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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents July 2018 City staff respond to questions about letters from Service Line Warranties of America The City has partnered with Ser- vice Line Warranties of America (SLWA) to offer protection for homeowners in the event of damage or breakage in their sewer and water lines. Residents have received letters from Ser- vice Line Warranties of America (SLWA) that have used the City’s logo and City signature in their marketing materials. The letters were approved by staff and Council. The Council will readdress the marketing campaign at a future work session. Following the launch of the program, the City has received several inquiries. Below are the questions being asked along with responses from City staff. How did this partnership come about? The City partnered with Service Line Warranties of America after receiving calls from residents over the years who have asked whether the City offered this type of program. What does the partnership entail? Is the City making money from the program? The partnership with SLWA is a marketing agreement only. SLWA offered, and the Council declined, to receive royalties or revenue from its partnership with SLWA. The intent of the program is to offer af- fordable insurance to homeowners, most of whom are not aware that they are finan- cially responsible for service line repairs on their property. Are residents required to have sewer and water service line insurance? No, residents are not required to carry in- surance or to choose this company as their insurance provider. The coverage is optional for residents and residents are free to respond or to discard the letters. As with any program offering, residents should check their homeowners’ policies and do research before choosing to participate. Why did the City partner with SLWA? Staff met with City Councilmembers and an SLWA representative during a Council Work Session to discuss the partnership details. SLWA and its parent company, Homeserve, are the largest provider of water and service repair plans in North America and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. More than 400 cities across the country have affiliated with their services, and they have been endorsed by the National League of Cities. Several Minnesota cit- ies are in long-standing partnership with SLWA. It appears that the rates offered by SLWA fall in line with similar programs. What has been the response to date since launch of the program? Since launching the program with SLWA, the City has received several inquiries. Some residents have general questions about the program, some of them have thanked the City for making the program available, some have noted difficulties when contacting SLWA, and some have alerted the City to negative national press about the program, including some cities across the country that have opted to end their contracts with SLWA. Staff is not aware of any Minnesota cities that have rescinded their contracts. What should I do if I have more ques- tions? Residents who have questions about the details of the insurance provided by SLWA, should contact SLWA directly at 1-844- 257-8795 or visit SLWFA.com. Residents who have concerns with SLWA’s customer service, or the City’s partnership, should call the City at 651-792-7800, or fill out a Request Tracker complaint on the City website. At this time, because the program is so new, and the City has received some posi- tive feedback thanking staff for offering this service, staff will continue the program and will monitor responses. Please contact City Hall if there are direct service con- cerns with SLWA. Where can I find more information? There is an article and fact sheet on the City website homepage in the City News section that outlines the program and fre- quently asked questions. The program was also outlined in the May issue of Arden Hills Notes. Are you interested in running for the Arden Hills City Council? See page 3 for details. Candidate filing packets will be available July 12. City Council election info