Jacobsen Tree Experts blog

Minnesota Sales Tax Set to Increase

On July 1st, 2009, Minnesota's general sales and use tax increases from 6.5% to 6.875%. For more information about specific city rates, you can read more here.

Federal Minimum Wage Increases

The Federal and certain states, Minnesota and South Dakota included, increases to $7.25 per hour on 6/24/09.

Hiring Tree Services Versus Hiring a Handyman

In this economy everyone wants to save a buck. That's only natural. But some jobs are best left to the professionals who are trained to work around power lines. An unfortunate accident occurred here in Sioux Falls when a renter and his landlord decided to take on a tree project which landed them both in the hospital after tangling with a power line. Click to read full article. We at Jacobsen Tree Experts try to educate the consumers about these types of situations, but continue to see the consumer choosing to hire the neighborhood handyman versus a professional tree trimmer to save $20. 

I spoke on the phone with a woman whose mother had hired a handyman last year to take care of her trees. When the tree crashed into her roof, she found out that he had no liability insurance! This unfortunate but preventable accident left her footing the bill.  Read more about Hiring Tree Services.

In Loving Memory-Last Letter from Lalo

Eduardo 'Lalo' Contreras, at the age of 43, passed away this Easter Sunday April 12th, due to surgical complications of which he never woke up. We love you Lalo, and we will miss you dearly!

Where's my stimulus package increase?

I'm wondering the same thing! According to my past readings concerning the stimulus package increase of 2009, I was under the impression that this was to take effect  April 1st. When I didn't see an increase in any of our paychecks dated April 3rd, I thought, oh, well, maybe that's because the payroll end date was in March. So I gave it another week, did the necessary QuickBook's payroll updates and expected to see this much anticipated increase in our paychecks that are dated for the 10th.

Much to my dismay, there were no increases in any of our paychecks,...again! I had received an email from Intuit, the company responsible for updates to payroll in QuickBooks, that they were working on downloading the IRS changes. We can all guess what happened...nadda happened. Zippo.

As payroll administrator, I half expect to be stoned by my employees soon if QuickBooks doesn't figure this issue out soon. Believe me, I stand behind all of you on this issue and was very disappointed as well in our payroll service and shall look into this!

Who is eligible:  The stimulus bill will give a $400 credit per worker (if no one else can claim you as a dependent) and an $800 credit per working couple.  Key work is 'worker'.  The full credit would be paid to workers grossing $75,000 or less and will be an increase in income due to a decrease in federal withholding taxes.

New tax table: The new tax table, or Publication 15-T, can be viewed on the IRS website. 

Now that we all know there is a problem with our paychecks, I will get right on this after the Easter break, seeing as I can't rely on Intuit in this area. I am just as disappointed as you in Intuit right now, and hope they resolve this issue before next week!

Next question is, how are we going to put that little bit of 'extra cash' to the best use? Feel free to post your plans! 

Second Wave of Crews & Equipment Arrive in Texas

Unfortunately for Texas, Ike did NOT 'take a hike'. But tree services from all around the country, including Jacobsen Tree Experts based out of South Dakota, are there and in position to perform the first line of defense; that of removing downed trees and debris so that power can be restored as quickly as possible.

This picture was taken approximately 50 miles outside of Houston on 9/16/08 and consists of anxious crews and equipment who specialize in disaster clean up. Many crews have been sitting anxiously waiting to get to work since Hurricane Ike first hit, and if orginzation goes as planned, they should be clearing debris early tomorrow morning!

 

Pictured below is a tired Jon Tjaden of Jacobsen Tree Experts, who drove from Minnesota to the Houston suburbs, arriving Saturday 9/14/08.

No Relief from FMCSA Regulations During Regional Emergency 'Ike'

Even though governor Rick Perry declared a State of Disaster on September 8th, driver's of Commercial Motorized Vehicles that are mobilizing to Texas for disaster clean up are not exempt from parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations unless they have already been hired in

Texas and have in possession a contract stating such. Those that are mobilizing and will be on stand by should continue to follow FMCSA regulations.

Driver and Vehicle Checklist:

• Temporary Fuel and Trip Permitsfor each state of travel to destination.

• Legal name or trade name as listed on Form MCS-150 and the motor carrier identification number preceded by the letters “USDOT’ should be clearly marked on both sides of the self-propelled CMV.

• Current registration, insurance, Annual DOT Inspection, and log book.

• Driver’s must be 21 years of age to engage in interstate traffic with a CMV, have a valid CDL, carry a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate, and record of duty status. 

• Hours of Service is to be adhered to. 

In preperation of Hurricane Wilma. Waiting for the storm on the Belle Chase Naval Base, New Orleans, LA.

 

 

Crews and Equipment Dispatched to Texas in Preparation of Hurricane Ike

September 8th the Governor of Texas declared a State of Disaster in response to Hurricane Ike.

Today hundreds of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate the Houston area and along the Southeastern gulf coast of Texas. Today we dispatched crews and equipment to Texas to aide those areas where Hurricane Ike will create havoc.

The front of Hurricane Ike is expected to hit Friday, with landfall this weekend as either a Category 3 or 4 storm with wind gusts from 111-131 mph and a storm surge of 18 feet.

 

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