Vepo, LLC (WISEGUYS) "Only Texas Residential Irrigation Company" across the State of Texas to Secure a High Number of Municipal Irrigation Contracts - We need Open Internal Controls and Accountability Procedures

Vepo, LLC operated in a residential home (possible home office or mailing address).  Vepo, LLC consists of three (3) main owners/partners/employees.

Doug Goodwin

 

 Currently designs irrigation systems throughout the United States and Mexico. In 1997, Doug became a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved instructor for Basic Irrigation Training and Continuing Education classes focusing primarily in CAD.  

 Texas Turf Irrigation Association, Secretary 1995
Houston Gulf Coast Irrigation Association, President 1996 & 1997
TCEQ Irrigation Advisory Council, 2005 through 2010, Chairman in 2009
Texas Irrigator Network, Vice-Chairman 2009 to present
North Fort Bend Regional Water Authority Conservation Committee Present
                                             The WJPA Water Conservation Committee Present



John DeCell




After being a loan officer and Vice President in the banking field, John DeCell began his career as a irrigation contractor in 1987 and became license in 1988. Currently involved with software that develops irrigation design and landscape design.  Business Management degree

Water Sense Oversight Committee for the Texas Certified Auditing Program.

James Jay Hartley


Began in the Oil and gas Industry in North Texas in the early 1990's after graduating with a Business Management Degree with emphasis on Petroleum Land Management.

Houston Gulf Coast Irrigation Association, President 2009 & 2010
Texas Irrigator Network, Board Member 2009 to present
North Fort Bend Regional Water Authority Conservation Committee
The WJPA Water Conservation Committee





This is a little off the subject - two of he 3 principals of Vepo, LLC have Business Management degrees - not engineering, not agricultural - no formal education towards water, fluids, electrical systems - none - all their information was gained from on-the job experience and seminars.  This blog is not stating that is a knock against John DeCell and Jay Hartley.  The Vepo, LLC staff is licensed and trained to obtain other Texas Irrigators how to join and become a member of the WISEGUYs contractors approved list. In addition the irrigation parts a purchased off Vepo's web site and the Independent Irrigator licensed in the State of Texas can even use the design irrigation software.   If you notice Doug Goodwin sat on a TEQC Committee.  The TECQ removed Professional Licensed Civil engineers from being able to install residential and commercial irrigation systems.  Can I prove it 100% - nope - nothing is in writing because those involve conduct meetings that "Do  Not Require Public Notice or Open Meetings Act"  so there are no official record of the meeting that take place.

Back to the original subject.  Vepo, LLC as far as I have checked have won all the Water Irrigation Evaluation Contracts and in some cases - no other firms are submitting.   We are no other firms not submitting.  Vepo, LLC has one irrigation approach or method.  Why are municipalities picking only a company that has 1 option.  Why are municipalities picking a company the promotes a technology with the idd controller that the EPA in May 2011 at the second meeting still stated to Tom Fairley of DBLive.com that the FM technology cannot be tested in-house and there is no proof that the idd chip will work on all controllers and proof that each unit will receive the FM signal with 100% certainty or 95% certainty.  he claims DBLive is making is not any better than other systems.


My question is why did the following happen:

1. Why did the City of South Lake - choose to enter into contract with Vepo, LLC and what was the amount of the contract?
2. Why did the City of Mansville - enter into contract with Vepo, LLC, what was the selection process, how many other firms submitted and why did Vepo, LLC win?  How big was the contract? Verify if a City employee teaming with DBLive.com and Vepo,LLC help win the contract.
3. Two City of Conroe employees were members of the Texas Irrigation network - one of the groups that gather.  It is technically legal but it is a 90 member group and approximately 20% of the members are associated with the WISEGUYS TEAM as far as I can identify. So it is obvious who funded the group.  Tom Fairley from Austin is also a member as is his daughter.  Why not he claims his involvements is worth $3 billion dollars for his part.  Not bad for a $5 chip from China that Vepo, LLC is selling for $250.    Why did the City of Conroe award a contract to Vepo, LLC for $55,000 with an annual fee of $7,500 = $62,500 - that is for 1,000 evaluations.   
4. The Woodland Joint Power Agency (WJPA) - Why did they award Vepo LLC $45,000 plus and annual fee for 750 evaluations.
5. North Harris County Water Authority - What did Vepo, LLC do to secure their contract and what was the contract terms and dollar value?
6. City of Sugar Land - Yes you did it too - Awarded Vepo, LLC WISEGUYS Program - what was your  qualifications process, what firms submitted and why were they not qualified?  Because the information the is being transmitted by DBLive over the FM radio is the National Weather Service broadcast which is "FREE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC" .  So why did Vepo, LLC win, what was the size of the contract?
7. North Fort Bend Water Authority -   Just look up the Board of Directors names and you will see a few names on there that will raise your eye brows.     What was the selection process conducted by NFBWA in reviewing all the teams - Why  did Vepo, LLC win the contract and what was the terms of the contract?

That is only seven municipalities - so there may be places Vepo,LLC did win but I would challenge that firm's a name change firm only.  I spoke to several irrigators outside in different communities and the perspective is that they didn't submit because it was a formality and the process was rigged.

I don't know if the process is rigged and I don't know Vepo, LLC personally.  It would be best for the whole WISEGUYS program to have "Full Disclosure" in the selection process and be honest with the public.  The idea of the public servants stating that these evaluations are "Free" is a fallacy. Unless they are taking the pay out of their pay checks and paying for it for themselves tan the program is not free.  Technically for them claiming it is free, I demand that they take the funds out of their personal account.    I can at least threaten.


So let's recap -

• Vepo, LLC and DBLive.COM owners/partners and government/municipal\water authority Regional Districts - sit on small organizations - Texas Irrigation Network has 90 Members with approximately 20 members being associated with DBLive.com and Vepo, LLC.  This organization meets to discuss business to unofficially get around official business which requires Public Notice and is subject to Open Records Requests.  - Of course there is no written proof of this blogs claim - that is the purpose of these types of groups. 
• For a 4- person firm - How did Vepo, LLC get so much control and power over the other landscape companies, plumbers and other firms who install residential and commercial irrigation systems?  Why didn't another ownership win a contract - why only Vepo, LLC?
• Why is Vepo, LLC's system do compared to other systems?
• Did the Municipalities consider that the weather information being transmitted by the DBLive.com system to the IDD controller chip is an a "Additional Monthly Charge to Each Resident - of approximately $10.95/month".   This information is available on the NOAA National Weather Service website and the information is "Free to Download"? 
• In Jan 2011 and again in May 2011 the EPA presented a Report and told Tom Farley of DBLive.com that claims that the ET system done by a in-house study is not accurate to a certain level of accuracy.  Representatives from Texas A&M, SAWS and other agencies disputed DBLive.com report and recommended language that DBLive wanted to state on the product?
• Did Municipalities consider the City of Frisco, Texas as a model to go after?  This appears to be a much fairer approach.
• Is it technically legal for a government entity to single out a specific company and give them indirectly a competitive monopoly by providing money rebates by using  Vepo, LLC who is trained by the EPA to do irrigation audits and an outside firm who is also trained by the EPA but does not have a contract with that municipality. 
• Is a municipality by entering into a contract by allowing only Vepo, LLC's approach -  controlling free market, competition and could be a system where all fees a pre-set and the number of companies providing services is controlled. 
• City Employees, Government Bureaucrats at City, County, Regional, and State Levels, NFBWA, NHCWA, WJPA, Southlake and so forth had members of the staffs go to group meetings with Vepo, LLC and DBLive.com associated - Open Meetings and Meetings Not Required Open Notice.  
• This is bigger than Vepo, LLC.  Several people are involved in getting this pushed through the backdoor with no accountability and open records.  Getting MUD Boards to agree to consolidate into small joint groups to create a water billing system that is 2-tier to 4-tier system to penalize high water use - really is to generate revenue. In the Houston area, there is a water transmission problem not a water shortage problem.  In other parts of the State there are shortages.  It seems that these areas such as San Antonio and Austin already a years ahead of Houston and the Dallas/Fort-Worth Areas. 

May be it is about time the District Attorney's Offices of Fort Bend County, Harris County Montgomery County, Tarrant County and other Counties involved begin to look into these contract selections and corruption.

Houston Rapid Transit Joint Venture w/ Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas - Hiring Out of State Workers at a Higher Rate than Local Workers

Metro to buid the 4 light transit rail (LTR) lines in Houston entered into contract in 2009 with Houston Rapid Transit  (HRT), Joint Venture Team  lead by Parsons based in Washington, DC with office in Houston.

The other companies part of HRT are Granite Construction, Kiewit and Stacey and Witbeck, Inc., General Engineering Contractors.   Granite Construction is the lead player in the construction side.

The Four (4) lines to be built or intended to be built in 2009 was the East End Corridor, Southeast Corridor, North Corridor and the Galleria Line.  Currently the East, Southeast and North lines are under construction.

HRT is to hire local contractors which includes DBE firms - Disadvantage Business Enterprise - Minority, Woman Owned - Disabled.  

METRO has a good affirmative action group that called firms in the design phase to makes sure that non-DBE firms were using DBE firms as specified by federal law/contract.  For the construction phase - enforcement of using DBE firms and using local firms is being done sparsely.


The HRT Joint Venture Team is is bring in construction laborers, surveyors, flagmen, inspectors and other staff from out of State -.


It is a same that over $120 million being spent by METRO in Houston, Texas - with Federal dollars comming in that local businesses in Houston and the surrounding counties of Harris County are barely hanging on struggling to make payroll while METRO let's HRT screw the DBE firms out of working normal  and using non-DBE firms for additional support in this economy.

Parsons, Granite, Kiewit and Stacey should appreciate have a project of this magnitude in this economy - but they should also take extraordinary steps to be extra generous to the locals who paid that tax base that generated to give their employees their pay checks.

Congratulations to Vepo, LLC being Selected for Woodlands (WJPA) Water Program "WISEGUYS"

Concratulations to Vepo, LLC for being selected to perform irrigation evaluation for the WJPA through the a program known as the "WISEGUYS: program.

Douglas Goodwin of Vepo, LLC  (pictured to the right)

resides on the WJPA Water Conservation Committee.

Vepo, LLC.'s business practices for monopolizing irrigation business, trade practices and other matters need to be scrutinize more closely.

Water conservation is a grand idea but NASA spent millions of dollars trying to fix the problem with zero gravity had with ink pens not working in space.  NASA scientists designed a pen that would pump the ink after millions of dollars was spent.

The Russian scientists - said we looked at the problem and said - we decided to use a number 2 pencil for the astronauts to write with.

The point is use Common Sense Water Conservation Solutions that will Save Money and Make Money - lots of Money for People Like Mr. Goodwin who makes up rules while he sits on TEQC Boards in Austin that favors his company. 

There needs to be some ethics - I think the idea behind the program is ok but the program looks to be all about "Power, Control and Money"

                                   When you control the Water - you control the People.



Wise Guys said "No to backyard sprinkler party" Invitees no show - Mom says Thanks Wise Guys?





This is the Hawk Reporting



WiseGuys Moving in the Part1 North Forth Bend County, Sugarland Areas - Possible Strong Arm Business Deals

Reports that a group a group of Landscape Architects who specialized in irrigation systems have form a coalition that is not well known to the general public. This movement is nation wide but this blog is for Texas only. 

In 2000, Professional Engineers were able to design irrigation systems for agricultural, commercial and residential purposes - in 2011 PE's no longer can do this.  In 2000, a homeowner could install their own irrigation system except for the back-flow preventer and repair their irrigation system, this group is pushing to stop this by requiring permits. 


Check the new TECQ Laws.  ( I am going to place a lot of info that will have to be reviewed to make senses.  It was difficult to find information on the WiseGuys program and when I searched on line common location around the globe kept popping up.  Still I am not sure what it means.   I wouldn't think the government would do certain covert things like take control of the world food and water supply but  you know now I am not so sure.  I am pretty sure who controls the water and the food has more power than all the money and gold. )

The main movement in Texas is by a company named Vepo, LLC that is implementing a program known as WiseGuys. 

You can do a search on WiseGuys, Vepo, DBLive, John Goodwin, Tom Fairey and these locations come up Texas A&M (Bryan/College Station), University of Wisconsin (Madison), WiseGuys - a musical group that signs about water conservation from Britain,  Tom Fairey- business development director at analyst firm Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing (http://www.bvdep.com/).  Some such as Tom Fairey uses smart application software on smart phones, note pads and computers for online target audiences to tract market needs and changes in individual and zone needs and changes and trends.  Bureau van Dijk  includes a -

Intelligence on Chinese acquisition opportunities and transaction histories

Overview -

DBLive.com is located in Austin with Tom Fairey.  I will Get back to DBLive.com

GGI Technologies - Tom Fairey Bio -

Project Manager,

Investment Capital and Venture Management,

Wisdom and Integrity AdvisoryChina Connect is a database of hard to find intelligence on Chinese M&A activity involving private companies. Incorporated into our M&A database, Zephyr, it offers two data resources and unique intelligence.

In Tom’s career he founded an astonishing 28 companies and pioneered technology and business solutions for all of them. His vast knowledge of business processes and business management has propelled him in being an early leader and adopter of technology. He served on more than 30

board of directors because of his knowledge, experience, and expertise in business. In his early years, after a short movie career with Gene Autry, he obtained his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Out of college, in 1953, he directed the Nuclear Design Group

for Westinghouse Electric Corp’s Atomic Power Division. He conducted early research on nuclear reactor stability and control, eventually managing the nuclear design group of physicists for the Nautilus, Skate, Sargo and Swordfish, nuclear submarine projects. On his return to Austin

in 1959 he became CEO of an industrial machinery distribution company and grew the business to over $40 million in annual sales. During this time he developed and managed the implementation of database systems to streamline business processes. He eventually evolved into a technology consultant for an array of clients

Tom Fairey with DBLive,com - look at BVD profile and remember it is a live data base building company.  Look at where he has worked and begin to search GGI consultants - most a false companies.  Then some will surprise you.

Back to DBLive.com as far as it pertains to the Water Conservation Program.  DBLive has a idd chip that receives FM radio signals.  This chip can be programmed You see utility companies use it to turn your lights off or on - this chip can communicate both ways and it ca learn if it has the right software.

Right now DBLive is not using the 2 way communication but it is using 1 way communication. DBLive uses Vepo to sell the chip.  Tom Fairey states the chip alone is over a $3 billion dollar business.  Considering that chip is the lowest priced item - so are the Wise Guys think there Scam is a $180 Billion dollar business.

Next - Will discuss what the Wise Guys Program Entails - It will affect you in some manner.  Eventually once the smaller MUDS and Water Authorities get signed up then Municipalities will get signed up the the large Cities will join if they get bought off.   There is no financial benefit to the residents for the WiseGuys Program - Vepo LLC, is one Landscaper or irrigation firm you call up to do a job.  Certain State Officials, County Officials, City Officials which include politicians and employees and private sector attorneys who are benefiting financially.  There a legal ways to circumvent "Open Meeting Requirements" and manipulate Minutes of Meetings by falsifying facts or by forming new groups such as the Texas Irrigation Network where these members can discuss State , County and City Business with out public notice.

Is some of this necessary - may be so.  may be this is the only way things really get done,  However, sometimes I think greed can make people like Vepo, LLC and their friends not to smart.  Real WiseGuys would run a business a lot better than this and even after awhile they get shot or go to jail.

Sorry I got off subject a little - this is a little big,

Clients of WiseGuys - Vepo, LLC  http://vepollc.com/ Woodlands Joint Powers Agency (WJPA)
Harris County MUD 365
The City of Southlake
The City of Conroe
The City of Sugar Land
The City of Allen
North Fort Bend Water Authority
Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386

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Vερo, LLC25740 Century Oaks Blvd.
Hockley, Texas 77447
Phone: (281) 476-6886
Email: conserve@vepollc.com

China Connect, a Zephyr module

Destiny Vacations - Resort One International Scam - Houston Texas Timeshares CRUISES

A friends of mine asked me to post their story.  Approximately 2.5 years ago they purchased a Vacations packaged from Destiny Vacations in Houston, Texas for several thousand dollars.  It included air travel, cruises, Time Share Condo Resorts and other amenities associated with travel.  Below is their brief story:

My wife and I purchased a travel package from Destiny Vacations 2 years ago. From the start we wanted to back out which we were told we could d in he first few days but we couldn't get a hold of anyone to cancel. Tonight, I received a phone call from a Marci Rivera who said she was representing Resort One. Destiny Vacations sold the Resort One contracts but did not forward the money to Resort One and Resort One found out that in Houston that they did not provide the Houston people training, so no one used the package. However, Destiny failed to tell the Houston members that the mall print was a 99 year contract signed with Resort One that has yearly dues Destiny Vacations is no longer in business filing Chapter 13, so you cannot get your money back. However, no action on the members part would be considered a breach of contract, which could cause you legal ramifications and at least ruin your credit. The person who called stated her name was Marci Rivera. she would like to meet at the Embasy Suites at the Galleria 2911 Sage Road this Saturday at 4pm. Phone Number 832-533-6114. I don't have a complaint - I think this should be posted as a Warning. This company is known as Resort One or Resort One International



Added After Marks Response:
Well Mark  Sounds Like you limited your exposure.  Destiny Vacations was a business front in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth - many people lost $9,000.  The charge your credit card to get the fast payment all at once. I was luckier than nor putting out $9,000 but I think think you did a better job at limiting yourself.  I knew better at the time but I am not sure why I ended up joining.

Safety/Recall - Toyota Announces Voluntary Safety Recall of Certain 2006 and 2007 Model Year Highlander Hybrid and RX 400h Vehicles

Toyota Announces Voluntary Safety Recall of Certain 2006 and 2007 Model Year Highlander Hybrid and RX 400h Vehicles

http://toyota.tekgroupweb.com/safety-recall/ 



TORRANCE, Calif., June 29, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS), today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall  involving approximately 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h vehicles sold in the U.S. No other Toyota or  Lexus vehicles are involved.



2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid



The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside the Hybrid System Inverter contains a control board with transistors. Certain transistors on the control boards in some of the subject vehicles were inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat caused by a large current flow during high-load driving.

If this were to occur, various warning lamps will illuminate on the instrument panel. In most cases the vehicle will enter a fail-safe driving mode, resulting in reduced power in which the vehicle can still be driven for short distances. In limited instances, the power supply circuit fuse could blow when the transistor is damaged. If the fuse blows, the hybrid system will stop and the vehicle will coast to a stop.

Toyota is currently working on obtaining the necessary replacement parts. Once the replacement parts are available, we will notify owners.  In the Interim, owners of the involved vehicles will be notified of the recall by first class mail in mid-July, 2011. 

Once the replacement parts have been produced in sufficient quantities, Toyota will send a second owner notification by first class mail advising owners to make an appointment with an authorized Toyota dealer to have the IPM inspected and if necessary replaced at no charge.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center (1 800-331-4331) or www.lexus.com/recall and Lexus Customer Satisfaction (1 800-255-3987).

"The True Hawk Report" 

Water and Food is More Valuable Than Gold - Keep a Watch on Who is Taking Control of the Water

You see on TV "Buy Gold to protect yourself in case the US dollar defaults".   Glenn Beck is now stating to buy insurance for food - not sure how good that will work.

In Texas - private landowners own the water rights of the water under their land.  This was recently passed legislation in Texas to clarify this and it was very important.

Below is an Group of Politicians, Governent Administrators and Business People, a group of 90 Texans who meet to discuss Texas Laws and Requlations in a meeting setting - it is hush-hush.  There are no records, this is done to get by "Open Meeting Notice Requirements" and there is no real written record of the discussion for "Open Record Requests"   This group isn't required to do this on the surface but technically when public business is discussed between agencies then it is a fine line.

This group is changinging Water Laws that affect residential use and commercial use.  I don't believe all these members are part of the problem or may be they are because the more I search the bigger the problem is.  The Texas Irrigation Network has memebers who sit on State of Texas Boards, EPA Boards that are making decisions not for the betterment of the people but for the betterment of their own pocket books.

This is corruption - you see many members on here from DBLive.com, VEPCO ect which is all related to the WISEGUYS Program - the ultimate goal is a "Full Home Water Audit"  The soft sell is a "Free" Water Irrigation System Inspection"  I have idenified 15 of the 90 members to be associated with the WISEGUYS Program.   It is not easy to identify who evrymember is because, some use private e-mail accounts.

If you think "Network Marketing" is bad business, the WISEGUYS present their information in a less professional fashion.  If you don't do a review, the WISEGUY presentation may be impressive, but when you look closer and do more review -"Smoking Guns"   It is all about Power, Money and Control - the monopoly of a market.  This actually should be turned over to the Texas AG's office to investigate for corruption.

 WiseGuys are in Dallas, Austin, Conroe, North Fort Bend Water Authority several MUD's - the City of Houston is looking into quietlty and Sugarland is looking into. 

I think the concept of Water Concervation is a good first step but a corrupt good old boys under the table arrangement water conservation program is not for the State of Texas and it is not for the Greater Houston Area.  This program will take millions of dolars away from the residents of Texas to what benefi possibly the 90 members below or a few of them and their bosses.   This is not creating any jobs for any Texan.
http://www.dblive.com.au/entry.html
http://www.texasirrigation.net/

Texas Irrigation Network Membership Directory

Charter

Member

First Last Email Company

Kurt Baerenstecher kbaerklr@swbell.net MUD #355

Bret Berry bret@berryirrigation.com Berry Irrigation

Carole Baker cbaker@subsidence.org

Cole Brown colebrown18@yahoo.com Ransco North Tx. Op.

Dan Brockett dan.brockett@cityofdenton.com

City of Denton

Jimmy Burgdorf james.burgdorf@fortworthgov.org

City of Fort Worth

Will Bonsall wbonsall@suddenlink.net

Carl Causey j.causey7038@sbcglobal.net

Chris Carpenter chris@carpentercommerciallandscape.com

Carpenter Commercial

Douglas Christensen dc@accordirritech.com

Ruth Clifton info@irrigationcode.com

Irrigation CodeStephanie Cnare scnare@rainbird.com

Steve Copeland copelandst@msn.com Copeland-O'Neill, Inc.

Bob Dowdy rlicorpinc@aol.com Local Testing & Repair

John DeCell sales@raincad.com

RainCAD

Ray Dooley raydooley@petersonslandscape.com

Peterson's Landscape

Sherman Dobbs sdobbs@lascofittings.com

Lasco Fittings, Inc.

Chris Eckhoff chris@dblive.com

DBLive Corp

Alan Elkon elitels@live.com Elite Landscapes

Clarence Elmer ecoirrigationservices@yahoo.com Eco Irrigation Services

Janon Elmer janoninc@yahoo.com Janon, Inc.

Jimmy Eubank jeubank@irrigationsupplyinc.com Irrigation Supply, Inc.

Lee Evans levans@longhorninc.com

Longhorn, Inc.

Robert Evans aquatech@prodigy.net

Aqua Tech

Kristen Fairey kris@dblive.com

DBLive Corp

Tom Fairey tom@dblive.com

DBLive Corp

Toni Fox toni.fox@sanangelotexas.us

City of San Angelo

Pete Galvan hcmud106@me.com HCMUD 106

Tim Gahagan tim@dblive.com

DBLive Corp

Doug Goodwin irrigationserv1830@sbcglobal.net

Vepo LLC -WISEGUYS

Sharon Grahmann sgrahmann@ag.tamu.edu Fort Bend County Extension

DeVille Hubbard devillehubbard@att.net

TxJobs.com

Jay Hartley jhartley@pamperedlawns.com

Kelly Hall ghall@gvtc.com

Hall Irrigation Systems

Bart Hatfield slhokie@windstream.et FB MUD 69

Stephen Haydon shaydon@ix.netcom.com Haydon Horticulture, Inc.

Robert Hughes rhughes2004@tx.rr.com

Plant It TexasAlan Hunter alan@hunterpropertyservices.com Hunter Property Services

Hari Krishna hari.texas@ymail.com H J K & Associates

Leslie Keen info@vineandfiggarden.com

Company

Vine and Fig Garden

Peter Kamami pkamami@yahoo.com

Lonnie Kimball lonnie_kimball@hotmail.com MUD 106

Rodney Krumnow PRO Irrigation

Scott Kubala skubala@cityofconroe.org

City of Conroe

John Leber jcskl@embarqmail.com Leber & Associates, Inc.

Jerry Lewis sundanc@flash.net

Sundance Training

Bradlee Mills millsaustin@yahoo.com Mills Services

Brian McDaniel brian.mcdaniel@brickmangroup.com

Brickman Group

David McCullough david@irrigationclass.com

Sam Masiel smasiel@cityofconroe.org

City of Conroe

David Moulton david.moulton@mansfield-tx.gov

City of Mansfield

Dean Minchillo dean.minchillo@lcra.org

LCRA

Nora Mullarkey nora.mullarkey@lcra.org

LCRA

Romeo Montalvo romeo1@turfpro1.com

Turf Pro

Shannon McDaniel smcdaniel@fitzgeraldlawnscaper.com

Fitzgerald Lawnscaper, ltd.

Stephen McGee rtslandscaping@hotmail.com RTS Landscaping

Mark Ostertag mostertag33@aol.com

Rene Osuna reneosuna@spanishoakslandscaping.com

Spanish Oaks Landscaping, LLC

Barbara Payne barbara@paynecom.com

Payne Communications

Joe Parchesky joseparc@aol.com High Tech Irrigation

Larry Perkins lperkins@lascofittings.com

Lasco Fittings

Maria Parker mparker@coatsrose.com Harris Co.

Mark Pape mark@thepapes.com

Robert Pickering bob@rpickering.com

RPickering Design Service

Bubba Ragan bragan8996@aol.com Horizon

Casey Reimann casey@irritechsprinklers.com

Irritech Sprinklers

Cyndi Reno cyndireno@tx.rr.com

Visual Impressions

Gene Reagan greagan@longhorninc.com

Longhorn, Inc.

James Roberts jrshowmegreen@gmail.com Show Me Green Irrigation

LLC

Tom Riley tomr_77379@yahoo.com

HGCIA

Tony Rizo organicoption@msn.com Organic Options, Inc.

Ghulam Sumdani gsumdani@aol.com Texas Star Landscape and

Irrigation

Howard Saucier howard.saucier@dallascityhall.com

Dallas Water Utilities

Doug Saylor learn@ceuwow.com

ceuWOW

Jason Schultz jason.schultz@dannenbaum.com

Dannenbaum Engineering Corp.

Joe Smolinski joe.smolinski@mansfield-tx.gov

City of Mansfield

John Shideler shadraski@yahoo.com The Sprinkler Man

Melinda Silva msilva@browngay.com

Brown & Gay Engineers

Larry Spain larry.spain@toro.com

Toro Irrigation

Michael Sjogren irri-light@cebridge.net

Irri-Light, Inc.

Todd Skidmore tskidmore@ewing1.com

Ewing Irrigation, Inc.

Chad Touchet chad@memoriallandscaping.com

Memorial Landscaping and Irrigation

Clint Tunnell texasruralliving@embarqmail.com

Texas Rural Living, Inc.

Bridget Wanninger Bridgetbludau@aol.com Fort Bend County MUD 138

J. Williams jhw@landscapeartinc.com

Landscape Art, Inc.

Mark Whitaker whitaker.mailbox@verizon.net Whitaker Irrigation

Mark Witt mark.witt@sbcglobal.net Lonestar Landscape

Michael West mwest@mcdugaldsteele.com

Tanya Wilson twilson@cityofkeller.com

City of Keller

James Woodring james@regionalwater.net

Regional Water CorpShowing 1 to 90 of 90 entriesRain Bird Corporation

Beware the Water Cowboys - Who Controls the Water - Controls the State and Local Government Regularity Boards and Controls the People

I was reading an article this morning how private companies have been seizing up water rights and municipalities have been letting this happen throughout Southern and Western United States. 
http://www.grist.org/article/food-2011-01-19-beware-the-water-cowboys

The  article doesn't mention any place in particular in Texas, but does mention what is happening in surrounding States about how controlling water is important and gives us residents in the State of Texas a good example that we need to make sure we secure our rights and don't let State Officials be lobbied by local officials who want to benefit monetarily by implementing overstated water conservation methods that have no scientific proof that the cost benefit approach the municipalities have been choosing with the WISEGuys program in North Fort Bend County Texas by the Water Authority in Fort Bend County, Texas, NFBWA's engineer is (Brown & Gay).

Water Conservation is a "Good Thing" and everyone should do it.  It is good the the NFBWA and Cinco MUD 1 is promoting this effort and that is where they fall short.  Both public entities could have chosen to have control of the water evaluation system.   Maybe it is time for NFBWA and Cinco to have the water conservation "irrigation evaluation review, selection, etc." open to the public and the the other MUD Boards.  The Directors on the NFBWA are not directly elected by public elections but by the MUD Boards.  It is the responsibility of each NFBWA Director to keep the Board of Directors that elected them to their position informed and not put them in a precarious position - Deciding if there has been total openness to the selection process or there have been some handouts.

The WiseGuys Program  - Ask Cinco Mud 1 for Documentation for the Wise Guys program date June 2011.  You will have a letter size B&W flyer stating you will save water.   Ask for a list of Authorized Licensed Irrigators and so forth but NFBWA gave full control to Vepo, LLC. in the WiseGuy Program for the water  audits - they let the employees set on the conservation committees prior to soliciting a contract.  They will let them train other License irrigators, review the quality etc.  -   We have current population in the NFBWA area near 75,000 - that is not bad for a company the size of 4 people (Vepo,LLC.)  Engineers can easily design sprinkler systems but they got that one taken off the books.

Anytime you see theVepo, LCC two main employees mentioned in MUD minutes, TQEC IAC meetings, Texas Irrigation Network, Conroe Newspaper, Sugarland News, Woodlands http://www.dblive.com/ .

The idd chip alone     - for Tom Fairey of http://www.dblive.com/  (http://www.bvd.com/) http://www.ggi.com/   stated is a $3billion business.  That is 1 component out of many parts.

This is a multi-billion dollar business and deals are made at federal, State and local levels that affect individuals.   As of now WISEGuys is an idea with very few tangibles.  The website is very week, there is no information and you wouldn't buy any product based on what was provided - so CINCO MUD 1 and NFBWA so expect the same response.

I this a common practice with Fort Bend County Politicians - they don't even pretend to go through the legal process.   Does NFBWA and Cinco MUD 1 regularly practice "Meetings that require no public notice between public entities and sometimes they do this by making many committees, so there is no confusion which interest they are serving.  

However, they always have to snooker public officials into agreeing with the plans to legalize the process and get it lost that they got their hands dirty.

Cowgirl in Heaven - She's in Texas.



Who in the NFBWA has their hands dirty?  Who at Cinco MUD 1 has their hands dirty?  Who in the Cinco MUD's have their hands in the cookie jars? Who at Vepo,LLC has your hands dirty - there's only four of you.   My Mama says "Get your hands out o the cookie jar and behave yourself cause "The Hawk is Watching".  You want money and power at the expense of the residents who put their trust in you.  You should be ashamed of yourselves and resign. 



Who in the NFBWA has their hands dirty?  Who at Cinco MUD 1 has their hands dirty?  Who in the Cinco MUD's have their hands in the cookie jars? Who at Vepo,LLC has your hands dirty - there's only four of you.   My Mama says "Get your hands out of the cookie jar and behave yourself cause "The Hawk is Watching".  You want money and power at the expense of the residents who put their trust in you.  You should be ashamed of yourselves and resign. 

Those Directors who are not involved should wake up and start asking questions to begin cleaning house.  If this means removing the support companies to bring new ideas.

The Hawk Report.

THE HAWK REPORT - Texas Politics - Fort Bend County - Money - Easy Money - Free Money Give Away - North Fort Bend Water Authority Board of Directors Celebrating After Approving Vepo, LLC - WISE Guys Plan

Since there is no picture of the directors this pic will have to do.  In February 2011, Cinco MUD 1, Tim Lawrence, Jim Cussack of Cinco MUD 9, Doug Goodwin - member of the TQEC IAC according to the minutes is with irrigation services, However Mr. Goodwin is the President of Vepo, LLC.  which the NFBWA awarded Vepo, LLC, a contract now called the WISE Guys Program ($80/home), now NFBWA and CINCO MUD 1 is pushing this plan onto residents of Cinco Ranch without public hearings and open meetings notices to the public.  It is our understanding that NFBWA and CINCO MUD 1 are not allowing the CINCO MUD Boards an opportunity to have a presentation but are being asked to just approve an agreement without a presentation.  

It is our understanding that Vepo, LLC. has been marketed with other municipalities - the City of Conroe, City of Sugarland and the Woodlands.   The Vepo, LLC. group is not always presented as such but as several different sources.   

Any program that isn't open and presents professional presentations - is a sign of trouble.  Having Mr. Goodwin on the conservation board for NFBWA shouldn't be a major issue but if the meetings are not open to the public, the company he presents himself as is many, his company is being pushed upon many communities in the Gulf Coast Region and even State Wide and when Cinco MUD i president Tim Larwemce switches and forces shoddy maneuvering to get his committee member Mr. Goodwin additional $80/home.

How much are you getting Tim?   You better watchout the Hawk is on to you! 

This is the HAWK REPORT

Free Service - Free Inspection- Free-Free Free - What's the Catch?

As a consumer - would you buy a car with out test driving the car or at least looking at the vehicle or even getting a brochure?  If you were going to buy a computer, would at least speaking with a few IT specialists about computers make your decision more at easy?

How would you choose an irrigation system and design one for your residence?   How would you upgrade your current system?   Who would you contact?  What vendor or business would you go too - I like looking on line than go to the store because - I like to at least look like I know what I know what I am talking about for the first 30 seconds and after that it's down hill but I know they know I know they know I know.

Well people - things are about to come to a sudden halt if a few people get their way.  Well it looks that way - I am say from a "Common Sense Point of View"  if you have a good product and service that you are implementing - at the very least you show the product and service with information to provide to potential costumers or investors.   You wouldn't give them a single xerox sheet of paper and a contract and say that this will be your service and a good thing trust me.

Well the North Fort Bend Water Authority entered into an agreement with Vepo, LLC.  runs the W.I.S.E. Guys Program         Doug H.Goodwin is on the NFBWA's Conservation Committee as well as the TQEC IAC.  James Hartley also sits on the NFBWA Conservation Committee.   Vepo, LLC is associated with http://www.dblive.com/ .  This company arranged to have an idd chip (programmable chip that receives FM radio) that can be programed and actually can be setup with 2-way communication with the proper equipment.   http://www.dblive.com/ is lead by Tom Fairey.  In 2008, Mr. Fairey said this chip was a $3 billion dollar business.

In 2008, Mr, Fairey said that the Houston are was ready to market and did they ever, but they ever.  You had ww.dblive.com and RainCad do presentations, you had John Darcell do presentations - Tom Fairey and John - all combinations.  I don't know who signed on.

Then Tom Fairey, John Goodwin are members of the Texas Irrigation Network http://www.texasirrigationnetwork.org/  The chairman states not a association or an organization they state in a video.

Well the NFBWA is giving free irrigation evaluations of residential sprinkler systems.  No Charge to the resident Free at Last Free at Last.   They are asking for more money through bonds and demanding the all the MUDS sign an agreement with WISE Guys to pay the remaining $40.

So NFBWA wants The MUDS to [provide you residents free $80 irrigation inspection where Vepco, LLC - no they just control who is in the program - an authorized irrigator blessed by Vepo,LLC who is on their list and NFBWA's list - with no presentation from the vendors, just authorize this and move on.


Now John Goodwin who is on the TQEC IAC, Texas Irrigation Network and Mr. Hartly are both on the NFBWA Conservation Committee both work for Vepo, LLC and Mr. Goodwin is the President of Vepo, LLC.  How can you be on a committee that changes the laws for irrigate favor, create an insiders market, sit on the NFBWA conservation committee, win an agreement and then the NFBWA says they will go ahead and give out free-bees to market their business.  This is what it is - a marketing tool to make money - period.  There is no interest is saving money.

If there was an interest in saving money, they would look at alternatives such as San Antonio used.

So Vepo, LLC has a very good business advantage over the other Texas irrigators. In the late 1900's they would call it a monopoly, collusion - but those are strong words and there is no proof because they have many groups or task events where people gather to discuss "They get around the OPEN MEETINGS NOTIFICATIONS ACT"    .

It gets done and some times it just has to be done that way I guess but a lot of residents may get hurt from this and a few may pocket millions of dollars to get this going across the State of Texas.  This is huge.. 

Just the idd controller is $250.  Wise Guys wants exclusive rights to audit yearly, fix, order the parts, train the auditors, oversee the irrigators, etc.  They are covered in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin also.

So NFBWA and this will happen or has happen in other MUD's or in other City's - increase our water rates.      Right now everything is voluntary and is nice - these bastards sounded like they can do what ever they wanted and after the meeting let's drive back to Vidor, Texas.

Water Conservation is important and there are many good ways to do this.  You have many good examples irrigation systems to choose from on the EPA website and the National Weather Service.  As a tax payer, you receive the weather information for free from the National Weather Service that you can hard wire or radio link to the irrigation controller.  The National Weather Service has all the support for free.  The City of San Antonio and City of Frisco, Tx are great examples of what municipalities should be doing.

I will give the benefit of the doubt to some of the people who are reviewing this information because - some people can be wowed but they don't review any further than what they have been shown.   
You will have to decide for yourself - the WISE Guys program is one irrigation solution and should be a choice not the only option and the NFBWA should conduct business openly and ethically.  To present a package  to small time local politicians who basically volunteer their time and to be manipulated by full time attorneys, full time politicians, full time bureaucrats and full time businessmen who intend to gain financially - is a good old boys system that buts false information, strong arms and twists words to manipilate the residential MUD Director wh may not know better.

West Harris County Water Authority Says"No to WISE Gus Water Plan"

West Harris County Water Authority (WHCWA) reported that the W.I.S.E. Guy Water Program (Vepo,LLC) was presented and that the Authority decided not to participate with the program.

North Fort Bend Water Authority - W.I.S.E. Guys Water Plan Authorized 05/25/2011

On May 25, 2011 NFBWA enetered into agreement with Vepo, LLC.  for the W.I.S.E. (Water Irrigation System Evaluation) Guys.   

http://www.nfbwa.com/meetings/2011/minutes/min_5-25-2011_4030_001.pdf

Vepo, LLC is is located at 25740 Century Oaks Blvd. Hockley, Texas 77447, Phone: (281) 476-6886
http://vepollc.com/

The Direstors of the NFBWA are elected by the Board of Directors of each MUD District located within the Water Authorities Boundaries.  This has the potential of being a multi-million dollar contract for Vepo,LLC and DBLive.com an Austin base company.   

Review of public records indicates   Texas Irrigation Laws have been modified, amended or delted beginning around or near the year 2000 with DBLive being involved, the owners of Vepo, LLC, ABHR, B&G and others in various State Agencies.

Information on this suject is not easy to come forth.  The parties mentioned have not been contacted - thus I have not only reviewing public records and information available on the internet.   I believe that befoe the NFBWA would have agreed to terms they would have brought the MUD Boards in and the Communnity in to keep them inform.  However, it sems like the approach is not to keep the public inform and slowly force by PEER pressure others to join.  The program is being passed on as free but, you as a tax payer or consumer knows that the free stuff is still your money.  

Just one item hat Vepo, LLC will be pushin is the idd rain sensor $250 plus subscription.  You do the math per 1,000 meter connections, but this will be for irrigation systems.  What is spoken and what is in type ar different stories.

Water Conservation and this Plan is a good idea or concept but to do Water Conservation and to have the priorities of the decision makers be what choice makes us the most money at the taxpayers pocket book and not use "Common Sense Approaches" that really will work that will reduce pumping ground water and reduce the costs to the homeowner.

But to ask the MUD boards to inflate their rates to force water conservation on force people on this plan when it was not presented properly and upfront is not right.  Yo just don't force citizens to be blind sided by greed and - plain stupid logic.  Really - ho do you take agricultural irrigation techniques and put them on an individual resident.  So you expect to have a subdivision with 500 lots to have 300 ground sensors and 500 rain sensors when I as a farmer will have 2 rain sensors and 10 ground sensors to control my irrigation.

Someone is making a lot of money and there is a lot of palms sticking out waiting for their take.

You got the name of the program right.  WISE Guys -   thats how they do it.