Tony Shelton
BS Detector, Esquire
A recent post on this and other industry communication boards has caused a lot of stress, especially for power washers in Orange County California.
The PWNA made the claim that they had been contacted to help write BMPs for Orange County. Here is the direct quote from Robert Hinderliter, the Environmental Advocate for the PWNA in regards to the "new" BMP's he posted:
This is the result of on 18 month effort of PWNA in cooperation with Orange County California. This resulting BMPs will have a large effect of the rest of California, then the rest of United States.------and further----------------I wish to express my appreciation to Orange County for cooperation with PWNA in this development process. --------and
Orange County Cosm etic Cleaning BMPs
Guidance for Mobile Detailing, Pressure Washing, Steam Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning
In Cooperation with Power Washers of North America
These can be found here: http://www.powerwashcommunity.com/t...ng-BMPS-for-Public-Comment-until-June-30-2014 and here: http://www.propowerwash.com/board/u...ng-BMPS-for-Public-Comment-until-June-30-2014
This entire claim is false. The PWNA was NOT contacted by Orange County to help rewrite BMPs. The PWNA did not help "develop" any new BMPs. There are NO New BMPs in Orange County.
When we first got wind of this post of Robert's we couldn't understand how this happened without the knowledge of local contractors and the UAMCC Environmental team. To find the answer, Ron Musgraves called the head of Orange County's stormwater authority. He called at the first available opportunity on Monday the 19th.
Ron was in for quite a surprise. Mr. Boon, who is the head of all stormwater related BMPs and regulations knew right away who Robert Hinderliter and the PWNA was. He was quite standoffish until Ron explained that he was NOT with the PWNA.
Mr Boon explained to Ron that the PWNA was contacted for one reason, and one reason alone. They were asked if, as an industry org, they could use their influence to entice more contractors to come to a two hour workshop they planned in Orange County for July, similar to other workshops that go on around the country. Mr Boon stated that they usually only get between 5 and 15 contractors to show up and they thought it might bring more contractors to the workshop of an org reached out to them and announced it.
The PWNA was NEVER asked to review BMPs or regulations.
They were NEVER asked to "develop" BMPs.
Further he added that they were happy with the BMPs they have and had NO intention of changing them at all.
Period.
He went on to state that Mr Hinderliter was misrepresenting the PWNA's relationship with Orange County and that he was going to immediately request that they remove the BMPs that they had posted because they are NOTHING like the Orange County BMPs.
Ron asked him if he would do a Radio podcast interview stating those facts. Mr Boon said he didn't have the time to put that on his schedule, but he would be glad to answer email questions.
Ron immediately reached out to the UAMCC BOD with his findings. We determined that it would be in the interest of all involved to have this information reduced to writing so we worked on questions to ask Mr. Boon.
Meanwhile Mr. Boon contacted the PWNA and informed them of the situation. You will see below from his quotes that they KNOW the situation and that they told him they were "diligently" trying to fix the situation.
Well, if you call continuing to spread lies, looks like they did try to "fix" it.
They began by allowing some of the lesser intellectually minded individuals on other boards berate the UAMCC's efforts to get to the bottom of this with no rebuttal.
The PWNA's paid "investigative reporter" Allison Hester, claims she called Orange County and posted this report:
http://www.ecleanmag.com/robert-hin...n-new-proposed-orange-county-bmps-2014-05-20/
She knew the truth when she made this report or she never called Orange County at all. Yet she reports:
As is common practice in these types of situations, Orange County sought the help of a power washing trade association. Their research led them to the Power Washers of North America (PWNA), who in turn appointed PWNA’s Environmental Advocate, Robert Hinderliter, to work with the OC agency as an advisor. A local contractor – Ty Eubanks with South Shore Building Services, Inc., who has over 35 years experience in the industry – was also asked to participate in order to provide the end-user perspective and input on the development of the BMPs.
This past weekend, Robert posted the newly proposed Orange County BMPs on the Internet, announcing that there is a public comment period taking place now through June 30, 2014. (You can find more about this on number 9 below.)
Again the claims are made that the PWNA was requested to "provide guidance" for "new BMPs".
This again, is entirely false.
On other industry boards there are more false claims. Michael Hinderliter, a former? PWNA board member says this: (is there a hint here that he knew the premise was false?)
And the other Environmental Director, Jim Gamble tries to make the claim that the UAMCC was upset that the PWNA was contacted to help with BMPs and goes on to show that he knew the chain of events but he took no opportunity to set the record straight.
Three days have passed and yet the PWNA has done nothing to comply with the wishes of Mr. Boon to get the truth out there and remove the deceptive posts made by Mr. Hinderliter.
Yesterday, the UAMCC BOD sent the following email questions to MR. Boon in order to memorialize the conversation he had with Ron:
1) Are you implementing new regulations or BMPs in Orange County this year?
2) Are you writing BMPs in cooperation with the PWNA as claimed in the attached press release from the PWNA? And did you authorize them to make that claim and use your official logo in the claim?
3) For what reason did you contact the PWNA?
4) Is it your practice, as claimed by the PWNA to refuse public comment periods to the point where they have to be "fought for" as the claim here states?: http://www.ecleanmag.com/robert-hin...n-new-proposed-orange-county-bmps-2014-05-20/
5) You stated that you were going to ask that Robert Hinderliter take down the information he had posted regarding this since it went far beyond the request to simply bring contractors to the workshop. Robert has posted the same information in our industry forums. Would you like us to take down those also? We don't usually remove posts, for the sake of transparency, but we are happy to remove inaccurate posts.
Thank you for your time. Our members appreciate your time and look forward to answers that will put their minds at ease.
Here is the response we received from Mr Boon today: (underlinings added by me)
Tony
I am out of the office and replying from my iPhone
Last year we contacted PWNA to see if they could assist with getting us an audience for an informational workshop on water quality protection for pressure washing businesses in Orange County
Our expectations for waste water management are detailed in BMP fact sheet IC24
We are not changing this fact sheet and have no intention oif changing it the foreseeable future
Unfortunately an individual associated with PWNA has badly mid-represented the intentions and actions of a local public agency.
PWNA has assured me that they are now working diligently to correct their mistake
I would be very grateful if you could remove mention of the PWNA document from your website
I will be in my office next Tuesday if you need further information
Thanks
Richard Boon, Chief
Orange County Stormwater Program
(714)955-0670
This clarifies everything he told Ron on the phone.
It also proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the PWNA and by extention, Allison Hester, KNOWS the truth, yet apparently haven't figured out a way to spin this yet and wiggle out of this clear deception they were caught in.
We DESPERATELY need industry leaders who can be trusted. We desperately need leaders who put others before themselves or their own "revenue stream".
At the UAMCC it is our goal to be there for contractors when they need us. It is our goal to help keep food on the table of contractor families.
It is our goal to work WITH our authorities and be a Partner in the community that keeps the community CLEAN,
There is no room in our industry for underhanded techniques, deception or outright lies.
Many times we hear that we need to work "together". Well, I disagree. Two men cannot walk in the same direction if they disagree on the destination. Two can't work together if one is honest and the other is not.
We don't need to work together. We need to use the fine contractors that are out there who are willing to listen to the truth, in spite of personality conflicts, pull up their pants and do the hard work of building trust in our communities. This cannot be done as long as we "work together' with those who would lie to us over and over again.
The PWNA made the claim that they had been contacted to help write BMPs for Orange County. Here is the direct quote from Robert Hinderliter, the Environmental Advocate for the PWNA in regards to the "new" BMP's he posted:
This is the result of on 18 month effort of PWNA in cooperation with Orange County California. This resulting BMPs will have a large effect of the rest of California, then the rest of United States.------and further----------------I wish to express my appreciation to Orange County for cooperation with PWNA in this development process. --------and
Orange County Cosm etic Cleaning BMPs
Guidance for Mobile Detailing, Pressure Washing, Steam Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning
In Cooperation with Power Washers of North America
These can be found here: http://www.powerwashcommunity.com/t...ng-BMPS-for-Public-Comment-until-June-30-2014 and here: http://www.propowerwash.com/board/u...ng-BMPS-for-Public-Comment-until-June-30-2014
This entire claim is false. The PWNA was NOT contacted by Orange County to help rewrite BMPs. The PWNA did not help "develop" any new BMPs. There are NO New BMPs in Orange County.
When we first got wind of this post of Robert's we couldn't understand how this happened without the knowledge of local contractors and the UAMCC Environmental team. To find the answer, Ron Musgraves called the head of Orange County's stormwater authority. He called at the first available opportunity on Monday the 19th.
Ron was in for quite a surprise. Mr. Boon, who is the head of all stormwater related BMPs and regulations knew right away who Robert Hinderliter and the PWNA was. He was quite standoffish until Ron explained that he was NOT with the PWNA.
Mr Boon explained to Ron that the PWNA was contacted for one reason, and one reason alone. They were asked if, as an industry org, they could use their influence to entice more contractors to come to a two hour workshop they planned in Orange County for July, similar to other workshops that go on around the country. Mr Boon stated that they usually only get between 5 and 15 contractors to show up and they thought it might bring more contractors to the workshop of an org reached out to them and announced it.
The PWNA was NEVER asked to review BMPs or regulations.
They were NEVER asked to "develop" BMPs.
Further he added that they were happy with the BMPs they have and had NO intention of changing them at all.
Period.
He went on to state that Mr Hinderliter was misrepresenting the PWNA's relationship with Orange County and that he was going to immediately request that they remove the BMPs that they had posted because they are NOTHING like the Orange County BMPs.
Ron asked him if he would do a Radio podcast interview stating those facts. Mr Boon said he didn't have the time to put that on his schedule, but he would be glad to answer email questions.
Ron immediately reached out to the UAMCC BOD with his findings. We determined that it would be in the interest of all involved to have this information reduced to writing so we worked on questions to ask Mr. Boon.
Meanwhile Mr. Boon contacted the PWNA and informed them of the situation. You will see below from his quotes that they KNOW the situation and that they told him they were "diligently" trying to fix the situation.
Well, if you call continuing to spread lies, looks like they did try to "fix" it.
They began by allowing some of the lesser intellectually minded individuals on other boards berate the UAMCC's efforts to get to the bottom of this with no rebuttal.
The PWNA's paid "investigative reporter" Allison Hester, claims she called Orange County and posted this report:
http://www.ecleanmag.com/robert-hin...n-new-proposed-orange-county-bmps-2014-05-20/
She knew the truth when she made this report or she never called Orange County at all. Yet she reports:
As is common practice in these types of situations, Orange County sought the help of a power washing trade association. Their research led them to the Power Washers of North America (PWNA), who in turn appointed PWNA’s Environmental Advocate, Robert Hinderliter, to work with the OC agency as an advisor. A local contractor – Ty Eubanks with South Shore Building Services, Inc., who has over 35 years experience in the industry – was also asked to participate in order to provide the end-user perspective and input on the development of the BMPs.
This past weekend, Robert posted the newly proposed Orange County BMPs on the Internet, announcing that there is a public comment period taking place now through June 30, 2014. (You can find more about this on number 9 below.)
Again the claims are made that the PWNA was requested to "provide guidance" for "new BMPs".
This again, is entirely false.
On other industry boards there are more false claims. Michael Hinderliter, a former? PWNA board member says this: (is there a hint here that he knew the premise was false?)
And the other Environmental Director, Jim Gamble tries to make the claim that the UAMCC was upset that the PWNA was contacted to help with BMPs and goes on to show that he knew the chain of events but he took no opportunity to set the record straight.
Three days have passed and yet the PWNA has done nothing to comply with the wishes of Mr. Boon to get the truth out there and remove the deceptive posts made by Mr. Hinderliter.
Yesterday, the UAMCC BOD sent the following email questions to MR. Boon in order to memorialize the conversation he had with Ron:
1) Are you implementing new regulations or BMPs in Orange County this year?
2) Are you writing BMPs in cooperation with the PWNA as claimed in the attached press release from the PWNA? And did you authorize them to make that claim and use your official logo in the claim?
3) For what reason did you contact the PWNA?
4) Is it your practice, as claimed by the PWNA to refuse public comment periods to the point where they have to be "fought for" as the claim here states?: http://www.ecleanmag.com/robert-hin...n-new-proposed-orange-county-bmps-2014-05-20/
5) You stated that you were going to ask that Robert Hinderliter take down the information he had posted regarding this since it went far beyond the request to simply bring contractors to the workshop. Robert has posted the same information in our industry forums. Would you like us to take down those also? We don't usually remove posts, for the sake of transparency, but we are happy to remove inaccurate posts.
Thank you for your time. Our members appreciate your time and look forward to answers that will put their minds at ease.
Here is the response we received from Mr Boon today: (underlinings added by me)
Tony
I am out of the office and replying from my iPhone
Last year we contacted PWNA to see if they could assist with getting us an audience for an informational workshop on water quality protection for pressure washing businesses in Orange County
Our expectations for waste water management are detailed in BMP fact sheet IC24
We are not changing this fact sheet and have no intention oif changing it the foreseeable future
Unfortunately an individual associated with PWNA has badly mid-represented the intentions and actions of a local public agency.
PWNA has assured me that they are now working diligently to correct their mistake
I would be very grateful if you could remove mention of the PWNA document from your website
I will be in my office next Tuesday if you need further information
Thanks
Richard Boon, Chief
Orange County Stormwater Program
(714)955-0670
This clarifies everything he told Ron on the phone.
It also proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the PWNA and by extention, Allison Hester, KNOWS the truth, yet apparently haven't figured out a way to spin this yet and wiggle out of this clear deception they were caught in.
We DESPERATELY need industry leaders who can be trusted. We desperately need leaders who put others before themselves or their own "revenue stream".
At the UAMCC it is our goal to be there for contractors when they need us. It is our goal to help keep food on the table of contractor families.
It is our goal to work WITH our authorities and be a Partner in the community that keeps the community CLEAN,
There is no room in our industry for underhanded techniques, deception or outright lies.
Many times we hear that we need to work "together". Well, I disagree. Two men cannot walk in the same direction if they disagree on the destination. Two can't work together if one is honest and the other is not.
We don't need to work together. We need to use the fine contractors that are out there who are willing to listen to the truth, in spite of personality conflicts, pull up their pants and do the hard work of building trust in our communities. This cannot be done as long as we "work together' with those who would lie to us over and over again.