Douglas Hicks

What is "a 2" ball joint with a 3/8" reducer to a 4' hose "? Are you using a 2" x 3/8" Bell reducer and a 4' diameter hose or a 4' long hose? What diameter hose? Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I've got Jon, he has been w/me for 4 years. Jon's duties include extinguishers, sprinkler work, kitchen and industrial systems and exit/emergency light service. He does not do hoods. He gets his work assignment each month. There are times I do not know what county he is working in. Our counties here in Eastern Oregon are larger than some states. I saw him Wednesday, I'll see him next Friday. How many employees have I been through looking for another like him? About 100. Some employees have worked 10 minutes and told me they are not working that hard for any amount of money. Soem have stayed through the job and then quit. Some employees I Have fired after one night. As I get older, I have less patience w/ people. I/ve tried temp agencies, state employment agencies, referals from friends, resturants, nothing seems to be a good place to hire grease monkeys. I even hired a Chinaman once, see *** and my post on "Lazy white man, not work hard like chinese" Hood cleaning is tough, the hours are bad and the work makes you smell bad. I talked about this w/a friend of mine who ran a retail store w/75 employees. He told me his experience was the amount of money and benefits & recognition were not the real incentives for people. He said that a real good employee was motivated by something that came from deep within, and you could not teach or train a person who did not have the motivation from within. To get back to the original question, I pay by the hour, pay increases each year. Driving time is paid, sitting in the passenger seat may or may not be included. 10% commissionon new account, paid vacation after one year, up to 3 weeks vacation. No health benefits, no retirement plan. On the road, I take care of motels and meals. I furnish a cell phone, and don't care if they call the wife on my phone. Shirts and coats are furnished. My job application folder includes 1. a confidentiality agreement, 3 pages 2. a non-compete areement 2 pages both written by my attorny. 3.Drug & Acohol Policy 2 pages 4. Honesty Policy. You lie or steal you get fired. If we are out of town, how you get home is your problem. 5. Driving Policy 6. Driving report from the employee 7. I-9 8. W-4 9. Job descriptions 10. My expectations of an employee 11. Employment Application for prospective employee We do drug testing, not random, when I choose. We run people through the Law Enforcement Data System. The older I get,the less patience I have. Reading this, you may think I am an A**Hole, you are right.Every day I am more and more an a**hole. Having a person not show up to work, having to redo work, having people give you the ******* calf look gives you a bad attitude. This job was much easier when I could do all of the work by myself. But, I still would not go work for someone else. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

you may find you need all of this to get a CCR number DUN # CAGE code Tax Id # from the IRS TPIN (I don't know what it means, but it is a confidential number and cannot be told to anyone) MPIN ORCA ( a Whale I think) FARCOTS ( is this an apricot from a distance?) DIBBS BSM VPIS EDI POC (ponit of contact) information to get a EDI , a functional Group (GS 2) Idneifiere and Interchange Sender ID (ISA) to get paid you may need a EFT (electronic funds transfer), don't forget the ACH (automatic clearing house number) & the the ABA so payment can be dirct deposited in your checking account. Of course in Oregon you first need to get a contractors lisence, Tax ID, state employee number I was told by one of my local government agencies that I needed a CCR number to continue to work for them. I contacted DLA in Battle Creek, spent 110 hours + to get all of there bullshit numbers for a job that takes 20 hours. Lets see, that is 5.5 years to break even. I started the process in August of last year. On january 28, 2005 i was notified the DLA was changing from BSM (I don't know what that is but I do know what a BM is) To COTS.This iwll be handles by DSCP Subsistance Directorate. (Again I plead ignorance, but wasn't a Directorate something the UUSR had?)This means the SPO will chang to SPM. New contracts awarded in SAP will change. Do not forget your DFAS BVPD address change. You have no idea how glad I am that the Feds are helping small business like mine to get a piece of the Fed money. I must have 35 + pages of this crap. I will stop know because my caps button is not working, overlOadEd problably. Oh Yes, we did not get the BLM job this year, but we did not loose any of our other FEDERAL work this year, and nobody asked about our alphabet collection. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipemtn Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

neworleans.craigslist.org Brings a tear to the eye, what a great country we live in! Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Employees Needed/Jobs Available I've been listening to the hurricane coverage on NPR as I clean and restock vehicles. Sounds as if one of the long term problems may be the total destruction of the infrastructure, and of business. People are leaving the area because of the lack of services, jobs, business. Many of us owning our businesses have had dificulty in finding qualified people to fill positions, allowing us to expand. This may be an opportunity to benefit some of the people leaving the New Orleans and ourselves. But I have no idea how to contact any of those who may be interested in looking elswhere for jobs. If there are those of us who are located in LA or ALA who could help in this endeavor, please post the information. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I've had the shaft break, then the fan does not turn at all. I also had the deflector break on my Vertical Delco. Some times the deflector would be jiggled out of the way and the burner would work, sometimes the deflector would obstruct the flame, and no heat at all, just lots of black smoke. My helper pulled the stack, coil cover and I had the deflector welded back in place. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I do turn in the unlicensed. The last letter I wrote to the CCB did not generate a return phone call from them, not unuseal. I phoned and was told that the CCB was going to drop the requirement for Hood cleaners to be lisenced. Of course, w/no enforcement, no lisence is required any way. I did turn in one guy, from Idaho who installaed a fire system, he paid a $1,000 fine. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc CCB 78491, to verify go to cb.stae.or.us

Most people do not ask about license/insurance/bond/workers comp. People who want a cheap price don;t care about contractors coverage and get what they deserve. I have competitors who are not insured, I turn them in, and then follow-up w/the builders board. I keep calling until someone is assigned to the case, then follow-up some morre and if there is no actions, I find the name of the supervisor and annoy them. When something acually gets done, I write a letter to the supervisor praising the case worker and send a copy to the case worker. Those of us who are licensed, insured and are legal make a mistake by letting the scabs get by. Also , enclose copies of insurance, bond, workers comp, lisences and certifiacation with your bid. In Oregon, if you hire someone who is not lisenced and there is a problem, the CCB won't step in and help. If you hire someone who has no workers comp, the claim is filed against you. In 2004 I lost a fire suppression system install to an unlisenced contractor from Idaho. I pursued the case and the unlisenced contractor got fined $1,000.00. The buisiness that hired him could also have faced fines. And in case you want to know, I am authorized to work in Idaho, as well as Oregon. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc Licensed by the State of Oregon as a General Contractor, # 78491

I have : 1994 one ton Chevy step van, 6 - 8 mpg, noisy, windy, handles like a herd of turtles, lots of room 1999 E250, fast, 12-13 mpg, cannot get in and out w/o crawing on my knees, won't haul enough parts for a fire system install 1997 Ranger w/canopy 15 MPG, barely hauls enough to service extinguishers, emergency lights and fire systems. 2003 Sprinter,SHVC 140 2500 20MPG hauls enough to install 3 fire sytems, extinguihsers, sprinkler work, tools, and I can stand up and work at the bench. I close the door, turn on the diesel fired heater and can stay warm. 2005 SHC 153 WB 2500 should be here in August. 150 Amp alt, assyst, cruise, AM-FM CD( poor quality)seat upgrade,Aux battery, bulkhead,Rear step bumpert windows side door and rear doors, Auxilliery heat front and rear, I will insulate, wire for lights, 12V power in back, shelving Purchase $127.00 over invoice. From Hillsboro Dodge Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Good point RJT. Of course here in sunny Eastern Oregon it never gets below freezing. I keep a light chain w/dog snaps to wrap around a lower rung of the ladder and then to something solid on the building. If nothing can be found, I run a lag screw into the sidding for a tie-off point. Years ago, the local utility company had a safety officer. His advice, never climb a ladder until it is tied off at the top. The linemen just shook there collective heads and did not confuse the safety officer by asking how to tie the ladder off w/o climbing to the top. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I bought the first Sprinter van in Oregon used for fire suppression work. Great work van, 20 MPG, would get more if I did not drive 75/80 mph, lots of room, I can stand up in it. I have more usable room and milage than the E250, better milage than the Ford Ranger, handles better than the E250 and Ranger. Recently I took a ton of used lightingand fire alarm batteries to Portland, Still handled great, no difference in mpg or speed. Installed storage racks, auxillary heater in rear, work bench and interior lighting in back, urethane insullation. I've got 35,450 miles in a year. Bad points, a lousy radio/CD, 600 mile round trip for warrenty work. So far Freightliner has painted the 1/4 panel, replaced both rear shock and an injector is to be replaced on Tuesday. I like mine so well I am going to get another in December. And yes, I get the new one, I am the boss. I could have purchased Ford or Chevy or Dodge, but there is some satisfaciton in driving up to my customers place of business and being asked what my van is. I just point to the name plate, "powered by Mercedes". I then say that my cusomers deserve a company that only has the best equipment and the best customers. The only bad response I have received was from a competitor that drives crap. They also do crap work. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I seem to remember my liability insurance offered that rider also. I declined to pay the extra amount. This showed up on my business insurance and my rental insurance. Sounded to me like a good way to spend money for no return. Decline the additional coverage. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

In the Search & Rescue, we use old firehose to protect the ropes from abrasion. Slip the rope through the hose. Old turnout coats also work. Runners can also be used to take up the shock of falls. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Before offering sewer drain cleaning, check w/the supervisory agency about needed lisencing. Best tool source I have found 800.345.2292 or blackbookoftools.com Colonial Hardware. Professional sales staff, know the products they sell. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Alan, I am interested in your deal, but right now I have my funds tied up in Nigeria. Can we make a deal on Tuesday, for which I will gladly pay you on Thursday? I, like you am an honest businessman and am looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with a fine person such as yourself. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

1/2 inch ball gas valve $1.70 1/4 x 1/4 barb .24 2 of 1/8 x 1/4 bushing .14 = .28 1/2 x 1/4 bushing .41 2 hose clamp .33 = .66 used nozzle free hose left over from shur-flo pump free Schrader valve $1.26 used Pepsi can, your quote $35.00 tube of JB Weld $5.00 parts cost $44.55 ($9.55 if you get the Pepsi can from the Coke guy, or a Coke can from the Pepsi guy) Special tools purchased drill bit, cobalt w 135 point $8.93 pipe tap Ridgid $8.88 Tool cost $17.81 Labor still 15 minutes. Only problem, the rubber base comes off after a few months of use. Then the can goes into the scrap metal trailer. Anyone found a good cement to glue rubber to stainless? Still a lot less than $200.00. I , or one of my guys make up about 4-6 at a time. Extra parts to keep in tool box lid, with pop-off valve gaskets valve nozzles hose clamps Maintence tools 9/16 wrench water pump pliers dental pick 1/4 inch nut driver Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

I can build a sprayer out of a soda can in 15 minutes, or less. Material cost is about $7.00. That is $32.00 parts and 4 cans an hour, = $672.00 an hour. But for you, $175.00 each because I like you. I'll even let you decide what hose length you want. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Tell about your respirator, and how well does it fit around the hairy face? When I was a firefighter, we could not have beards because the SCBA mask did not seal. My first day on duty, I shaved my beard. My youngest child just stood and stared and refused to give me a kiss as she had never seen me w/o whiskers. One reason I do not use a mask now is because of my beard. Douglas Hicks General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc