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Oct. 3rd, 2011 09:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vicarzI think I learned as a child you're supposed to be a part of your community. I haven't always been super civic, but I recycle a lot, pour my coffee grounds in the azaleas, and am president of my condo assoc. I am happy to help, but it's hard to get anyone else to even come to meetings - lest of all help do anything. We're in a fight to get anyone to serve on the board.
As president I have access/keys to everything, and the burden of having to use them sometimes.
Friday:
I came home from the gym to walk into about an inch of water in the laundry room and adjoining hallways. Luckily a new resident had seen the issue (when the fire alarm when off), called the emergency number, and used his personal rug to form a damn and prevent much water from getting into the non-tile hallway. I investigated, and water was pouring from the ceiling (including from the fire alarm and 2 light fixtures, one out and one on).
I also called our mgt company's emergency number. I knocked on the doors of the units above the laundry room and then above it. Nobody was at home, but I went to the office and got the keys to both units. I took some time to prop the back door open and use a mop to "squeegee" water down the stairs and out the back door.
Nobody (or animal) was at home so I knocked on the "lower unit's door," opened the door and announced my presence, and went in. It turned out there was water in a pool in the bathroom and hallway (spreading to the bedroom and living room) but it was pouring from the ceiling. I started to use the door to call the owners above, who have a large pit bull.
I'm not dog or pit phobic, but any dog is highly likely to defend it's tiny boxed-in territory
The owner gave me permission to enter the unit, and noted that her big dog was a coward more likely to be scared of me(quote "He might pee)." I knocked, opened the door, and saw the dog was just as big a baby as she told me and spent more time reassuring the dog it was ok rather than having to address my personal safety. I quickly found the problem - the bathroom sink was on full blast and it had been overflowing the sink (which was slow or clogged). I turned off the water and went back to mop-squeegeeing the water down the waterfall stairs.
I fielded some mgt phone calls until the water remediation guy arrived, I gave him the key for one unit but by then the upper unit resident was back. He pulled in equipment, industrial fans and dehumidifiers, and started to work. I put up signs about the flood and safety issues.
The lower unit resident arrived home and was not pleased, but was professional given the situation. He seemed annoyed the upstairs resident didn't come down and discuss the issue with him directly. I noted the woman was "sheepish," and she was.
Creepy though was her guy. She's really pretty, and he's hot, but damn dood...he called her after doing the dumbest thing I've heard of in some time, and it was obvious from her end he was yelling at her over the phone. I am now worried about their relationship dynamic - could it be controlling and abusive?
Later - I got a call again, very apologetically, as another problem was going on in a different building. A resident noted that the power was off related to roof work, and it had been on again but then was off again. An electrician was on their way from Baltimore and about to arrive, but needed access to the utility room. It seems that is the only building where the master circuit-breaker is not in the laundry room. I met the electrician and resident, let them into the area with the electric meters and switches, and stayed to make sure they were fixed.
Then I had a beer.
Speaking of beer - Brooklyn's black chocolate stout is back in season! 10% abv beer that may chip your teeth...good timing!
As president I have access/keys to everything, and the burden of having to use them sometimes.
Friday:
I came home from the gym to walk into about an inch of water in the laundry room and adjoining hallways. Luckily a new resident had seen the issue (when the fire alarm when off), called the emergency number, and used his personal rug to form a damn and prevent much water from getting into the non-tile hallway. I investigated, and water was pouring from the ceiling (including from the fire alarm and 2 light fixtures, one out and one on).
I also called our mgt company's emergency number. I knocked on the doors of the units above the laundry room and then above it. Nobody was at home, but I went to the office and got the keys to both units. I took some time to prop the back door open and use a mop to "squeegee" water down the stairs and out the back door.
Nobody (or animal) was at home so I knocked on the "lower unit's door," opened the door and announced my presence, and went in. It turned out there was water in a pool in the bathroom and hallway (spreading to the bedroom and living room) but it was pouring from the ceiling. I started to use the door to call the owners above, who have a large pit bull.
I'm not dog or pit phobic, but any dog is highly likely to defend it's tiny boxed-in territory
The owner gave me permission to enter the unit, and noted that her big dog was a coward more likely to be scared of me(quote "He might pee)." I knocked, opened the door, and saw the dog was just as big a baby as she told me and spent more time reassuring the dog it was ok rather than having to address my personal safety. I quickly found the problem - the bathroom sink was on full blast and it had been overflowing the sink (which was slow or clogged). I turned off the water and went back to mop-squeegeeing the water down the waterfall stairs.
I fielded some mgt phone calls until the water remediation guy arrived, I gave him the key for one unit but by then the upper unit resident was back. He pulled in equipment, industrial fans and dehumidifiers, and started to work. I put up signs about the flood and safety issues.
The lower unit resident arrived home and was not pleased, but was professional given the situation. He seemed annoyed the upstairs resident didn't come down and discuss the issue with him directly. I noted the woman was "sheepish," and she was.
Creepy though was her guy. She's really pretty, and he's hot, but damn dood...he called her after doing the dumbest thing I've heard of in some time, and it was obvious from her end he was yelling at her over the phone. I am now worried about their relationship dynamic - could it be controlling and abusive?
Later - I got a call again, very apologetically, as another problem was going on in a different building. A resident noted that the power was off related to roof work, and it had been on again but then was off again. An electrician was on their way from Baltimore and about to arrive, but needed access to the utility room. It seems that is the only building where the master circuit-breaker is not in the laundry room. I met the electrician and resident, let them into the area with the electric meters and switches, and stayed to make sure they were fixed.
Then I had a beer.
Speaking of beer - Brooklyn's black chocolate stout is back in season! 10% abv beer that may chip your teeth...good timing!
