I had to skip ahead from the last thread where TIP Electric Coop was discussed as I feel like I can never get caught up with the speed of this thread at times. I think it was kkdj that mentioned the amount of work in IA or something to that effect. Sorry if I don’t have the correct person or if this has already been mentioned. I’ve been quiet in most pages ever since I was involved with Lucas Hernandez as it was local to me and pulled on every last one of my heart strings. However, this was mentioned and something that I actually have knowledge in. Is there a Verified Construction Insider? Only kidding. Lol.
To answer the question if there is lots of construction work in IA - there’s more than you can imagine. I am a Recruiter for a construction staffing company over the Midwest Area and I can’t hire employees fast enough. Just on Friday I hired and have 22 new guys that are all headed either to IA or SD for work starting Monday. Electricians and Millwrights mainly at the moment. Which made me start thinking a couple of different things. T.I.P Electric Coop is connected to other towns within what I could find on the website as District 2. Off the top of my head I can’t remember all of the locations that are covered in District 2 outside of Brooklyn and Grundy but have listed the other locations that are part of District 2. Bare with me. I promise that I am getting to my point...
DISTRICTS & BOARD | Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives
Central Iowa Power Cooperative
Consumers Energy
East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative
Grundy County Rural Electric Cooperative
Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative
T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative
A couple of the main things that made me start thinking are as follows:
1. It would not be odd to have employees go from site to site and kind of float around depending on the needs/amount of work in different locations. It could be that T.I.P Rural Electric in Brooklyn is “home base”. If that’s the case then an employee could have to go back, drop off the work van, time cards, clock out, etc. Electricians if working direct for a company have pretty set schedules. So say that normal end time for the day is 6-6:30 but working 45 min or so outside of Brooklyn that puts them back in town around 7:15ish. They would need to possibly have the van/truck checked for supplies, restock for the next day, turn in time, etc. Probably would be done at 7:30-7:45 or so daily. If that was the “normal” time that Mollie went for her run being right next to DJ’s house it would be easy to know her routine. They wouldn’t need access to the exterior cameras. After a pretty short time they would know that is when she typically runs. They could even get to know a person or at least make them seem familiar enough to say hi, maybe throw up a familiar wave, get to know someone by first name. They also would be able to tell when the others who live in the house are traveling. Once establishing the ability to make small talk perhaps. “Hey Mollie. How’s your summer? Any vacations coming up? Oh, everyone is gone getting some work done before the big trip to the Dominican? Stuck with the dogs again? When are they all coming back?” This person could have become obsessed with her during this period of time. When being kind and saying hi or throwing up a quick wave as she jogs off he could have thought she was into him. Created a fantasy of them running away and being together. These guys work a lot. Trust me. Some days I feel like Dr Phil when they call to chat.
2. Not all construction laborers have past criminal history but over the last year being in my position I have found that a lot do. A lot. Sometimes after being in prison going into a specialty trade is their only option if they can’t find work. Please understand that I am not saying ALL by any means. I have some with and some without prior criminal history. We don’t run full background checks at the time of employment. It usually comes up when you are working with bigger clients and they require it on their end. Some check only 5 years prior and some are 7 or 10. Just depends. Stuff still gets missed though and honestly maybe he never has gotten caught and doesn’t have a record. We don’t know.
My point is someone working at the Coop could easily establish a routine with Mollie. Depending on how long he has been there, if he is even local - could be a traveler and not originally from Brooklyn but working a longer duration getting per diem. In a town like Brooklyn I’d think that you’d know plenty of people and the ins and outs of the town. Most of my guys right now are road warriors. I have 125+ currently working and 90% are on the road. It’s where they make money.
Not gonna lie - I have had employees get weird on me before and not in the same state claiming they were going to come to KS to take me to dinner or wanting me to send a pic of myself so they could put a name to a face or looking me up on SM to the point that I was looking over my shoulder after comments were made and kind of freaked me out. Some I have terminated because they became obsessed and wouldn’t leave me alone. They’re lonely.
Sorry this is so long. IMO there is a ton of work going on in IA and surrounding states that it should be looked at. Des Moines isn’t far from Brooklyn and it is one of our busiest offices out of 180+ over the US. They are so busy with work, hard to get all of it filled. End of rant. Construction just happens to be an area that I actually know. Haha. And now thanks to cases like this it makes me wonder about all of my employees...