Welcome to the chamber blog!

Currently there is discussion in Saint Paul over the Right of Way fee. The current fee structure is in place to pay for street maintenance such as tree trimming and street snow plowing in Saint Paul. The fee is based on square footage of the frontage of the property. The larger the street front of the property, the more resources it utilizes in maintenance. In August of this year, the Minnesota Supreme Court found that the ROW are taxes aimed at benefiting the public, and not fees in exchange for special benefits.

The Saint Paul City Council will be examining the ROW fee structure in the near future to determine if and possibly how the assessment structure should be changed. The 2017 assessments are headed to the City Council for approval in December of this year but they do not have to be ratified until fall of 2017. The City anticipates collecting over $32 million in ROW assessment fees in 2017. This money is needed for City work and will need to be collected from some source.

The Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce is tracking this issue very closely as it is important to our member organizations in Saint Paul. For more information you can view our memo below on details of the Right of Way fee. Please watch our blog and social media for updates.

Guest Blog, Posted By Veena Iyer, Attorney And Shareholder At Nilan Johnson Lewis 

​Yesterday, a Texas federal district court judge in Texas entered a nationwide injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing a rule that would raise the salary threshold for the FLSA's “white collar” exemptions.  This means that, unless there is an appeal and immediate ruling, the new salary threshold will not go into effect on December 1.
 
The court concluded that Congress gave the DOL the discretion to define the duties that qualify employees for the "white collar" exemptions, but not to increase the salaries for these exemptions to the level set in the new rule.  In short, the court found that the DOL didn't have the power to increase the salary threshold as much as it did.
 
What is likely to happen next?

• The DOL under the current administration will almost certainly appeal this decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The Fifth Circuit could stay the district court's decision while it hears the appeal (essentially allowing the new rule to go into effect while the court adjudicates the appeal).  We think a stay is unlikely, especially because of the difficulties that could arise from forcing employers to comply with the new rule and then invalidating it.
• Whoever loses at the Fifth Circuit would have the option of seeking review from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is unlikely to hear the appeal until a new administration is in place.  Significantly, the DOL does not need to maintain its position from administration to administration (and there are indications that the new administration is opposed to the new rule).  In other words, the DOL under a new administration could decide to fight for the new regulations or abandon them. 

 
What are our options?

• If your organization was set to increase the salaries of exempt employees or reclassify them to non-exempt status only because they did not meet the new salary threshold, you no longer need to do so at this time.
• In the process of coming into compliance with the new regulations, many of our clients found that certain exempt employees also did not meet the duties tests for the "white collar" exemptions.  The Texas court's decision does not affect the duties tests.  If an exempt employee did not meet the duties test before this decision, s/he does not meet it now and should be reclassified.

VEENA A. IYER 
Attorney 
612.305.7695 
viyer@nilanjohnson.com
http://nilanjohnson.com/people/veena-a-iyer/

As someone who works in health insurance I can tell you that the holidays are our busiest time of year. November marks the peak of open enrollment, the time when most people have to make a decision about next year’s health insurance coverage. At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross), we know that selecting a health plan can be daunting. Deciphering benefits and out-of-pocket costs can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be.

​A few years ago, we learned that Minnesotans wanted to discuss their health insurance questions face-to-face, with a real person. We took this feedback to heart and proudly opened the state’s first brick-and-mortar retail center in 2014. Now with three locations – Roseville, Edina and Duluth – we offer a personalized level of service to Blue Cross members and non-members alike. Our main priority is to assist anyone with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota card with their insurance needs, which we achieve by explaining the plan options that are right for them, translating health insurance terminology, and even providing assistance with a claim.

Our retail centers strive to offer the highest level of service and education for Minnesotans. People have questions, especially this time of year, and Blue Cross representatives are here to help. A recent example is when a member nearing Medicare eligibility stopped by one of our centers. The member wanted to know what benefits she’s entitled to under the federal health-insurance program and whether to buy private supplemental insurance. This is a common reason for many first-time visitors to our centers, especially as a growing number of Minnesotans approach retirement age. Fortunately, we were able to identify a policy that will work best until she ages into Medicare next year. The member was so happy to have someone walk her through the process that she gave the center representative a hug!

From an education standpoint, each center offers an inviting space for community gatherings along with a variety of free wellness programs and services. In Roseville, we’re hosting classes on how to choose a family health plan, what Minnesotans need to know about estate planning, Medicare 101, and even a healthy cooking class by Cooks of Crocus Hill for those who would like to dust off their aprons and try their hand at preparing a healthy dish. You can view the full menu of classes and register here.

​As part of our mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, we also invite local non-profits and members of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce to reserve any of the community classrooms in our retail centers for free.

​I consider myself very fortunate to truly enjoy what I do. I lead an engaged team who is passionate about their work and dedicated to serving Minnesotans. As the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross is committed to the well-being of our community. Since the retail centers are an extension of this commitment, I invite you to stop in for a cup of coffee and conversation.