet she made sure her employees were filed automatically. Frustrations are at the highest level now. We understand that many are choosing to go back to work next week without any further delays and we can not advocate this or reprimand those who have to make difficult choices for their businesses.
It is vital as leaders of your business operations that you please make sure that your employees are seen following social distancing rules, wearing masks and that you are screening your team as the CDC requires upon arriving for work each day. You should also review your county Department of Health's recommendations for working safely. If our industry is viewed as being cavalier to these rules it will only reinforce the Governor's second wave theories in May in which none of us could bear those burdens!
VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW....
Many Federal and State lawsuits are making their way through the courts. One particular State case was filed along with temporary restraining orders which should be in front of the judge next week. The temporary restraining order would stop all executive orders from being enforced until an actual hearing has taken place. The lawsuit filed within the state court has a very strong constitutional standing and will most likely force our legislators to create a well conceived law that addresses a Governor's power during State of Emergencies.
In addition, it also requests the courts to render judgements of issuances of any criminal or civil infractions issued by the Attorney General or any other law enforcement officer that has been deemed unconstitutional. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has clearly stated that they will not allow Governor Whitmer to extend past May 1st. We see the legislative powers she was granted and how the House and Senate plan to pull the plug coupled along with both state and federal lawsuits.
All we can suggest is to conduct business with extreme care and professionalism for your team. We’re almost through this and our lobbyist will be very busy going forward working with our industry and legislators ensuring this never happens again.
FOXNEWS.COM
Michigan businesses sue Whitmer over executive order amid coronavirus crisis: 'What we need is a dose of common sense'
Supervisor Rick Stathakis
April 22 at 3:09 PM ·
The Shelby Township Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution yesterday which sends our Governor a strong message that she should issue a new Public Health Executive Order that is more in line with what the Federal Government recommends.
Our residents deserve to have professional lawn care service when those companies act responsibly and follow Federal Rules.
We support Executive Orders that will serve to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus so that the curve may be flattened. However, many of the items in the Governor’s order are examples of her going too far in terms of restrictions that will not serve to meaningfully slow the spread of the virus.
People should be able to buy a can of paint to touch up work in compliance with the CDC rules.
Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association
April 18 at 2:53 PM ·
Dear MNLA Members,
On behalf of the MNLA Board of Directors, a lawsuit has been filed in federal court on behalf of the MNLA membership and several specific companies regarding Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-42. The decision was made with much debate and careful thought by your MNLA Board but we felt this was the best way to defend your right to work safely and help you and your employees get back to work. More details can be found in the attached Press Release and will be made available as updates next week.
Please be safe.
Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA)
April 16 at 11:04 PM ·
Legislative Update - Open MI Safely Proposal
During a conference call today with Karoub & Associates the MGIA was able to hear about your legislator’s plans to re-open the Michigan economy and we’re happy to report that it was chock full of industry leaders from both sides of the political spectrum. The proposal is up and down ladder approach to opening and closing through phases as conditions dictate however it should be duly noted that under phase 1 (The most aggressive phase with high risk to Covid-19 deaths), the green industry would be considered as essential once adopted by the Governor.
Should our Governor opt to extend the Stay At Home order beyond April 30th, this would roll out as the new working protocol AND if the data showed a second wave our livelihoods would be protected under this working model so long as 3 components of business operations were being adhered to by a business. Social Distancing, Hygiene and Masks all required under Phase 1 when we get back to work!
Here are all the details…
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, on Thursday unveiled the Senate Republican caucus proposal to return Michiganders to the workplace safely and bring the state’s economy back online. “The Senate Republican caucus believes it is our responsibility to propose a framework for Michiganders to live life in the presence of COVID-19, safely” said Shirkey.
The Senate Republican proposal, Open Michigan Safely, relies on measurable data points to serve as indicators of decreased risk. The proposal is structured in phases that outline conditions in the state, suggest safe business operations, and propose levels of citizen activity. For example, during the most active spread of infection, Phase 1 of the Senate Republican proposal, acknowledges the need for the vast majority of citizens to continue to stay at home, but differs significantly from Governor Whitmer’s current order by adopting commonsense revisions.
“Michigan remains an outlier amongst states with strict stay-at-home orders” said Shirkey. “Our governor did not adopt updated guidance from the federal government in her most recent stay-at-home order that would provide greater clarity for employers and employees and would permit more people to work.”
By adopting updated guidelines from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration (CISA), Michigan would be better aligned with other states experiencing similar COVID-19 caseloads.
The Open Michigan Safely proposal would also allow low-risk businesses to operate during Phase 1. Low-risk businesses are those with little to no physical contact between employers, employees and customers. An individual who can perform his or her job without the need for physical contact with another individual would be allowed to resume work.
“This proposal embraces strict adherence by employees to health and safety measures and disciplined execution of safe workplace protocols by employers. These behaviors are essential components of each phase and are crucial to restoring Michigan’s economic vitality,” said Shirkey.
“Our citizens need a proposal to consider. Mental health is as important and directly tied to our physical health. We must provide a pathway that empowers our population to take control of the circumstances in our state, rather than be powerless against this virus,” said Shirkey.
“We welcome input from the medical community to improve this proposed framework. We also hope the Senate bipartisan ‘Safe Behaviors for Safe Workplaces’ work group will consider this proposal as they continue to gather information about getting Michiganders safely back to work,” said Shirkey.
The Senate Republicans have shared the proposal with Governor Whitmer and have asked her to respond prior to April 30 on how the proposal can be incorporated into short and long-term plans for Michigan.
Note: Information about the proposal is available via https://www.misenategop.com/OpenMISafely/
