P.O. Box 41421 • Raleigh, NC 27629 • info@nciclb.org • www.nciclb.org | |
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North Carolina Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board
Fall 2022 Newsletter
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The Board office is open to the public! Staff members are working in the office full-time, and can be contacted during regular office hours at (919) 872-2229 or by email at info@nciclb.org. Contact the Board office to make an appointment. | |
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In This Issue
- 2023 License Renewal
- Message from the Chair
- New Board Administrator
- Rule of the Month
- Disciplinary Actions
- Enforcement Statistics
- Free brochures
- 2022 Calendar
- Board Members
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Contact the Board for Free Posters (large and small) | | |
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2023 License Renewal
Important Information Regarding Continuing Education and License Renewal
To date, 80 individuals and 48 corporations have already
renewed their irrigation license for 2023!!
- To renew your individual irrigation license for 2023, ten (10) continuing education credits, six (6) irrigation and four (4) business credits, are required.
- Continuing Education hours must be obtained between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.
- Whenever possible the licensee should upload the proof of attendance forms into their account. This will help speed up the audit process should the licensee be chosen for review. *Prior to uploading, please be sure that your name and license number are printed on the attendance form, and don't forget to sign!*
- For those with a corporate license, you are reminded that the firm license cannot be renewed until the individual license renewal is complete.
- All approved CE courses are listed on the nciclb.org website, and newly submitted CE courses are reviewed and posted on a monthly basis. Many virtual class options and in-person classes are available. Always check your account to ensure that you have not taken and/or reported the same class within a three year period.
- When in doubt, contact the Board office for assistance (919) 872-2229.
Visit www.nciclb.org for step by step online renewal instructions.
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Letter From the Board Chair | |
Busy season is here for the Irrigation Industry! Well, I don’t think it ever took a break for most. There are immense challenges for each of us, from employees, fuel prices, material prices and shortages, and an abundance of work. Hopefully we will all weather this perfect storm of economic conditions and come out better on the other side.
There are some changes in the works for the NCICLB and for the licensees. Hopefully these changes will ease some of the difficulties many of us experience in maintaining our licenses. I am confident that by the end of this year, the changes will be implemented, and the result will be positive for all. One of these changes is a proposed rule change relating to Continuing Education – essentially the rule change that we are requesting is to allow one (1) hour of Continuing Education to equal 1.5 CEU credits. This rule change is expected to be complete by early 2023 and placed into effect for the 2023 CEU’s/2024 license renewal.
On another note, the rule highlighted in this issue brings some interesting conversation regarding technology and the irrigation industry. There are several new products on the market that could be industry changing. Time will tell on whether they are industry upsetting or not. With that said, Licensees should be careful when selecting end use nozzles/heads and as always, ensure that head-to-head coverage is achieved for each zone. While some manufacturers recommend zone to zone coverage or other various modifications that are not head-to-head coverage, this is NOT a permitted modification and NOT permitted by the rule.
I wish each and everyone of you the best and hope for your continued success.
Sincerely,
Charlie Nieman
Board Chair
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In April 2022, Margaret Geiger was hired by Upton Associates to fill the role of Board Administrator for the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor's Licensing Board.
Margaret is a Raleigh native, with a background in coaching (primarily swim) and office administration. Throughout her career, Margaret coached for teams across North and South Carolina, most recently working as the Varsity Swim Team head coach and Assistant to the Athletic Director at Saint Mary's School, a private high school for girls in Raleigh. Margaret is excited to take on the role of Board Administrator for the NCICLB and looks forward to working with and assisting our wonderful licensees!
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Rule of the Month – System Layout, head-to-head coverage | |
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21 NCAC 23 .0504 SYSTEM LAYOUT
(a) An irrigation contractor shall install the irrigation system's components according to the design specifications and manufacturer's performance standards.
(b) Microirrigation devices shall be installed at a spacing to meet the maximum irrigation requirements of the plants being irrigated. The flow rate of the microirrigation devices, soil types, and plant types must all be considered in selecting the spacing of the microirrigation devices.
(c) Sprinklers shall be installed such that the spacing between sprinklers results in approximate "head-to-head" coverage, but in no event shall the spacing exceed the radius listed in the manufacturer's specifications. An irrigation contractor shall determine the radius by referring to the manufacturer's specifications for a sprinkler at a specific operating pressure.
(d) Irrigation systems shall be installed such that they do not spray water onto or over surfaces made of concrete, asphalt, brick, wood, or any other continuous impervious material, such as walls, fences, sidewalks, and streets. The irrigation system as installed may spray water onto such surfaces due to irregularly-shaped hardscapes, wind drift, or fixed spray patterns of sprinklers.
(e) Under sloping conditions, an irrigation system shall be installed with check valves to hold water in the piping system.
History Note: Authority G.S. 89G-5; Eff. July 1, 2011;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 22, 2014;
Amended Eff. November 1, 2016.
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Disciplinary Actions
The Board is required by law to investigate every complaint received. If the findings of the investigation indicate that a violation of the law and/or rules enforced by the Board have occurred, a number of disciplinary actions are available to the Board. Following is a list of actions for 2022.
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2022 Settlement Agreements
Upon completion of an investigation, a Settlement Agreement can be issued to a licensed or an unlicensed individual where it is determined through an investigation that a violation has occurred. The Settlement Agreement is made between the Board and the Respondent and admits wrongdoing on the part of the Respondent. The agreement lays out the sanctions and remedies required which include fines predetermined by the Board, investigatory and attorney costs.
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There are no Settlement Agreements to report | |
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2022 Hearings
If a Respondent does not agree to a Settlement, a Notice of Hearing shall be issued. A Hearing can be scheduled in order for both sides to have the opportunity to present evidence and argue their case.
CASE # U21-006
In the matter of J & M Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance and Jesus Ventura Vasquez, Newton Grove, NC
VIOLATION: Mr. Vasquez and his company installed a landscape irrigation system in NC without obtaining the proper license before installation from the NCICLB in violation of GS § 89G.
BOARD ACTION: Upon review of the evidence presented, the Board determined a violation of NC GS § 89G-2, prohibiting the practice of irrigation construction or contracting by an unlicensed individual, occurring at a commercial location in Newton Grove, NC. The Board assessed a total civil penalty in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) in accordance with NC GS § 89G-12.
CASE # L20-11
In the matter of Southern Cut Irrigation and Ronald Scott Monteith, Mount Holly, NC
VIOLATION: Southern Cut installed a landscape irrigation system in NC and failed to install the irrigation system in accordance with the Board's duly promulgated rules governing minimum standards for the design and installation of irrigation systems, in violation of N.C. GS § 89G-11 (6) and 21 NCAC 23 .0503; .0504; .0505; 0508; and .0511.
BOARD ACTION: Upon review of the evidence presented, the Board determined a number of Minimum Standard violations, occurring in a residential location in Wilmington, NC. The Board assessed a total civil penalty in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) in accordance with NC GS § 89G-12.
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# of 2022 Complaints To Date - 19
3 Minimum Standard Complaints
11 Unlicensed Practice Complaints
Cases closed between 1/1/22 - 8/23/22
3 Administratively Closed
1 Insufficient Evidence
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Marketing Tool for Licensees | |
REMINDER: 'Got a License? It's the Law!' posters, 'Why Hire a Licensed Irrigation Contractor' brochures, and 'Why Become a Licensed Irrigation Contractor' brochures are available for FREE by request from the Board office. Licensees are encouraged to distribute 'Why Hire' brochures to clients/homeowners (perfect attachment for fliers and invoices!), and 'Why Become' brochures to fellow contractors who are currently unlicensed. The 'Got a License?' posters are ideal to hang around your office/business. Contact the Board office today for these free resources! | | |
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2022 CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
November 09 Board Meeting
November 25 Thanksgiving - Office Closed
November 26 Office Closed
November 30 Continuing Ed Advisory Council Meeting
DECEMBER
December 14 Administrative Hearing To Be Advised
December 14 Continuing Ed Advisory Council Meeting
December 23 Office Closed
December 24 Christmas Eve - Office Closed
December 25 Christmas - Office Closed
December 27 Office Closed
December 31 New Years Eve - Office Closed
Per NC GS § 143-318.10
All official meetings of public bodies open to the public. (a) Except as provided in G.S. 143-318.11, 143-318.14A, and 143-318.18, each official meeting of a public body shall be open to the public, and any person is entitled to attend such a meeting.
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Board Members
Charlie Nieman
Board Chair
Jarvisburg
J'Nell Bryson
Treasurer
Public Member
Charlotte
Steve Hill
Board Member
Raleigh
Charles Hughes
Member
LaGrange
Tracy McDonald
Member
Cary
Charles Allen
Member
Fayetteville
Chad Poole
Member
Raleigh
Kurt Bland
Member
Apex
Daniel Baker
Member
Sanford
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