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FAQ regarding the City of Arden Hills Partnership with Service Line Warranties of America <br />Residents have received letters from Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) that have used the <br />City’s logo and City signature in their marketing materials. The letters have been approved by the City of <br />Arden Hills staff and Council and constitute a marketing partnership with the City of Arden Hills. <br /> <br />How did this partnership come about? <br />The City partnered with Service Line Warranties of America after receiving calls from residents over the <br />years who have asked whether the City offered this type of program. <br />Are residents required to have sewer and water service line insurance? <br />No, residents are not required to carry insurance or to choose this company as their insurance provider. <br />The coverage is optional for residents, residents are free to not respond or to throw away the letters. As <br />with any program offering, residents should check their homeowners’ policies and do research before <br />choosing to participate. <br /> <br />Why did the City partner with SLWA? <br />Staff met with City Councilmembers and an SLWA representative during a Council Work Session to <br />discuss the partnership details. SLWA and its parent company, Homeserve, are the largest provider of <br />water and service repair plans in North America and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. <br />More than 400 cities across the country have affiliated with their services and they have been endorsed <br />by the National League of Cities. Several Minnesota cities are in long-standing partnership with SLWA. It <br />appears that the rates offered by SLWA fall in line with similar programs. <br /> <br />What does the partnership entail? Is the City making money from the program? <br />The Partnership with SLWA is a marketing agreement only. SLWA offered, and the Council declined, to <br />receive royalties or revenue from its partnership with SLWA. The intent of the program is to offer <br />affordable insurance to homeowners, most of whom are not aware that they are financially responsible <br />for service line repairs on their property. <br /> <br />What has been the response to date since launch of the program? <br />Since launching the program with SLWA, the City has received several calls from residents. Some of <br />them have general questions about the program, some of them have thanked the City for making the <br />program available, some have noted difficulties when contacting SLWA, and some have alerted the City <br />to negative national press about the program, including some cities across the country that have opted <br />to end their contracts with SLWA.