Prepared and Distributed by The Midwest Hardware Association, Inc.
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Against Business Groups on Release of Covid Case Information
By Misha Lee, MHA Wisconsin Lobbyist
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A closely divided state Supreme Court handed down a ruling this month that would allow the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to release information about businesses where multiple COVID-19 cases occurred. The decision concludes an almost two-year public open records case that grappled with a business’ right to privacy against the public’s right to know certain pandemic-related information collected by a public health authority.
In a 4-3 decision, conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn sided with the court’s three liberal justices - Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky, in ruling against Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business organization that brought the case in October of 2020. WMC, along with the Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce and New Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, initiated the lawsuit in Waukesha County Circuit Court to block release of the information after Wisconsin’s health department announced plans to release to the media the names of more than 1,000 businesses with more than 25 employees where at least two workers had tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, the agency planned to release the names of businesses even if they had no employees test positive, but had two or more contact tracing investigations. Subsequently, WMC filed the action and sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the Evers administration from releasing employer information to the media that had requested the records.
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Retailers Who Operate Facilities in ComEd's Electric Territory - Customers Will Soon See Significant Credits on Their Bills
By Alec Laird, MHA Illinois Lobbyist and Vice President, Government Relations for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association
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Public Act 102-0662 (the “Climate and Equitable Jobs Act”) was signed into law and became effective on September 15, 2021. This legislation calls for the procurement of Carbon Mitigation Credits (“CMCs”) from carbon-free energy resources; specifically, from the three financially challenged nuclear plants in the ComEd territory. Beginning June 2022, a Carbon-Free Energy Resource Adjustment (Rider CFRA) will begin appearing on ComEd bills. Adjustments, which can either be a charge or a credit depending on energy and capacity prices, will be reset each year and will be included on customers’ bills for the next five years. Please note, CFR Adjustments do not apply to customers in downstate Ameren Illinois territories.
Carbon-Free Energy Resource Adjustment (CFRA) Results in Significant Utility Credits for all ComEd Customers in Year-1
YEAR 1: June 2022 - May 2023
In a filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), ComEd announced adjustments customers will see in the first year. The same rate will be applied to all customers regardless of size including the bills of customers that do not buy energy supply from ComEd.
- a credit of 4.306 cents /kWh for each summer month (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept)
- a credit of 3.573 cents /kWh for each non-summer month (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May)
Year-1 credits for smaller commercial customers who are currently buying supply from ComEd on Rate BES (Basic Electric Service), the utility’s fixed-price rate, will likely more than offset the recent supply charge increase for the June 2022 through May 2023 period.
What can Illinois retailers who operate stores in the ComEd territory expect to see in dollars-and-cents as a result of Year-1 CFR-Adjustments?
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If you'd like to place an ad, please contact Sam Schmidt at
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Frontline Worker Bonus Pay Required Employer Notice Available Now
This text offered in partnership with Minnesota Retailers Association
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The State of Minnesota released the required employer notice for the frontline worker bonus pay program as well as confirmed the application opens June 8.
As a reminder, employers have 15 days from the opening of the application to notify current employees in eligible frontline sectors. Retail has been designated a frontline worker sector. This notice to employees is required under the law.
See below for the verbatim update from the State as well as the link to the required employer notice.
“The Frontline Worker Pay application will be open June 8 through July 22, 2022. Eligible workers will have 45 days to apply for Frontline Worker Pay.
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Bankcard Questions & Answers
By Mac Hardin, MHA Bankcard Services Manager
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Whether you’re participating in the Midwest Hardware Association’s Bankcard Program or not, I’m always available for questions. Here are a few I’ve received recently:
Q: Somebody called today from Merchant Services saying my PCI compliance is past due and that I’m being charged a penalty. Is this legit?
A: Probably not. In an effort to sound like they already have a relationship with you, “Merchant Services” is a common phrase used by many bankcard salespeople. Chances are they probably asked you to send your statement. That’s a real tip off that the person calling has no idea of your PCI compliance status, and that their real mission is to become your processor. By the way, PCI is short for Payment Card Industry - Data Security Standards.
Q: I received a call from someone who says they do “no-fee” processing. Is this possible?
A: It’s about as possible as you having a no-fee hardware store, which your customers would love. The card companies, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express don’t process your sales for free. Period. It’s most likely a service that would pass the cost along to your customers, which they won’t love.
Q: A guy called wanting to buy some power equipment and said he’ll send someone to pick it up. He insists on giving me his credit card number over the phone. What’s my risk?
A: Be very careful of this one. Do you know the customer? If not, this could be someone wanting to pay with a stolen card number. Chances are the sale will go through when you hand key it, but once the real owner of the card sees the charge, he or she will dispute it. That’s when the money will be taken from you as easily as it was originally paid. Worse yet, you won’t even know where your power equipment is.
Q: If the chip on the card won’t read, am I okay swiping the mag stripe on the back?
A: Be careful of these sales too, and again, know your customer. It’s possible that someone has made the chip unreadable. Your protection on a fraudulent sale is greatly diminished if the chip isn’t, or can’t be read.
Q: Can I take Apple Pay and Google Pay?
A: Two things need to be in place for this. First, your POS system, or your standalone terminal, must have the proper software. Also, your processor must have you set up for it. These are “contactless” transactions and the rates should be the same as a chip-read transaction, plus you should have the same protection as a chip-read card. Again, though, you’ll need to check with your POS provider and your processor to see if they have you set up for it.
If you have other questions, or if you would like to see if the MHA Bankcard program can reduce your costs, I can be reached at 612-750-2988, or [email protected].
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Here are the most recent Illinois, Minnesota-Dakotas, and Wisconsin hardware store sales trends, gathered from association members using the MHA's monthly accounting services. The figures derived for each region include sales data from the following number of stores:
Illinois - 17 stores
Minn.-Dakotas - 12 stores
Wisconsin - 55 stores
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Bankcard Processing Service
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The Midwest Hardware Association has over 300 businesses using our Bankcard Processing program. We process Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express offering the fastest possible turnaround time for payment of your funds.
With so many bankcard processors constantly after your business, why do dealers choose to process their credit and debit cards through the MHA? Here are just a few reasons:
- We understand the hardware business and the type of bankcard transactions that you accept. We price our service accordingly, thereby minimizing your costs.
- We have a dedicated staff with over 40 years of experience in processing bankcards for stores just like yours. You will have a specific contact person servicing your account. With other processors, you will most likely end up with an unfamiliar, different person every time you call.
- On a daily basis, your bankcard sales dollars are deposited straight into your bank account and become available for you to use, rather than being posted to your wholesaler’s billing statement as a credit towards future purchases.
- Without ongoing PCI compliance, your processing costs and risk go up. As a participating MHA member on our bankcard service, we will assist you in validating your annual PCI compliance. Most other bankcard processors do not provide this service.
- You can trust us. As your trade association, we owe it to you, our member, to fairly evaluate our bankcard program against competitors and honestly inform you of the best fit for your store.
- Our agreement does not have any termination fees or minimum requirements for the length of time that you must remain on the program.
As a member-driven organization, the Midwest Hardware Association is in business to help you become as successful as possible. Our bankcard program sets itself apart from other processors by merging together the best service with the lowest possible cost.
Testimonial
“Bankcard has grown so much over the past years that managing it has become a very important part of my business. I trust MHA and I am comfortable. I don’t want to change to anyone else.”
Wayne Cole
Cole Hardware Hank
Grand Rapids, MN
For more information about the MHA Bankcard Processing program, please contact Mac Hardin by phone at 1-800-999-4399 or by email at [email protected].
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