Mortgage Payment Assistance

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If your household income has decreased and you don’t think you can make your mortgage payment, call USDA and ask for a Payment Assistance package. They will review the information you provide and determine if you are eligible for payment assistance or for more assistance than you currently receive.

 

Call a Customer Service Representative at 1-800-414-1226 or TDD/TTY 1-800-438-1832. We are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Central Time (CT). The wait time to answer your call may be longer than normal.

PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FMLA UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

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EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE

UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide
their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons
related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

► PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees:

Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based
on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid
at:

• 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total;

• 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and

• Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3 for
qualifying reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.

A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally
scheduled to work over that period.

► ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public
sector employers, are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for
COVID-19 related reasons (see below). Employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior
to their leave request may be eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded
family and medical leave for reason #5 below.

► QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19

An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work,
including unable to telework, because the employee:

1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;

2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;

3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;

4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as
described in (2);

5. is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider
is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or

6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.

► ENFORCEMENT

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and
enforce compliance with the FFCRA. Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise
discriminate against any employee who lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical
leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a proceeding under or related to this Act.
Employers in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties and enforcement
by WHD.

WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

For additional information or to file a complaint: 1-866-487-9243

TTY: 1-877-889-5627

dol.gov/agencies/whd

2020 Medical Spending Accounts (Further/Select Account) – COVID-19 Changes

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Message from Further/Select Account.  Link below to COVID-19 FAQ related to Medical Spending Account Questions.  More information will be passed along as it is available. 

Congress approves CARES Act updates
 


Today, Friday, March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Act includes a provision that allows all over-the-counter products to be qualified as medical expenses. Menstruation care products have also been added as an additional over-the-counter category. The Act also includes a safe harbor, which allows a health plan to cover any telehealth service without a deductive requirement for plans beginning on or before December 31, 2020.

We are working with SIGIS to turn around an updated EPL list. Our members can now use their accounts to make these purchases.

More information about this Act is available here.

Additional Q/A information pertaining to this Act has been posted to the Learning Center COVID-19 FAQ page.

Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

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The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now.  There are a number of programs.  The attachment is a helpful guide.  For assistance you can contact the Minnesota SBA Office or myself.  These are new programs, so we need to learn more about what program may be the best option. 

Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act final

Minnesota District Office

SBA District Office

330 Second Ave. South suite 430
Minneapolis, MN 55401

612-370-2324

202-481-0139

Visit website

minneapolis.mn@sba.gov

 

Thank you,

Drew Hage | Development Director | Economic Development Authority of Windom

444 9th St., P.O. Box 38 | Windom, MN | 56101

507-832-8661 (Office)

507-822-5918 (Cell)

507-831-6142 (Fax)

drew.hage@windommn.com  | www.windom-mn.com/eda  

www.facebook.com/Development.In.Windom

 

2020 Wellness – Windom Sharing Center – Help Your Community!

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HELP YOUR COMMUNITY!
CONSIDER DONATING TO THE WINDOM FOOD SHELF
HELP THOSE STRUGGLING!

 

ALL items appreciated but there is an immediate need for Chips, Cookies, and Paper Products!

 

Collection Site: Backdoor at City Hall (please don’t enter the office).  Please put donations in a grocery bag with your name (if you want participation credit for $500 Wellness Incentive).  
Collection Duration: 3/30-4/10 (donations will be delivered periodically as they arrive)   

Email Comments/Questions to:  Windom.wellness@windommn.com

COVID-19 Small Business Operating/Emergency Loan Programs

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Many businesses are experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19.  The Windom EDA would like to assist where possible and is offering a Small Business Operating Loan Program.  This loan program is designed to provide emergency financing for Windom businesses that are suffering financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Eligible businesses include the businesses outlined in the Governor’s Emergency Executive Orders.  The EDA does have discretion to evaluate other loan requests, so please contact me to discuss options.  Attached is a copy of the guidelines for the Windom EDA’s new emergency loan program.

The Small Business Administration and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) also have loan programs available.  I am here to discuss pros and cons of the different emergency loan options.  Please refer to the attachment for a summary of the emergency loan programs. 

Should you have any questions, please contact me to discuss options.

Program Information Links:

Emergency Loan Programs – COVID-19

COVID-19 Small Business Operating Loan Program

 

List of Eligible Businesses:

Businesses cited in Governor’s Emergency Executive Order 20-04 as follows:

  1. Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, and other places of public accommodation offering food or beverage for on-premises consumption, excluding institutional or in-house food cafeterias that serve residents, employees, and clients of businesses, child care facilities, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
  2. Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, and other places of public accommodation offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
  3. Hookah bars, cigar bars, and vaping lounges offering their products for on-premises consumption.
  4. Theaters, cinemas, indoor and outdoor performance venues, and museums.
  5. Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas.
  6. Amusement parks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, trampoline parks, and other similar recreational or entertainment facilities.
  7. Country clubs, golf clubs, boating or yacht clubs, sports or athletic clubs, and dining clubs.

Executive Order 20-04 is amended by the following additions (indicated by underlined text) and deletions (indicated by strikethroughs): Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas tanning establishments, body art establishments, tattoo parlors, piercing parlors, businesses offering massage therapy or similar body work, spas, salons, nail salons, cosmetology salons, esthetician salons, advanced practice esthetician salons, eyelash salons, and barber shops. This includes, but is not limited to, all salons and shops licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners and the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners.

All other provisions of Executive Order 20-04 remain in effect.

Thank you,

Drew Hage | Development Director | Economic Development Authority of Windom

444 9th St., P.O. Box 38 | Windom, MN | 56101

507-832-8661 (Office)

507-822-5918 (Cell)

507-831-6142 (Fax)

drew.hage@windommn.com  | www.windom-mn.com/eda  

www.facebook.com/Development.In.Windom

 

2020 Wellness – Live Webinars and Recorded Training

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CONVENE ONLINE TRAINING – AVAILABLE TO ALL

https://convenellc.org/2020-webinars/ – Visit website to checkout 2020 Live Webinar line-up

Register for next Live Webinar :https://webinar-registration.paperform.co/

Sign up here for the April 16th webinar 11:30-12:30 pm
Waste Free Kitchen
Improve Grocery Shopping, Meal Planning & Decode Expiration Dates to Waste Less Food

Webinar Description


Imagine walking out of the grocery store with 4 bags full of fresh food, dropping one, and not bothering to pick it up.

Seems crazy, but that’s essentially what most of us are doing all the time.

The average American throws away over $35 each month in the form of uneaten food. Yup, the lettuce that went bad, the leftovers you never got around to eating, and the science experiment in the back of the fridge you’re hoping your partner will clean up one day—they all add up to 15 to 25 percent of the food you buy going uneaten.

In this webinar you will learn easy tips on how to reduce food waste.

You will learn (Learning Objectives):

  • Grocery shop smarter
  • Plan meals better
  • Decode expiration dates
  • Use your fridge to its full potential
  • Cook with leftover ingredients
  • Store foods properly, including specific shelf-life, storage and creative use-it-up ideas for common foods.

Reducing food waste has never been easier or more delicious! Learn how in this webinar!

Watch Recorded Webinars : http://convenellc.org/watch-recordings/

NOTE: Select City of Windom, MN as organization  to register for the Webinars in order to get credit

Wellness Incentive: Earn participation credit for wellness incentive by attending live webinar or watching a recorded webinar on a topic of your choice.  Turn confirmation into Chelsie at Chelsie.Carlson@windommn.com

Email Comments/Questions to:  Windom.wellness@windommn.com or ask a Wellness Committee member.

Committee: Cheryl Lillegaard, Dawn Aamot, Nancy Sajban, Dana Wallace, Drew Hage, Chelsie Carlson

MSRS Customer Service Changes

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MSRS Customer Service Changes during COVID-19 Social Distancing

As the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, MSRS remains open for business. Our priority is maintaining the health and safety of our participants and employees while still providing retirement benefits and services. 

We have highlighted some notable changes as we continue business during this crisis.

Meetings with a Retirement Counselor

To limit exposure, all counseling sessions will be conducted by phone until further notice. Participants can Request an Appointment on the MSRS website or contact our Service Center to schedule an appointment.

Participant Concerns about Market Volatility

Over the last two weeks, equity markets across the globe have experienced sharp declines as investors reacted to news of COVID-19 and other events. It is understandable that retirement plan participants are concerned.

Now may be a good time to have your MSRS representative meet with your employees via phone appointments. 

Appointment scheduling is easy!  Simply schedule a date and your representative can send you a website link for your employees to sign-up online.

Retirement Seminars Rescheduled

MSRS pre-retirement seminars have been canceled through April, 2020. Future seminar dates have been posted on our website. 

 

 

 

 

MMUA – Employee Safety Memo

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Memo to: All Employees                                             March 20, 2020

Important Notice Regarding your Safety/Health

 

I know were currently in the middle of handling the COVID19 pandemic at the City of Windom but I want to reiterate some basic Stress/Anxiety Relief tips to the entire crew. 

As members of the City of Windom’s safety team and staff we want to strive to reduce all near misses and accidents to zero.  Eliminating potential near misses and being a safety officer everyday will help ensure we meet our goal of zero injuries.  The following tips can be used for Stress/Anxiety Relief during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

  • Focus on Things you can control (Thoughts and behavior)
  • Keep the big picture in mind
  • Remember the size of the news coverage can outweigh the threat
  • Use wisdom and logic
  • Turn to reputable news sources and fact check before reacting
  • Control how often you check the news
  • Use peaceful behavior it will be addictive to others
  • Evaluate personal health behaviors and others around you will follow (family, kids, coworkers)
  • Feeling alone or to isolated? Make a phone call, skype, facetime, or text and just have a conversation
  • Don’t let fear influence decisions (Hoarding supplies)

 

If you have any questions about the jobsite or workplace safety DO NOT hesitate to call me directly or send an email.  Let’s work as a team to be 100% safe and remove all the hazards we possibly can before its to late.  Always available for questions or comments!

 

Stay Safe Team!

Anthony Lenz

Regional Safety Coordinator MMUA

Cell: 507-848-7625

Email: alenz@mmua.org