After 12 + years regulation drinking water systems for the Department of Environmental Protection in Pa. I'm moving on to the other side of the fence. I'm going to work for a company the the contracted operators for drinking water and waste water systems. Keith

 

Good luck Keith

Your knowledge of the DEP codes will sure be an asset for the new company.

 

Nothing like a man that knows his waste

 

Good luck, buddy!

 

Congrats and good luck!!

 

Thanks guys. The only thing I know about the waste water side is wash your hand before and after you go to the bathroom, Kaka flows down hill and payday is Friday.

After training 15 or so staff only to have some them get promoted over me. ! of the current field inspector supervisors has just over 2 years in the program. Bidd on an engineering position that does inspections of surface water treatment plants. Only to be told by the person that would be my supervisor that our program manager doesn't think I can do the job. I was assisting the person who previously inspected the surface plants. What did they do? Hire some kid right out of college.

The look on my supervisor's face when I gave him a copy of my resignation was freaking priceless. other than him, I'm the most senior person on the field operations side.

Sorry for the rant.

Keith

 

I understand the feeling my friend. We have the same problem in law enforcement around here.
Now days, to be a Field Training Officer, one who trains the rookies, you CAN NOT have more than 5 years on the job!

At 5, you've barely figured the job out! But that's the "new" deal administration around here. And it's getting worse They've managed in 4 short years, to totally neuter a once fantastic department. I'm glad I got out when I did.

So I understand your sentiment, and I'm happy for you.
All the best in your "new" career

OD

 

And don't bite your fingernails.

 

Keith

You should do quite well after all you know what the inspector will be looking for when he comes for a visit.
Welcome to the dark side.

As for the training and then having that person promoted over you I fully understand. In the 20 plus years that I have worked for cities I have trained more collage educated 90 day wonders than most people will ever see.Nothing better than seeing a new EIT digging a ditch.
Here in Texas you must have a degree in order to work for the TCEQ even if the degree is in vocational basket weaving. This alone makes you totally qualified to perform inspections on drinking water and water plants .

 

Aviation ain't any different. As they say, it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.

 

The thing the ticked me off was it doesn't matter how much you know about water treatment and know how to use the databases, if you don't have a Masters degree forget about bidding on the supervisor's position. MS isn't required.

For the engineering positions if you don't have an EIT and are over 50 the program manager doesn't think you can do the job. EIT isn't required for the engineering positions. One of the 2 vacant engineering positions was to evaluate filter plant performance (Big Foot knows what these are). I've helped to evaluate at least 20 plants. Thye hired some kid off of the street right out of college. I guess he knows how a filter plant works.

I guess I'll SOL because I only have a BS in Environmental Engineering Technologies, have my operators certification to operate a plant with unlimited flow and every treatment process. I'm not an EIT and am over 50.

The program manager and the engineering section chief haven't said anything to me about leaving. Do you think they realized they screwed up? I emailed all of the contacts in Outlook that work at systems. They all wished me well and said that my knowledge will be missed.

Rant 2 over.

Keith

 

The problem Keith, is we're all expendable. At least that's what I was always told

Somewhere down the line, when the deffecate hits the rotating blades, someone will go "I sure wish Keith was here!" "He knew blah blah blah..."
That's when it'll hit 'em.

If that never happens, in a few years, you'll just be another name or number

Don't sweat it.
Do what you have to do to make yourself happy and take care of you and the family.

In the end, it's happiness that counts more than $$ anyway.

As for the age and college stuff, yep, same way around L/E, except that age or seniority no longer matter in our dept.

They apparently want to fill the ranks with the "well toned, college types."
I swear some of these guy walk around kissing thier biceps

I can't tell you how many "college boys" (and girls) I've had to wash out, because they didn't have the common sense not to pee on their boots, and couldn't find a hooker in a brothel.

Tech (book) knowledge is great. But I'll take common sense and experience over just that any day!
Combine the two and you have a decent combination. But that takes time. Time = Age.
See the irony here?

All the best in your new venture.

OD

 

Best of luck to you Keith, I hear you guys loud and clear.

 

O D, I know I'm expendable. What is going to be really funny when the field inspectors have question on how to either enter or run reports from 2 of our database. I was always asked to do that.

Thanks for the support.

Keith

 

Well today is my last day working for the State. On Monday I'll be as Bigfoot said on the dark side. I thought working for the State was the dark side. Keith