The names have been changed to protect the guilty

The players:


Designer: M.T. Head

Septic Tank Guy: Robin M. Daily

Business Name: Lee King Tanks

From: M.T Head

To: Tom

Subject: RE:

Tom:

Got a call from Robin M. Daily at Lee King Tanks and he said he had talked to John Q. Public Servant at

XXXX County and John Q Public Servant told him that Eliminite would be acceptable.

Robin M. Daily called me and wanted to make sure that the bid is apples to apples, so I think we should leave

the location and size for the piping, septic tank and treatment tank locations where they are on the plans.

Otherwise, there could be some complaints about unequal treatment by allowing a complete redesign.
Thanks,

M.T. Head
 
____________________
Now what does this mean you ask?  Well, the deal had already been struck between M.T. Head and Robin M. Daily to use Lee King Tanks and Equipment.  We were not given an opportunity to provide a quote for the job.  When I complained, Robin M. Daily called John Q. Public Servant and tried to get the govt. official to disallow us from bidding the project.  When John Q. Public Servant told Robin M. Daily that we were an acceptable alternative, Robin M. Daily contacted the designer, M.T. Head, and strong-armed him into forcing us to bid the system with the same components being supplied by Lee King Tanks and Equipment.  This would be like saying, Ford can bid the job but they have to bid it with GM engines.  The result was we were forced to provide an unrealistic price and the client got the shaft delivered to their front yard by their neighbors, M.T Head and Robin M. Daily.

A comment about the school

Normally comments are buried below the post but this one was so well thought out that I want to post it right on the front page where everyone can bask in its wisdom and perspicacity.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to pay attention to budget rules which the school district is tied to. Capital projects are a separate line item from operations (day-to-day expenses), the latter one they are REQUIRED by law to balance. So even if they had kept the money from the sale of Coram school in a bank account, they would not have been able to use it for expenses. The FACTS are the school has died from it's own lack of use and population shifts. Get over it or do something about it financially.

In spite of my earlier wisecrack, I will give the author of the comment some latitude to make uninformed statements. Once.   If the school "died from it's own lack of use" why was the septic system designed and built to accommodate a much larger population than is indicated by current use or growth projections.  Look at it this way, the current population at the school may generate 1500 gallons of wastewater per day, and this would be a big day.  Why, if the school was dying, was the septic system designed for nearly 5000 gallons of wastewater per day?  Why was a 15,000 gallon septic tank used for such a tiny flow?  Why were 3, 2500 gallon recirculation tanks used? Why was it necessary to install a 3000 gallon dose tank? Why was a septic system for a school showing a decline in population designed as if the student population was swelling faster than a tick on a lazy dog? 
 
As I said earlier, I have some interesting e-mail messages that will help explain why the system was so grossly overdesigned and why it came in for at least twice the budgeted amount.

Now why would I be posting a story like this?

Canyon Elementary appears to have earned a reprieve, at least for one year.

The School District 6 board took a first look at a new plan that would cut staff at the Hungry Horse school, but allow it to remain open next year.

"With this plan and other cuts I'm looking at we could maintain our current status," Superintendent Mike Nicosia told the board Monday.

Teaching and staff positions would be cut at the school.

 

I have some interesting information regarding the Canyon Elementary School that will help illuminate recent machinations that I am sure several individuals would rather keep in the dark.    This school is facing a serious budget shortfall contributed to, in part, by the expense of a new septic system that was recently installed. 

 

I will be posting several e-mail messages that will help explain things and describe what exactly happened.

Update for Colorado Onsite Wastewater Treatment

As many of you know, we have been installing Eliminite systems in Colorado since the 1990's.  During this time our popularity has grown and we have experienced greater recognition and presence in the Colorado onsite industry.  I strongly recommend that Engineers consider Eliminite for their projects for several reasons including lower initial cost, less invasive maintenance procedures, lower maintenance cost and less visual impact.  You will make real points with your clients when you show them how you saved thousands of dollars over competing systems by specifying Eliminite.  Also, people do not really want to see all those parts, pieces, covers, vents and components common to the other guys system.  We designed Eliminite to be more reliable and more visually appealing.  Our approval by CDPHE as an advanced treatment system means we have earned the highest treatment approval and are therefore equivalent, in a regulatory sense, to other advanced treatment systems in Colorado.  I am sure you will be glad you checked into Eliminite and I know your clients will appreciate your resourcefulness in saving them money and headaches.