Beaumont Electric: The Early Years 2000 – 2008

By: Libi Uremovic | Original Article at patch.com

Jim & Stacy Love Have Financial Amnesia, but BCRG has Documented Every Transaction for the Past 15 Years.

TIME LINE FOR CITY OF BEAUMONT PARTNERSHIP WITH JIM LOVE (BEAUMONT ELECTRIC)

Relationships, Contracts and Conflicts:

Beaumont Utility Authority/Beaumont Utility Services LLC
Capital Improvement Projects
California Attorney General Conflict of Interest Code
Relationships
Conflicts
TUMF
Misc questions/concerns
City of Beaumont Organization Chart
Public Contract Code
Jim Love miscellaneous items

2000: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric = $38,747 (See Envelope)

2001: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric = $8,172 (See Envelope)

2002: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric = $35,424 (See Envelope)

December 2002 Jim Love was appointed by the City Council on the Planning Commission. Current term to expire December 2006.

2003: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric = $96,442 (See Envelope)

March 2004: Distribution and Service Extension Agreement with Lowe’s HIW requesting that the City of Beaumont “provide for the installation of electric distribution facilities and to deliver electricity to the Property.” Lowe’s was informed by the city that they would only be able to use Beaumont Utilities Services LLC for this service. The address for this company is the same as Urban Logic and letters are sent Attn: Jim Love. (See Envelope)

May 21, 2004: City of Beaumont paid $30,000 for two used vehicles purchased from Beaumont Electric

August 2004: Jim Love became chairman of the Planning Commission

September 21, 2004: The City of Beaumont entered into an agreement for Services by Independent Contractor for Electrical Facilities Design, Repair, Maintenance, and Installation. This agreement covered all Task Orders approved by the City for “such services as may be assigned, from time to time”. (Task Orders bypass the public bidding process which according to California Code #20164 states all public entities are required to obtain bids for any public project with an expected cost of more than $5,000.00)

On the same date a Task Order was entered into for Electric Consulting Services which authorizes Beaumont Electric to “prepare plans and specifications for electrical systems. Provide inspection services for commercial, industrial and recreational electrical and lighting systems.” (emphasis added) This agreement means that Jim Love is also inspecting the work his company (Beaumont Electric) is performing.

2004: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric = $136,770
Beaumont Electric also sold a used vehicle to the City for $30,000

January – July 2005: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric=$597,640

June 15, 2005: Street Light Cost Estimate (Plan Check and Inspection Fees)

July 2005: Task Order (bypassing the bid process) payable to Beaumont Electric=$187,275 for Street Light Cost. On this task order was an additional 5% Plan check and inspection fee of $9,363.75 and Dave Dillion, a consultant for the City (Beaumont Economic Director) stated that there was no one qualified to inspect outside lighting installations except Jim Love of Beaumont Electric. And according to the agreement dated 9-21-07 Jim Love is authorized to inspect all the Electrical work by his company or any others.

July 19, 2005: Task order for #187,275for Beaumont Electric was removed from the agenda after Nancy Hall questioned why this had not gone to bid. (See above)

July 22, 2005: Southern California West Coast Electric hired an attorney (Stream & Werner) to look into the dealings of City of Beaumont with Beaumont Electric since they(West Coast Electric) had been unable to bid on several public works projects in the city of Beaumont. The attorney’s memorandum concerning these dealings is included in this report. (See envelope labeled Summaries of Conflict Concerns)

July 29, 2005: Beaumont Electric enforces the City of Beaumont Lighting Ordinance.

August 2005: Jim Love submitted his resignation from the Planning Commission coinciding with a public records request of all checks (2000-present) from the City of Beaumont payable to his business Beaumont Electric.

August 2005: City of Beaumont approved Specifications and Bid Documents for Annual Road, Sewer and Public Building Repair and Construction and Electrical Equipment Installation Projects. Of the $5,695,000 Estimate, Beaumont Electric’s share=

September 9, 2005: Contract given to Moody Construction for City Facilities in which for the first time Beaumont Electric was listed as a sub contractor.

2006: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric=$2,293,233

June 30 2007: The contract of Beaumont Electric for Electrical and Building Repair and Construction was rejected and cancelled and the City Clerk was authorized to re-advertise for the bids. This was never done and the contracts are still not valid.

January – October 2007: Disbursements to Beaumont Electric=2,119,605 of this amount $620,652 was disbursed after their contract was rejected.

February 6, 2007: City of Beaumont authorized the Planning Department to prepare a bid package for Capital Improvements including electrical work on street lights and traffic signals on a “Bid-Unit Price Build” method. Beaumont Electric was given the contract at a total cost of $2,740,000.

February 26, 2007: Annual Maintenance Contract with City of Beaumont and Beaumont Electric

April 4, 2007: City Council rejected all bids for Capital Improvements – it was listed on the Consent Calendar – so there was no discussion, although we understand that there was a complaint from the Labor Board about the bid process.

Since then individual bids for different projects (which had been a part of the Capital Improvements) were authorized. December 3, 2007 Tyner Paving was given the contract for parking lot improvements at the Sports Park. Sub-contractor: Beaumont Electric.

August 21, 2007: Awarded the contract for installation of baseball lights in Stewart Park Ball Field to Beaumont Electric. (It is our understanding that this project never went to bid.)

October 2007: US Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Block Grants conflicts

December 3, 2007: Task Order Street Repairs Beaumont Electric subbed under Tyner Paving

December 14, 2007: Notice of Completion for Beaumont Electric installation of street lights in Stewart Park.

January 22, 2008: North Sewer Re-hab Phase 3 Project

April 1, 2008: Beaumont Electric was the only bidder for repair and upgrade of existing street lighting in the older areas of town. $791,365. (See envelope dated April 1, 2008)