Another One!!!!

[robivi3]

G'day all, well here's a fine "howdy doody". My water line is ruptured! I guess during debris removal. Just waiting for the Police now. I called because we have always been told on the water bill to report low pressure, huh, unbeknownst to me that is considered a valid "emergency". They said that there is also a city break and they are looking for it.

Listen, this 20% devestation ain't for me. It's total or nothing next time!

See you guys later! The insurance is moving very fast though and adjusters are doing their job here (in our development) pretty well.

[Minnymouth]

Robivi3,
Sorry to hear about the water line problems. Yes, the forces of a hurricane can easily burst waterlines. I work for a water district. The main point of pressure would be at the connects at the street and the house, and anywhere pvc is used. Check all your connections and see if one is blown out.
If you find yourself with a big water bill, see if your district does like ours and "splits" the cost of the leak with you. (example-they would take your bill minus your average bill and then split the leak part of the bill with you. Its a thought.....

Hang in there, (could be worse - you could have septic system running over!!!)

Minny

[Genenco]

Here in Wa, they (The Utiltity dept) has gone as far as to put a lein on a persons house as the water line to their home broke..Incrediably, it broke AT THE METER and the utility said "Oh, that's not OUR FAULT!"

The nice thing is when it came to light that the resident was a disabled vet, people started calling (and yes, some got VERY nasty) the utility said "Oh, sorry" and removed the lein and refunded the bill AND gave a $250 credit.

Goes to show, be nice and they'll run you over, have some supporters, and they'll bend over backwards to please you...

Pity that it's that way, but sometimes, it helps to be a squeaky wheel

[robivi3]

Yep, Min, BEEN THERE. North Miami post Andrew. Dug up a drain field twice, never again!

[robivi3]

Oddly, the water pressure is normal now. I think my gate bent the entry pipe when it blew away and the water main break this am which was repaired aggravated it. I can localize it pretty well. I may be away from the Forum for awhile but i will drop in, I've done the FEMA thing for the deductable and necessary tools and also the insurance, now the waiting. I have to get on the big repairs now.

I am considering selling now, taking a lesser retirement and finding work in Crossville, TN. My neighbors just left their home in our care and have left for good, had enough. He works overseas at times and she has family in Boston. My other neighbor put in for transfer to Texas this week, most of us could stand the storms if it wasn't for the other issues down here, not worth any amount of money you are offered to come here. Corporations are also considering leaving. We recently recruited a Superintendent from DC MTA, he stayed two months and went back, the extra money wasn't worth any of the hassle.

I will be able to build my house in TN with the money from this one, for what i can build there with the money from a TH it should be the other way around! 250,000 gets you a PALACE up there compared to here!!!!!!!!

[tinroofrusted]

Robivi, you just are having all kinds of trouble!

[Minnymouth]

Robiv3,
Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. I made the decision 20 years ago to move back North. Got tired of struggling in Georgia. Had been there 10 years and had had enough. Probably the best decision I ever made.
Life has been a lot easier (till I claimed BK).....

Sorry about all your problems, hope they are not too expensive to cure!!

Yep, sounds like its time to move to Tenn!

Come on Home,

Minny

[Minnymouth]

Geneco,
Our district has never took a lien against anyone. WE work out a payment plan with them they can meet.

If the break is on their side of the hose they have connected to our meter, it is THEIR BREAK. We do not do the repairs on them. Many use galvanized fittings that rust ad corrode. They a no longer legal in Ky.

Minny

[Genenco]

Geneco,
Our district has never took a lien against anyone. WE work out a payment plan with them they can meet.

If the break is on their side of the hose they have connected to our meter, it is THEIR BREAK. We do not do the repairs on them. Many use galvanized fittings that rust ad corrode. They a no longer legal in Ky.

Minny

Oh I have no doubt that other places work it differently...The funny thing was the break was the meter

I know if it's one side or another, then tough cookies for the party on the side, but THE connection? I thought it was funny and when I heard about it, I knew they'd end up kissing the persons a$$ as they were too noticable in the neighborhood.

I do know that many water districts would MUCH rather "Work it out" as it's not easy to pay for one of those repairs...

[robivi3]

Well dug it up. It turned out to be at a joint about a foot from the shuttoff where water line goes into the house. Only about 8 inches below ground, but it was hard to locate so the is a trench in the area (small one). POLYBUTYLENE PIPE, the worst garbage made runs under the foundation!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say after all this and dealing with the cheap construction we are going to finish off our projects and sell the place. With all the new TH's going up we'll find something better built.

The 1980's saw some awful home building here. Pre 77 were concrete bunkers. The post Andrew homes are back to that style, I've seen them go up. All my friends in construction tell, you get a post Andrew place in Broward you get a really well built home. I'll buy pre-construction, probably West Palm, but after the Masonite peeling and now the PB issue to heck with this, I can afford better, after all you pay either way.

[robivi3]

Well, the Bill was $700.00 from the company. However we had a resourceful plumber. So after calling the manager he talked to an assistant and by "special arrangement" the Bill went down to $275.00 so needless to say I made the total come to 60% of 700.00. The plumber is happy, the assistant will be happy when the plumber returns to the shop and now I have his phone number at home so we cut the middle man out...

My stepmother and my wife had shown me how Colombians grease the wheels of progress years ago. It works well in the states also. Gotta' find that verse that says "a gift to a Piblic (private in this case) works wonders (paraphrased).

[robivi3]

I agree Min but the problem is benefits and salary and job protection. I want to make the jump to Tenn today but can't. But i sure as heck hit "the verge" once a week.
Right now:
23 years
29.98 per hour plus OT (all I want right now, I left work four hours early today and they just called to ask if I want to come in 3rd shift)
10 Days annual leave accrued year to year
12 sick days accrued year to year, never lost
14 paid holidays saved year to year
Plus due to time an annual bonus of 2.3 pct. of salary
Plus due to years 120 hours of annual leave added to my time each March
job protection is up the wazoo, you fire yourself for a limited amount of reasons
Wage loss Insurance if injured in an off job injury (only 1500.00 pr mo. though)
Dental family (18.00 pr. mo.) it is good coverage
Medical 400.00 per month for family
Legal Insurance (used AFTER BK, it is excellent) 20.00 per month
Don't pay taxes on any insurance which cuts the cost by 15%
Get a bi-weekly bonus of 100.00 tax free just because the cops get take home cars.
Annual raises about 6% pr. year
At present if I retire in 7 years (53) with my AFC my pension will be about 38,000.00 yearly
I whine about leavin' but the truth is, right now it's payin' the bills even though it is expensive to live here.

[sunshine08]

I went to work in the criminal justice sytem because of what I thought was job security. The laugh is on me......
Still in all from working two jobs at 18, to working fulltime and going to school fulltime, to get where I wanted to be, I love my job but the pay sucks..........
It costs more to incarcerate one inmate a year than I make. Tell me where the justice is on that.

[Minnymouth]

Robivi3, Can see why your still sticking it out there..... especially with a few years yet to work till retirement.
Hang in there, and continue to work towards your dreams of retirement. You'l be ready when the time comes, more than ready....
Glad to hear that you got that plumbing/water bill down within reason. Hell to take a weeks pay to fix a waterline.

Hope things calm down at your house soon.

Now me, bad weekend, BOTH CARS ARE TORE UP NOW...... radiator blew out of one and the other the back brakes locked up.... BOTH IN THE GARAGE AND I'M BUMMING...... You sure you aren't rubbing of off me or is it the other way around???

LOL
Minny