Times are tough

Times are tough and management holds onto things tight. Upper management is afraid to fail and come in over budget. There is no job security these days, with so many individuals looking for work with great experience. Out with the old and in with the new. there are no mistakes and recover, if you make a mistake you are shown the door and they might find a replacement maybe they wont because of the budget savings.

Photovoltaic

Solar panels just don't make a lot of sense on bigger buildings. We have found out that solar panels just don't cut it in this area. If we were to install solar panels on one of our buildings the savings would be relatively small over the twenty year span, only about 2 % of the over all cost to install and maintain system. We are only looking at it to cut electricity costs. Maybe on the cabin to keep batteries charged and to heat some water. Go green they say at what cost and return though?

Power outage

Power outage last night around midnight, had some equipment failures but nothing like normal. What is normal though? Roof top units shut down and didn't reset, camera system went down and didn't reset. Fire panel had trouble but cleared right away, security system and building monitor same thing trouble and reset. Power was out for about 5 min, main did not trip nor did the generator start? Never know for sure what the cause was.

Camping

Camping was wonderful, it is always a real joy to get out and enjoy mother earth. Fishing, hiking and good camp fire food. Spent ten days out in the woods and really need to go back. Weather was just right, 70 during the day and around 45 at night.

Remodel

We are in the process of remodeling an older building. New electrical panels, new windows here and there. Two new ADA bathrooms and entry. When all said and done, we probably will have spent more doing a remodel than building a new building.

Photovoltaic system

How many of you have this system in place and working? We have a small system installed out at our fairgrounds, but don't use it. I am new to this system and need to learn a great deal more. Were can I get more information on these systems?

A look inside a hot water heater

This hot water heater started to leak out of the top. Guessing that this is the anode to collect minerals.

Deposits found in the bottom of the tank they are a little bigger than a quarter.

Looking at the bottom of the tank.

Build up in the cold water inlet side.

 Almost all of the minerals out of the tank.

This is the tank with top removed and outer skin and insulation removed.

Mine explosion in WV

My thoughts go out to those families of the miners. I come from a family of coal miners my self. Three of my uncles and my dad all worked in the coal mines. One of my uncles was killed in a mine accident, they say a shield came loose and crushed him. My dad was almost killed when a rock face let loose and hit him, luckily he was watching and moved in time, his leg was hit and messed up. They are retired now, I am very thankful that they are alive. There health might not be the best breathing all the coal dust. We often times forget what these men and women do for the country by providing us with electricity.

Week ahead

This is turning out to be a busy week already. Today I have a meeting to discuss a new roof project for a 30 year old building we have renovated and turned into a DHS and Health building. Next in the afternoon I have another meeting to open bids for the new touch screen system we are hoping to install the Detention Center. Alarm accounts are being turned over with little complications.

Control Panel

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Access control panel and building monitor dialer. Very nice and neat job. Local contract does great work and improves each time they work for use. Panels are easy to work on and troubleshoot.

Management

I have been reading various management books and they all go back to how to talk to people. Most if not all say that learning how to talk to people is the key. Manage your emotions is a big key as well. If you get upset then the person you are talking to is going to get upset. If they are angry, hear them out and diffuse the situation. Management is mostly about people skills. I am no expert but I have been trying out different techniques and the best one is listen, tell them what you expect and want. Be straight forward and honest. Expect the same in return and work is relaxed and fun.

Roofs

We have a tendency to VE out the roof repair or remodel. We can save x amount of money now and repair or remodel the roof at a later date. Just so happens that when the roof was left off for a later date we have had higher amounts of snow and rain than expected, and we have roof leaks and floor problems now. With the amount of water leaks coming into the building the tile floor that is new is coming up and the sub floor is starting to bubble and warp. Cost of repairs is going to be more than the new roof at this point in time.

New security contract

Wow, what and undertaking this has been. We had to go out to bid on our security contract, with the economy every fly by day or night company wants a piece of the pie. Just when everything was set up and running smoothly wham, do it different and make sure its as good if not better than before. Not so easy, no one does it the same, from wire runs to panel programming, its all different and if you are not standing of them while they work there is no way to get the quality you want.

Life and death

My Grnadma on my mothers side is in the hospital. She is 92 years old and has a bad back and in poor physical health. Her mind is very sharp and strong to this day. Doctors wont say how long she has, we feel that she is ready to leave us and move on. All we hope and wish is for her last few days or moments are filled with peace and free of pain.

Bid walk through

Had a bid walk through yesterday and it was good. I changed how the meeting went for the first time. I went out and took pictures of everything I thought might come up. I had 10 contractors show up, we started with the scope of work making sure that everyone present had a chance to review it and understood it. Next we had the slide show, there were 33 slides all together, not long but enough. After the slide show we had some questions and then did the walk through. everyone was able to have a picture of each area and item we looked at and take notes. This was one of the best bid walk throughs I have given. Questions are due today at 5:00 P.M.

Camping

Kind of a side note, it is getting warmer and warmer. Just about time to get the camper ready to take out. Here fishy fishy.

Start a new

Nothing has been posted for sometime. I am going to try and start out with a different approach. I need to reach more individuals that need support. I have been in the maintenance field for 13 years now. I have seen a lot of things not everything though. I have found that it is difficult to find advice and support to difficult questions. I have also found that there is always a better way to do it. I am hoping the this gets around.