At the medium we do not do, they were never ready for us. I would set up the job a week in advance, call the day of service and talk to maintance, and security. I called from the freeway, about 20 miutes out, I again called at 10 minutes out. When we arrived no one knew we were scheduled to be there. They were always completly surprised when we rang the door bell. Then they could not find the keys to the gate. The keys were in tower above us. The had a real hi tech way to get the keys to the guard at the sallee port. A fishing pole was used to lower the keys. They lost the tool inventory we faxed to them. After inspecting the van, I drove into the facility. My helpers walked. We got to the kitchen. I again explained what we were going to do, where we needed access to and what keys they needed. The maintence man kept trying to shut down the HVAC system, even after I told him that was not a fire alarm panel. Finally I sent my one of my guys to shut down the alarm system. After we got set up, both hoods draped and ready to go, I found they still did not have keys to get us on the roof. I told one of my guys to let the guards know I was on the roof. I grabbed the extension ladder off the side of the van and laddered the roof. A guard came out and asked where the I found the ladder. Actually he used different words, but the meaning was clear. until then I thought ladders were manufactured in a factory. I told him the ladder was on the side of the van when the inspection was done. Then they realized I needed on the roof. No one knew where the keys were. Finally a set of keys appeared. We went on the roof. The whole thing was a cluster.
One time my LEDs had expired. They realized that the day of the appointment. But they did not let know, and they could not run the LEDs on my w/o my permission. So nobody did anything. And because my LEDs was expired, I was not allowed in. I suggested they run my name then, or call the Baker County Sheriff, or call whoever was on duty at the Oregon State Police or the City Police. Of course any of that would require a decision which none of them were qualified to do. I went home and raised the price.
Another time we showed up, of course no one knew of our appointment. My helper knew he could not wear blue jeans, so borrowed a pair of white coveralls. The rules had changed and white was not allowed in the prison. I had a pair of insulated coveralls for him, in August at 98° F! As were leaving the next morning, we see the civilian kitchen staff arrive, wearing white coveralls.
The next time, the prison had been expanded., more kitchens Again, our arrival was a complete surprise. Despite an inspection prior to the cleaning, the fans were bolted down, the staff did not know where the fan switches were, and the gas resets were something they had never heard of. A guard was supposed to go on the roof before me. She had never climbed a ladder before. I was up and down before she had built up the courage to climb the ladder. The guards spent the evening playing cards on the computers.
The next night our arrival was expected. they lost the tool inventory sheet. I gave them my copy, but would not let them out of my sight. Again, no knowledge of the fan switches, gas valve resets or even a water supply. All of that was to have been located before our arrival. It was not. We went to work, with the guards (a new bunch ) in the way. A little inattention on my part w/the PW hose and they moved out of our way. As we were leaving, some one noticed the appliances did not work, no gas. I just smiled and said "not my problem, you were to have found the the gas reset before our arrival." We left, I don't know how they cooked breakfast for the inmates.
Prisons can be good pay, but the staff can be assholes.
Now our local minimum prison, we don't mind going in there. Even if they do not know we are scheduled to be there, we are allowed in to go to work. The guards listen to our needs and as long as we don't try to leave before the count is done, we don't have any real problems.
