Advice for a new owner contracting with project management

[Account Closed]

Hello, We recently bought a duplex in Minneapolis and hired a local management company to rent out the apartment and manage (we are out of town). Recently, the owner (me) got a bill for $600 because they added blinds the the apartment and made a couple of minor fixes. Although the contract says they can make improvements to the apartment not exceeding $500 without the owner's permission, they went ahead and did it, and told me that it was Minneapolis code that they provide blinds. 

Checking the code, it says "Every window of every room let to another for sleeping purposes and the windows of bath and toilet rooms used in conjunction with such sleeping rooms shall be supplied with shades, draw drapes, or other devices or materials which when properly used will afford privacy to the occupant of the room. However, upon written agreement of the owner and the occupant, separate from other lease agreement, said shades, drapes or devices need not be provided. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 72.055; Ord. of 8-10-73, § 1; 82-Or-106, § 18, 6-11-82)."

We didn't agree to the blinds and were never asked about or given the opportunity to decline or have a written agreement that states as such. We are miffed with the management company because it feels like we will be squeezed and charged for non-compulsory improvements under the code. We also recently found that the company may have allowed the tenant to have a pet, even though we specifically said no pets. Waiting for the lease to be released to us. Am I missing something here about the relationship between and owner and the management company?