Executive Director of Michigan Green Industry Association.
Active in Green Industry for 20+ years
Serves on several Green Industry Committees
Mark Attard
Been in industry 33 years, 20 years as contractor &13 in distribution.
Founding member of Michigan Irrigation Association
Certified Irrigation Designer
Certified Landscape Water Auditor
Serves on MNLA Irrigation Committee
Mark Boese
Owner Operator of Marlo Irrigation
19 years in Irrigation Industry
Serves on MNLA Irrigation Committee
John Eggleston
17 years of contracting experience and 14 years in distribution
CLIA, CIC, and CIDs in Residential, Commercial and Golf
Supervising Regional Instructor for the IA
Founding member & past president of the Michigan Irrigation Association
Serves on MNLA Irrigation Committee
Amy Frankmann
Executive Director of Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association
Serves on several Green Industry Committees
Paul Hollow
Owner of RainMaster Irrigation Company
Over 20 years Green Industry Experience
Irrigation Contractor for over 15 years
Serves on MGIA Irrigation Advisory Committee
Will Katerberg
Owner of Grapids Irrigation Company
Toro 2005 Commercial Contractor of the Year
EPA WaterSense Irrigation Partner
Certified Irrigation Contractor
Andy Smith
Former Michigan irrigation contractor who is now the Irrigation Association External Affairs Director Currently active in water and irrigation issues in several states, the US and Canada IA Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Irrigation Designer and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor Staff liaison to the IA Contractor Common Interest Group and State Government Affairs Committee Advocate for irrigation issues, assisting the IA’s 60 IA state and regional affiliate organizations with legislative initiatives
Tom Smith
Daily Rain Inc. 33 years in the industry Certified Irrigation Contractor Water Resource Management Major Geology Minor Guest Speaker at MGIA Career Day Judge at Certified Landscape Technicians exam Published articles in Landsculptor Magazine MGIA Irrigation Advisory Committee South Lyon Wellhead Protection Group South Lyon Storm Water Committee
Ken Treacher
Owner Advanced Irrigation Systems, Inc. Owner Water Right Design Group In Irrigation Industry for 31 years Board of Directors, MGIA First Chairman of the Board of MGIA Chairman Irrigation Advisory Committee MGIA MI Chairman PLANET-CLT Irrigation Committee Judges Technical Assistant MI CLT MNLA Irrigation Committee Published articles on Irrigation topics for Landsculptor Magazine
Karla Trosen
MGIA Education Director & Membership
Lobbyist
Eric Rule, Michigan Retailers Assoc Scott Faustyn, Karoub & Assoc.
State Representative
Tim Melton
Tim Melton was born and raised in Pontiac. He is the son of two General Motors Corporation autoworkers and influential leaders in the UAW, Charlie and Bonnie Melton. Tim often says he grew up in a union hall and learned politics from his parents, who won and fought many elections.
Tim graduated from Oakland Christian High School and then attended and graduated with honors from Oakland University. An accomplished student, he left school to work as a Welfare-to-Work counselor and Economic Development Coordinator for the Oakland Partnership in Pontiac. He served on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners from 1999 until he was elected State Representative in 2006.
Tim has a long record of fighting for working people as well as working with those on both sides of the aisle. He has worked to create a senior citizen prescription drug plan, he worked in the wake of 9-11 to bring in national leaders to examine our security management plans in Oakland County, he has long advocated cable broadcasts for commission meetings, he has delivered the State of the County Democratic response, and he has worked to make sure that the city of Pontiac and Auburn Hills have a voice at the table in many matters.
Tim is married to Patty Melton; they live with two beagles named Senator and Governor.
The average single-family suburban home uses at least 30 percent of its water for outdoor irrigation while mid-summer watering can account for up to 60 percent of daily domestic water usage.Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or over-watering. An efficient landscape irrigation system requires not only water-efficient products, but also proper design, installation, maintenance, and auditing.
As irrigation contractors we are stewards of Michigan’s water, one of our most precious natural resources. Licensing legislation sets certain minimum standards for education, dues, insurance, and quality to be met by licensed contractors. Through this licensing, there will be a reduction of water used and an education to the end-user through the proper training of the irrigation contractor.
Conservation and environmental efforts
Managed irrigation Managed irrigation water will curtail run off, minimizing introduction of phosphorus and other fertilizer and pesticide contamination of rivers, lakes, and streams. Water management practices and water efficiency measures will be economically feasible based on both environmental and economic concerns.
Licensing will:
Embody conservation measures in the Great Lakes Charter.
Implement the Department of Environmental Quality’s “Best Management Practices for Non-Agricultural Irrigators”
Has direct economic effect – reduces on-water demand and increases the ability for growth.
Recommend guidelines outlined in the EPA “Water Sense” program.
Jobs
Licensing will:
Strengthen and protect those in the industry by establishing irrigation contracting as a career, skilled trade.
Create more work opportunity for the electrical and plumbing trades.
Spawn new educational opportunity at trade school/university level.
Education
A licensed irrigator will need to complete required education credits similar to existing Pesticide Applicator’s License and pass exams similar to existing Plumbers Licensing requirements.
Enforcement
The Irrigation Board shall create a plan of various strategies that will include enforcement. The plan will include advantages and disadvantages of these strategies. Penalties for non-compliance will be included.
Consumer Protection/Public Harm
Licensing will:
Create cost savings with more efficient systems to consumers, municipalities, commercial properties, etc.
Create a reduction of leaching and runoff.
Increase public safety and protection to all potable water.
Provide protection against unscrupulous business practices.
Reduce demand on municipal infrastructure through enhanced demand management.
Increase compliance with rules related to backflow prevention and thereby protects municipal water from contamination.
Increase compliance with rules related to improper connections to electrical systems.
In Closing
The Michigan irrigation industry has operated without any standards or regulatory framework, leaving the Michigan consumer and the Michigan environment vulnerable to the negative impacts of over watering. In order to mitigate the negative issues, we must act to establish a system of accountability for landscape irrigation professionals, focused on reducing and/or eliminating waste.
This solution is being offered from the stakeholders who are committed to improving landscape water use practices. Supporting such efforts is beneficial to all parties in the form of reductions in water consumption and runoff.
For more information go to our website at: michiganicli.com
