Additional Resources Related to COVID-19

As of September 15, 2020

COVID-19 and your Irrigation Winterization

We would like to share an update of our actions related to the winterization of your irrigation systems during the ongoing pandemic.

First and foremost, we want to assure you that your health and safety and that of our employees and our community is our top priority. With that being said, due to the nature of our work, we must be on your property in order to deliver service. We are continuing to exercise caution and have protocols put in place to ensure that safety during your irrigation winterization visit.

As of the date of this update and due to the importance of the winterization process to avoid damage to your irrigation equipment, unless we are instructed otherwise, we plan to enter  your home or business this fall to help ensure proper winterization of your system.

If for any reason, you are not comfortable with this, please contact our office staff prior to your appointment so that we may come up with a solution together.

Here are the protocols we have added or are continuing to practice during this time: 

  • Social distancing
  • Instead of shaking your hand in greeting, our technicians will offer you a friendly hello and keep their distance
  • Enabling office staff to work from home
  • Equipping field staff with:
    • Boot coverings
    • Disposable gloves
    • Face masks
    • Disinfectant wash
  • Adhering to cleanliness and safety guidelines promoted by the CDC
  • Tags or stickers to help clients identify certain equipment
  • Disinfection of touchpoints while performing work in your home or business

Some of the changes to our service in response to your requests may include:

  • You turn on/off water and back drain during winterization of your system in lieu of our entry into your home or business
  • Increased electronic communication in lieu of phone calls. The fastest way to get ahold of any office staff this year is through email
  • The potential for scheduling changes should you or our staff experience any symptoms of COVID-19
  • Payment of your bill may now be made online via our website

We are happy to consider additional requests you may have regarding health and safety to ensure your comfort with our presence in your home or business.

As of April 8, 2020

On April 8, 2020, Governor Tim Walz announced an extended Stay-at-Home order until May 4. Under this new order, Governor Walz states that Green Industry professionals can return to work, including landscapers, lawn care, garden center, and other green industry businesses.

This means that Irrigation by Design will be ready to begin our regular season schedule on Monday April 13th while following federal guidelines laid out by the order to help keep you and our staff safe.

IMPORTANT: THIS IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL!

As Green Industry businesses and workers return to job sites, care must be taken by each business and worker to ensure social distancing, hygiene, and sanitation, to help ensure that COVID-19 does not spread.

Highlights of What We’re Doing to Stop the Spread

               At the Office:

  • Office staff continuing to work remotely
  • All employees strive to work 6.5 feet apart (2 meters)
  • Crews of not more than 4 people
  • Staggering start times to minimize gathering at our offices
  • Not sharing tools
  • Meetings that are necessary are less than 15 minutes with everyone social distancing

On Site

  • Strive to keep 16-17 feet (5 meters) away from clients and the public
  • Where workable, field staff will report directly instead of first stopping at our office
    • If ride sharing, occupants are to sit on opposite sides of the vehicle with windows rolled down to maximize fresh air
  • Drivers must disinfect at the beginning and end of trips
  • Technicians are required to wear face masks and gloves
  • For residential work, WE ARE NOT entering anyone’s home
    • We WILL need access to your irrigation controller which may be in your garage
  • For residential household water-based irrigation systems, the water is required to be turned on by our client before we arrive OR our technician will talk the resident through turning on their water by phone conversation while on site

We are looking forward to a healthy and safe year with you all! Please reach out to us by email with questions or concerns or contact our office and leave a voicemail message at 763-559-7771.

As of March 30, 2020

Following a great deal of work between the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, the Commissioner or Agriculture and the Governor, additional guidance was issued yesterday (March 29, 2020) and disseminated from MNLA to member companies.

The guidance (generally) can be summarized as follows:

ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXEMPT FROM THE CURRENT STAY-AT-HOME ORDER

The examples listed below are not to be considered comprehensive:

  • NEW CONSTRUCTION – Tasks related to installation of new landscape, hardscape irrigation and related are considered “essential services” and are exempt from the stay-at-home order
  • EMERGENCY SERVICES – Tasks that constitute “emergencies” and are exempt from the stay-at-home order include:
    • Snow/ice management
    • Repair of damage to critical elements due to snow/ice management
      • Garage door repair, mailbox repair, etc.
    • Tree trimming/removal if in a location that threatens life or property
    • Flood management activities
    • Broken equipment from other exempt activities or, protecting/marking equipment that could be broken from exempt activities
    • Sanitation services such as clean-up of trash or vandalism in a landscape

SERVICES NOT EXEMPT FROM THE CURRENT STAY-AT-HOME ORDER

The examples listed below are not to be considered comprehensive:

  • ELECTIVE CONSTRUCTION – Projects such as adding a deck, installing or expanding a planting bed, annuals in pots or retrofitting an irrigation system are not exempt activities
  • MAINTENANCE – Other than emergencies, most tasks related to spring landscape cleanup, fertilization/pre-emergent applications, irrigation system start-up and similar activities are not exempt

Thinking about your personal choices pertaining to your residential property, you may choose to get some fresh air and rake or clean-up a planting bed that contains spring bulbs while adhering to CDC, health department and social distancing guidance.  You may choose to buy seeds to start your vegetable garden or early spring plants (curbside or by delivery) from your neighborhood garden center.

CHOICES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR SERVICE VENDOR

Ultimately, the decision of how to comply with the Governor’s order is up to you and your service provider(s).

Meantime, as indicated in our March 27th update, Irrigation by Design, Inc. has chosen to pause field operations, save for emergencies, in support of Governor Walz’ Stay-at-Home Order.

Please contact us with questions or requests.

As of 10:00am March 27, 2020

Commencing at 5:00PM Friday March 27, 2020 and ending 5:00PM Friday April 10, 2020, Irrigation by Design, Inc. will pause field operations in support of Governor Tim Walz’ two-week  “Stay-at-Home” request (Executive Order 20-20).

Even though most of the Minnesota Green Industry (including IBD) is included in the Critical Services Exemption to the Governor’s March 25th order, we believe it best for our employees, clients and suppliers to help rid our community of the  COVID-19 threat and pause our field operations.

IBD is otherwise open for business and will respond to emergencies. Non-field-based staff will continue to work from home to attend to client requests, proposals and other daily business.  You may reach us via email and telephone at 763-559-7771.  If you know your party’s direct-dial or cell number, feel free to use.

Please accept our best wished to you, your families and co-workers.  Be safe, and we’ll see you on the other side of this challenge to our society!

As of 3:00PM March 17, 2020 

As the impact of societal action unfolds in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, we would like to share our current thoughts regarding your services from our company later this season:

Due to the nature of our work, we must be on your property in order to deliver service.   When business resumes, we plan to deliver our services responsibly and safely.  During the current period of  intense precaution, we’ve implemented steps to prevent transmission including:

  • The postponement of our 30th Anniversary celebration events
  • Embracing a new habit of “social distancing”
  • Enabling staff to work from home
  • Equipping field staff with:
    • An increased awareness of the need for cleanliness and safety
    • Handout instructions to help clients who prefer that we do not enter, perform certain tasks that we would do if we were to enter your home or business
    • Tags or stickers to help clients identify certain equipment
    • And more…

Some of the impact of changes to our service delivery or, in response to your requests may include:

  • You turn on/off water or electricity in lieu of our entry into your home or business
  • Increased electronic communication in lieu of phone calls
  • The potential for scheduling changes should you or our staff experience quarantine or its effect on loved ones
  • The installation of formerly optional technology to help us deliver service

Please watch for emails and check our website for updates.   Our best to you and your families.

CONTACT US