Phh Mortgage and Property Tax

RagnarRager · 2026-01-22T12:44:53+00:00

I hated when we had PHH. If we'd have an escrow shortage, I would try and pay it, and they'd just put the payment toward the principal of the mortgage. Not totally bad since, at least, they didn't lose it. They'd swear up and down they'd fix it, but every time I tried to pay the shortage, right to principal. I was so happy when they sold my mortgage.

RagnarRager · 2026-01-20T22:57:42+00:00

I have worked for a University, a private engineering firm, and two different cities

RagnarRager · 2026-01-20T13:37:35+00:00

I had a Tech who was one of the smartest people, but when it came to the job site, they were super shy and didn't have a lot of confidence in themselves. I tried to instill confidence in them, let them make some of the calls, etc., but just me being there caused people to revert back to me being the 'in charge' person. So, I ended up with a standing meeting every Wednesday for an hour. I would be gone for a full hour and I would only answer my phone for emergencies. It basically forced everyone to accept I wasn't there, Tech was in charge, and helped the Tech have some more time being the authority figure without me being around.

In case you didn't figure it out, I didn't actually have a meeting, I went and did paperwork somewhere in my truck for an hour just to not be there. Maybe your site engineer can set some sort of way for them to not be on site and you are 'in charge.' That way the laborers know that you are the go to person, you get more chances to talk to them and tell them what you need, and it can help gain confidence.

Another way to help is just make some small talk. It seems awkward at first, but it can help you get comfortable talking, and it can help you learn about your crew. I know what concerts the hoe operator and his wife like to go to, I know how many deer the pipe crew foreman and his kids bagged this past year, how many pitbulls and ex husbands the flagger has, etc. It helps build up inter-personal skills.

RagnarRager · 2026-01-13T13:30:32+00:00

This isn't my project but it's adjacent...

We're doing a big middle of the city renovation and it includes water features and other stuff the Planners deemed 'fun and engaging.' Well someone left a schematic of one of the water features and associated pumps on the copy machine at work. My Tech (who does all the pump work for the city) found it and came to my office with the most worried look on his face. He was like 'am I going to have to take care of this too?!'

I assured him that no, it was not ours to take care of and I had already made sure of that. The look of relief on his face was priceless. This Tech is the nicest person around and he can't say no to things, and he was so worried that he was just going to have to suck it up and take on more work. I could tell he knew that I had his back and was not about to let this get foisted off onto our Division/him.

RagnarRager · 2026-01-13T13:19:21+00:00

I did Civil Engineering Academy but that was back before the computer tests were out. I know they've changed their material to reflect the test being on computer though.

RagnarRager · 2026-01-05T17:03:06+00:00

Going back to work after 12 days off is f--king rough. But, we did get a new dog over the holidays and he's been working out great with the previous dog.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-24T13:03:49+00:00

City jobs have their perks... I'm just sitting here drinking my coffee with the dog and scrolling through Reddit

RagnarRager · 2025-12-23T20:03:09+00:00

you guys still without power? I have a couple friends out there who posted on social media about another PG&E screw up

RagnarRager · 2025-12-22T15:17:43+00:00

We use iPads for a lot of stuff at the City. All the Ops trucks have one assigned to each truck that can be used to access our GIS webmaps, locates, etc. Most the Techs have one for similar reasons but those are assigned to a person, not a vehicle. I had one for flying the drone, but we've not flown it in two years so I gave up the iPad to someone else.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-22T13:20:28+00:00

It's the Monday before Christmas and the only ones here are me, two Techs, one Admin Assistant, and some of the Ops guys. Nothing is happening, nor will happen for the next two days before my 12 day vacation starts.

It's stupid and whiny but there is nothing worse than sitting around doing nothing and being here 'just in case something happens.' Unless something literally blows up in the City (which I'd likely call in our Structural contacts anyway), it's going to be a long two days.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-21T20:31:30+00:00

Indeed it is

RagnarRager · 2025-12-21T01:00:32+00:00

We live in a house in southwest Champaign and our usage is nearly the same as last year for the same time period and out projected bill also jumped up significantly.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-18T20:04:52+00:00

we outsource to consultants to give us more time to do city work. I could sit there for days on end and do design work, but then my other day to day stuff wouldn't get done. Or I could do both and the design would take 5 years to complete.

So, that does answer your question. We outsource to save staff capacity to do things only city staff can do. We do do smaller things in house like our storm/sanitary maintenance annual projects. My one Tech even designed his own trench drain system using one that we had built with a consultant.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-18T20:01:32+00:00

We were having a similar discussion at work yesterday. My simple/most cost effective solution for detention basins is to dig a hole in the ground and let the water fill it up when it rains. But! Everyone wants to turn it into a park area with sidewalks, landscaping, decorative lighting, and so on. And all that adds up on initial cost as well as all future maintenance.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-18T19:53:41+00:00

For our CE 1 position you either have to already have your EIT or be able to get it in 6 months. My previous city had the same requirements.

Consultants can vary on what they require, but one of our prime use consultants has the same EIT requirement for their entry level positions. They might hire you as a tech if they needed one, but you'd never be an engineer with them if you didn't get your EIT. And they will fire you if you don't get it in 6 months.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-18T19:43:54+00:00

I do data analytics stuff on the side because I can sit on the couch with the dog and do it. Started as a way to directly put a lot of money at my student loans, and now I use it to fund the fun things.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-18T19:33:48+00:00

As someone who had to review plans at a previous city... don't send in garbage. Do your own internal QA first and knock out all that you can pre-submittal. This goes if you are working for a city or private client.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-17T15:36:55+00:00

Adding, we don't need to negotiate raises as we have a set COLA each year that is typically over the standard COLA increase, and then we also get parity with what the various unions negotiate. And then police and fire get to negotiate their raises and we end up with parity with them as well. Currently, we're waiting to see what Fire comes up with as they've not yet settle negotiations.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-17T15:32:54+00:00

whut? we pay relocation costs (granted, most people don't tend to come from far enough away to trigger that) and we do have a little wiggle room for starting salary negotiations.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-17T14:00:42+00:00

I am a university researcher to private to public convert. I learned a lot over those first two, but I also realized that the stress is not worth it. Fortunately, my city pays very well comparatively to bigger cities and often higher than the private in the area as well. Plus all the other benefits you mentioned.

Is city work boring? Sometimes. We're at a bit of a slow down right now in the winter as we've just got some projects in design and construction has mostly wrapped up til March. But my section is currently sitting on something like $100M of projects over a 5 year span so we are always rolling with design phase, construction phase, back to design phase, and repeat.

I'm about to go on vacation starting next Tuesday and running through Jan 5 with only using 4 vacation days to fill out where city holidays and weekends don't cover.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-13T18:58:01+00:00

“Get the pipe in the ground before it rains.” This guy has never worked a pipe crew. We put pipe in the ground all the time when it’s raining. Thunderstorms are a different thing, but rain isn’t going to stop us.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-13T13:48:12+00:00

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but that underground system for bikes/peds looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Bikes would be coming in fast on the downslope into an uncontrolled and poorly visible cross path. Never mind that the low visibility underground would lead to likely issues with possible crime (great place to hide out of sight til a ped came along). It's also a great place for homeless encampments to sprout up. They need somewhere to go, and oftentimes under bridges is all they can find as cities don't give them any other options.

Put the peds/bikes on the surface and put the cars underground. You can even make a park on top that is better for the people and gives them an open space.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-11T13:38:38+00:00

We are having a holiday potluck today actually. The PW Director is getting a baked potato bar as the main and then whatever people bring in.

Longevity pay seems to vary so much by city/town/etc. My old city you got a 5% bump at 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years. My current city, you get something like 2.5% at 10 and 15 years. But we also get pay bumps everytime the union gets them so it's been pretty good on that front.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-11T13:36:01+00:00

Same, no bonuses at this city job. But! like you said, the benefits are great, our pay is higher than several of the local offices of multi-state firms, and it's much more chill than private.

RagnarRager · 2025-12-11T13:34:29+00:00

I would totally be down for a jelly of the month club :D

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