Electric company owner wants FBI inquiry into BISD bid

By EMILY GUEVARA
October 31, 2009
Posted: October 30, 2009, 11:33 PM CDT

Last updated: October 31, 2009, 1:56 AM CDT



A Beaumont-based electrician who alleges that Beaumont ISD has misappropriated bond money plans to meet with the FBI to discuss it.

But the school district insists "that what we've done is ethical," according to a spokeswoman.

Duwayne Herrmann, owner of D and H Electrical Services based in Beaumont, questions what he said is overspending on the temporary Regina-Howell campus at 850 Major Drive.

He has filed a complaint by phone with the U.S. Department of Justice about the issue. The FBI has followed up with him on two occasions, he said.

FBI Houston spokeswoman Special Agent Shauna Dunlap said the agency does not confirm or deny investigations. She said, "Routinely we take complaints from the public regarding possible violations of federal law. The fact that a complaint is filed does not necessarily mean an investigation will be opened."

Hermann on Friday said based on an Oct. 15 board meeting he understood the district paid Walker's Electric Co. more than $1 million for electrical work at the temporary Regina-Howell campus.

That is more than what he thinks should be paid.

However, that number conflicts with invoices produced by Calvin Walker, owner of Walker's Electric Co., which performed the work.

Walker said in an interview at his Beaumont office Friday he charged the school district $1.5 million for electrical work performed at the Regina-Howell and South Park temporary campuses, and work on the cafeteria and kitchen at the temporary Fehl Elementary.

Based on invoices he provided to The Enterprise, the school district paid about $560,000 for Regina-Howell electrical work and $550,000 for South Park work.

"My company is a reputable company," Walker said. "We will refuse to (cheat) anybody out of their money. I just don't do that. I refuse to do that."

BISD spokeswoman Jessie Haynes said the district is beyond reproach and that the FBI has not contacted district officials to date.

She called Herrmann's complaint a part of a series of efforts to malign Walker's name.


Comments

fredsaid wrote:
"I have no idea," Thomas said. "I don't know about all of this. It is something that we didn't know about. I can't make any comments about it whatsoever when I don't know about it. So, I would rather find out about it before I made any comments about it."
11/12/2009 05:19 AM CST

legaleagle wrote:
Tracegallagher- At least put the Shakespeare quote in its proper context. In Henry VI, when Shakespeare's Dick the Butcher suggests "let�??s kill all the lawyers,�?� it is not because he feels we charge too much in our fees. Dick understands that to achieve anarchy he must get rid of an informed opposition who understands and enforces the rule of law. Get off your high horse or hobby horse or whatever it is that you ride (maybe a broom?) and realize that I agree with a lot of your belief's, just not the racist way you utter them
11/11/2009 09:27 PM CST

skeeet wrote:
Has anyone read the book Jessie Haynes wrote for college kids? It is written in Ghetto-ese and ebonics. If she's so educated and accomplished why did she write like a Central dropout? Maybe she was pandering to her audience but the book was given to all graduating students, of all races. Despite CT's fantasies this is not an all black school district. The white kids read the first two pages and threw it away. More BISD dollars in the dumpster. I don't know what the black kids did with it but I bet you won't find it on any dorm nightstands.
11/11/2009 07:55 PM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
not at all defensive but i do find it entertaining that someone named "legaleagle" would be the exact one to defend this type of unethical behavior . ole bill shakespere was right "kill off all the lawyers and lets start over "
11/07/2009 11:25 AM CST

Nor C. Cist wrote:
I'm right chere Cardinal and frankly, I haven't a clue what you are talking about. I wasn't defending Walker. I don't even know Walker. I'm not saying Mr. Jordan is being vindictive but his newspaper and what they continually print passing for "investigative reporting" certainly seems that way sometimes. I am sorry my ignorance disheartens you. Actually, I don't. I do feel sorry for those of your ilk who looks at the greater issues in this community through a tiny little lens of self-interest.
11/06/2009 11:00 PM CST

Cardinal wrote:
Big Thick, Nor C Cist- Where are you now? Where are your comments defending Walker? Where are your comments bashing the Examiner? Wait...I guess they are just making this up too? I'm sure Walker really is a master electrician? I'm sure he really didn't charge 1.4 million, right? Jordan is just being vindictve right?? You are so ignorant it is disheartening. I urge everyone to sign the petition so we can try to effect real change.
11/06/2009 09:44 PM CST

legaleagle wrote:
tracegallagher - stop being so defensive. corky2 actually agrees with you on most major points related to BISD. The Obamanized comment was really not relevant. I agree with corky2 in that Doc Thomas is either 1. incompetent or 2, lying. Either way, he has to go.
11/06/2009 11:20 AM CST

Nightcrawler wrote:
Very educated and well put together come back tracegallagher!
11/06/2009 11:11 AM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
keep drinking the kool aid corky , it will get ya eventually...
11/06/2009 10:38 AM CST

corky2 wrote:
You have 2000 characters to make your similarities case, trace, but it will still be unrelated to this thread. I am hardly politically correct, but I disagree with your opinion that not agreeing with you is the problem. I like to view people more individually. To blame the death of your freedom on your flawed logic is beyond troubling. It sounds like the South Park episode about "they took our jobs." Regarding Thomas' repeated comments in the Examiner that he knows nothing about the issue with Walker (the not-so-masterful electrician), shouldn't it be his job, for which he is well compensated, to know what's going on in his school district. My point is he is either involved in the fraud itself or simply incompetent for knowing nothing about the situation and being unable to comment. The truth may be more simple. He's lying, again. In the mean time, Dr Nantz (facilities) seems ineffective, while Mrs Brassard has unfortunately joined the yes men as she postures herself to be board president. Inside sources say the FBI is not done with this little affair. Word also has it that the West Brook auditorium is being used as a pawn to influence support by the trustees who serve the voters in the West end school board districts. And finally, why is it that every time a board member like Mr Williams or the replacement Master electrician are quoted, we get a lesson on how NOT to speak. Is it possible to have a quadruple negative?
11/06/2009 08:58 AM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
the fact that some cannot see the similarities between thomas and barak is exactly the problem....stop trying so hard to be politically correct its killing our freedom
11/05/2009 09:42 PM CST

bigmomma wrote:
Haynes is a Ford Fellow in Educational Journalism, a CASE Fellow in Public Relations and a White House Fellows semi-finalist. The published author wrote a guide for new college students called "10 Stupid Things College Kids Do." She has co-written and/or edited several other books. Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and as a color commentator on "The People's Court" as well as in many other publications and on a host of radio and television programs are part of her media experiences.****************oakgrove inn, what exactly is racist about my post? I simply said look up her bio. with the district and pointed out a couple of highlights of her career. Your real quick to slam folks for being racist if we have have questions about the schools business practices. Maybe you are a little racist yourself.
11/05/2009 08:41 PM CST

bluedog23 wrote:
trace, you may be on the wrong thread, this one is not about Obama.
11/05/2009 08:23 PM CST

corky2 wrote:
At the risk of double dribbling (driveling) what oakgroveinn said, I also have to question the connection between an elected President and our repeat offender, Dr Thomas. Unless you can find a true parallel between the two people, other than race and gender, please stick to the topic. I am truly amazed at what Thomas has been allowed to do. Nepotism has reached an all time high in the BISD...wonder what the electrician's connection to the super or school board is? Surely someone has the scoop.
11/05/2009 04:57 PM CST

oakgroveinn wrote:
I hear ballsy people but don't see many balls at the meetings. Where are you, citizens? If you'd stop acting like victims and start acting like citizens you might get somewhere. Write letters. Make calls. Join protests. That's how it's done.
11/05/2009 04:20 PM CST

oakgroveinn wrote:
Re: your admonition (look it up ...) that Jessie Haynes spins "dribble"? The word you're looking for is DRIVEL. You and big momma go get a beer and trash colored people. Might make you feel better.
11/05/2009 04:18 PM CST

oakgroveinn wrote:
Tracegallagher -- who said anything about the president? What about this inconsistency relates BISD to Obama? (wait for it .. wait for it) Oh, yes, the superintendent and the president are both black. You are a racist.
11/05/2009 04:16 PM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
The Examiner front page story this week is about Walker Electric . It will show how No due diligence was used by BISD in its vetting process of finding qualified crafts to work on these multi million dollar projects . Citizens of Beaumont : welcome to Change , you have been Obamanized....
11/05/2009 11:58 AM CST

bigmomma wrote:
Read her bio. on the BISD website. Some of her highlights include color commentator on people court and an appearance on Oprah.
11/05/2009 08:45 AM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
Anyone know much about Dr Obama Thomas lackey Jessie Haynes . She is priceless with her ability to "spin" her dribble .
11/05/2009 06:45 AM CST

A.H. wrote:
They shoved this huge bond issue down Beaumont's throat, and now are surprised that people want to know how and where their money's being spent?! My friggin property taxes have doubled in the past 9 years. If a frog pisses on a Beaumont campus, I want to know how much they spend to clean it up. You bet I want to know how much was spent on electrical work!
11/04/2009 10:12 PM CST

tracegallagher wrote:
As a local business owner who's company provides products and services that are being used in the BISD projects we were initially interested in bidding on the different school projects . After seeing how non profitable the winning bids were we quickly lost interest . So yes it is revealing to hear about another service contractor being able to win a bid that was a much higher number then any competing bids . Fiduciary irresponsibility is nothing new to this Superintendents' reign of ego mania .
11/04/2009 08:56 PM CST

fredsaid wrote:
The facts are that the BISD uses a tribal chief management model. It is ego centric, convoluted, sloppy and corrupt. If challenge on the facts they will obfuscate and play the race card! They play business with other peoples money and they do not have a clue what is really going on.
11/04/2009 08:38 PM CST

bluedog23 wrote:
So, have there been instances of white men preventing black men from being awarded contracts in Beaumont? Of course there have. And have their been instances of blacks being awarded contracts because they were black? I think so. And have their been instances of blacks using the "race card" to cloud an issue? I think so. The real issue here is not a race issue. What all this really boils down to is the facts. What are the facts?
11/03/2009 06:32 PM CST

Cardinal wrote:
It is ALWAYS a race issue with blacks. David1- "I thought you were an idiot until you typed and removed all doubt." The racists are people like you and Trahan and Thomas who support preferential treatment of blacks just becaue they are black. And if Brassard and Neild and Nantz are for preferential treatment because of skin color then they are racist too.
11/02/2009 03:47 PM CST

GREENIE 1969 wrote:
There is no race issue just plain old lying . Doc Thomas and other board members are getting caught with their pants down . Its about time
11/02/2009 11:15 AM CST

Nightcrawler wrote:
david1 Why are you making this a race issue? The question is money. Was there any over charging and kick backs or not? It has nothing to do with skin color.
11/02/2009 07:11 AM CST

Wavy Gravy wrote:
Waa waaaa waaaa. Cry me a river david 1.
11/02/2009 03:41 AM CST

david1 wrote:
When i last check there are mix group on the board so who is being target here al the black board member such as Mr Reece and Mr William or Mr Trahan,bishop Whittaker,Dr Thomas nothing changes in this society and throught this country racism is asickness and everyone of you are sick
11/01/2009 11:13 PM CST

david1 wrote:
i see many hater out there who stiil hate to see a black man get ahead.if any of you are so concern why dont you look into the many white business owner who have kept black business owner from getting contract throughtout this city and the moment a black man get the bid you all want to cry foil if a white contractor had gotten the contract you would not be saying nothing about it
11/01/2009 10:53 PM CST

fredsaid wrote:
Cardinal, you are right on top of their game. I to would like to see all of them get exactly what the deserve. It is so unfortunate the the US Justice Department will not go after corruption when black people are playing business, and of course the FBI works for the Justice Dept. I am certain that kickbacks are flying all over the place. They like to do sloppy business to confuse things and their explanations are hidden behind the race card which they will play anytime it suits them. I do not know if they are just stupid or they think this is the way people do business?
11/01/2009 09:15 PM CST

Cardinal wrote:
BigThick: What do they have to gain? ARE YOU SERIOUS? Isn't it obvious what the board and Dr Thomas have to gain? First of all, they low balled the athletic complex to the voters in order to get it approved. Knowing full well that it would never pass the voters at 44 million. Then Thomas thinks he can sneak through a 14 million change order...UNREAL!! I would not be at all surprised to hear about kickbacks either. Why else would they choose someone as grossly unqualified as Walker? What other shady contracts are out there? This is going to get ugly. I hope that they are all brought to justice (black and white alike). Anyway, the facts are that Thomas lies every time he opens his mouth. He lied to the voters of South Park, that is a fact. He lied to the Examiner about the cost of the athletic complex. He lied to the Examiner about the change orders. He lied to Jackie Simien when she interviewed him. He and other board members lied to the Sallie Curtis parents when he said they would honor their vote. Oh, and why did Terry Williams get so mad at Tom Neild for questioning Parsons about the costs? Williams in true classy form got so mad at Neild he said "me and you will talk about this outside after the meeting"? What the hell is that? I wish Neild would have taken him up on it and beat the crap out of him but he is too classy to stoop to that level. Anyway, wouldn't Williams want to know how the athletic complex is going?? Wouldn't he care about cost? You tell me, what is really going on??
11/01/2009 08:39 PM CST

Cardinal wrote:
BigThick: You certanily implied racism. I have been following the process VERY closely. And if you would you would know that the TOTAL cost of the complex was budgeted at 29.6 million. That is not hearsay or he said she said. That is a FACT. Thomas lied to the Examiner when he said the cost was always 43 million. Also, he is lying about the inflation nonsense. He also lied when he said there were no change orders. The Examiner found one that THOMAS approved for 14 million. I guess you really don't care about the facts though seeing how you totally avoided all of my questions. As far as the Walker guy. Other than whether or not he is gouging the district, the equally important question is did he lie? Is he really a master electrician. From everything I have heard he is NOT. Also, from everything I have heard he is not qualified...but that is just hearsay. My question is, with all of the qualified electricians in town, why was one with his questionable (if not illegal/unethical) background why was he chosen? Was it because he was the best or was it because he was black? Also, why was the mtce contract 'rebid' when the board found out his bid wasn't the lowest and that he didn't meet the insurance requirements? Isn't it odd that he came back with the lowest bid and that the insurance requirements were lowered so he would qualify?
11/01/2009 08:29 PM CST

msfreeh wrote:
to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see forums.signonsandiego.com/showthread.php?t=59139 to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see dallasnews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3574
11/01/2009 11:06 AM CST

Nightcrawler wrote:
Walker's Electric Co. has a history of unethical practices. The truth will come out. Someone should have done their homework before signing contracts with them. Shag, you are correct. Not only are they notorious for the material schemes but they do the same with labor. They push for T&M (Time & Material) contracts claiming they can save you money because you only pay for the labor and material on that particular job. Then they buy material and use it on hard dollar jobs. They do the same with labor. They will charge 20 guys to the job but only 17 are present. They will use the other 3 on hard dollar jobs. They have been caught more than once at this.
11/01/2009 10:41 AM CST

BigThick wrote:
I don't think I ever used the term racism or suggested racism at anytime. Also, if any of you followed the process you would know what all is included in the inflation line of the budget for the bonds. As for the electrician, it is clear that the bill included more than Regina Howell's electrical work. As for the Examiner or any other media, simply because it was printed or on TV does not make it true. The opponents of BISD proves that when they don't believe anything positive reported on BISD or the district. A concrete example has to do with the electrical bill story. It was reported in the Examiner that the guy billed BISD over $1million dollars for the electrical work at Regina Howell. Which is completely false if what is true is printed in this very article above that the bill included other schools and facilities as well. The Examiner takes a sliver of information ie. a line item on the budget to substantiate their story knowing that other lines exist that covers the cost. At least the Enterprise and the local TV news' will attempt to give both sides of a story when the Examiner only is trying to substantiate what they believe is true. I have a question for you. What's in it for the school district to deceive the public? My answer to that is simple...Nothing!
11/01/2009 10:03 AM CST

Shag wrote:
In the print edition of the Enterprise Walker was quoted as saying he pays his electricians $30/hr for regular time and $40/hr for overtime, I am curious if his employees paychecks match what he is billing BISD. Is he billing for $30 then giving his guys $21.50? Also on big jobs like this contractors often order way too much wire then save it to use for later jobs which turn into profits for the contractor down the road when he bills his next client for wire that taxpayers paid for on this job. Now he may not have done any of these things, but I am glad somebody is looking into it. If his company is as reputable as he says then no harm no foul on a little FBI investigation. Also $30 for regular and $40 for overtime? isn't time and a half a federal law? just like minimum wage? I don't know.
11/01/2009 09:52 AM CST

GALATIONS 4:16 wrote:
I am glad my kids are not in those buildings each day. Wired up by un-qualified laborer? I see sparks flying soon. Wake up BISD. These are our children you are selling out.
11/01/2009 01:02 AM CDT

Cardinal wrote:
Big Thick- How do you justify the athletic complex being 50% over budget? I suppose you believe thomas when he says it was really budgeted at 43 million? How do you justify it when thomas says there have been no 'change orders' on the complex yet the examiner finds one for 14 million signed/approved by Thomas? I suppose the examiner is just making that up as well? What about the william electricain guy claiming to be a master electrician? I suppose you think he's telling the truth? Even though it has been proven that he never was in Nevada earning his hours? Do you know anyone that has worked with him? I do. He has no clue what he's doing. Oh wait. That's probably just me being vindictive right?
10/31/2009 09:07 PM CDT

Cardinal wrote:
Nor C Cist- Typical. Anything reported that proves a black did something unethical and probaly even illegal must be racism! Give me a break!! Wake up. Don't you have any idea what is going on with Dr Thomas and the board. They are a bunch of liars and crooks. However, since they are black that makes it ok??!!!
10/31/2009 09:00 PM CDT

Cardinal wrote:
BigThick- You are ignorant. Have you read any of the articles about the athletic complex?
10/31/2009 08:56 PM CDT

BigThick wrote:
I took the time to read the link suggested previously and other than stating that Scott replaced Thomas in April 1996, the offenses seemed to occur in August 1996 as a result of alleged actions by Thomas' replacement. You seem to be doing the same thing that Jerry Jordan and The Examiner does. Which trying to reach to substantuate their vindictive claims. By the way, Jerry Jordan is just a stool pigeon feeding off of the discord a certain segment of our area has against another.
10/31/2009 12:11 PM CDT

BISD Disaster wrote:
Jerry Jordan, who is one of the writer for The Examiner, does the best job in this area of digging for the story. Truth is truth and facts are facts, whether it is investigative reporting or vendetta. There certainly seems to be a lot of shady things going on with BISD. The Beaumont Enterprise is but a shell of what it use to be. Maybe Mr. Jordan should teach a class for Enterprise reporters.
10/31/2009 11:52 AM CDT

Nor C. Cist wrote:
Media Monitor, I agree with you to a certain extent. But when you read those stories you begin to wonder if the Examiner is doing so-called "investigative reporting" or whether they have some kind of agenda bordering on vendetta against BISD. Sometimes it is best to sit back and take an ass-kicking if what is being passed off as investigative reporting is actually folks out to get someone else -- or a group of someone else such as black people.
10/31/2009 10:47 AM CDT

fredsaid wrote:
The FBI rarely follows complaints against blacks!
10/31/2009 09:04 AM CDT

SETMEDIAMONITOR wrote:
This makes the fifth time in two weeks that The Beaumont Enterprise has followed The Examiner's stories in subsequent editions. Looks like they need to hire The Examiner's staff considering they do all the work and The Beaumont Enterprise comes in and tries clean up the scraps. It has to be embarrassing to be the big, bad daily newspaper that has been in existence for 130 years and you get your ass kicked by a bunch of ruffians at a weekly newspaper that hasn't been around for more than 10 or 15 years.
10/31/2009 09:00 AM CDT

buddy wrote:
http://openjurist.org/183/f3d/342/olufemi-anthony-lukan-v-north-forest-isd
10/31/2009 08:37 AM CDT

buddy wrote:
Sounds like more BISD ineptitude and corruption to me. Same thing Doc Thomas let his last school district left after he came here. Tell me if this looks familiar... http://openjurist.org/183/f3d/342/olufemi-anthony-lukan-v-north-forest-isd
10/31/2009 08:35 AM CDT