My name is Michael Morin, and I’m the owner of MCM Plumbing — a licensed plumbing contractor and certified backflow tester in Merced. I’ve submitted formal complaints to the City of Merced, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and the Merced County Grand Jury because of a serious issue that is hurting local businesses and property owners — and it’s being done by our own City government.

Here’s what’s happening:

🔹 The City of Merced has been installing private backflow prevention devices using City crews and taxpayer-funded labor — for free — on private property, without permits, inspections, or licensed contractors.

🔹 I submitted a professional estimate for one of these jobs — valued at over $15,000 — and the City took the work and completed it themselves. In other cases, the City assisted contractors, avoided inspections and permits, and bypassed the standard process required of licensed businesses.

🔹 Meanwhile, property owners are being forced to comply with state-mandated backflow laws — paying thousands to hire licensed contractors and meet deadlines — while others quietly receive free labor and installation from Public Works without accountability or transparency.

This creates unfair treatment, economic harm, and anti-competitive conditions for local contractors like myself and others who play by the rules.

I wrote and submitted a formal petition on August 4, 2025, detailing these violations and demanding action. I have since received confirmation that my petition and supporting documentation will be entered into the official record at the August 17, 2025 Merced City Council meeting.

This isn’t my opinion - this is from the City’s own official records

My petition outlines:

Public Comment Broader Pattern

Unauthorized use of public labor for private work
No permit process, no inspection, no public bidding
City crews assisting select contractors, including some from outside Merced
Violations of state law, city policy, and public trust
Loss of work and revenue to licensed local businesses
Despite raising these concerns for months, I’ve received no formal response from the City. An outside investigator was supposedly hired, but that effort ended without notice or follow-up. This ongoing lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable.

This is not just my problem — it affects everyone:

If you’re a contractor, you’re being undercut by your own City.
If you’re a property owner, you’re paying out of pocket while others get free services with your tax dollars.
If you’re a resident, your trust in local government is being violated.

I’m calling on the City of Merced to:
✅ Publicly disclose all instances where City crews or staff installed, assisted with, or coordinated the installation of backflow prevention devices on private property.

✅ Terminate or discipline those responsible for authorizing or participating in these unlicensed, unpermitted, and unethical installations.

✅ Cease all City involvement in private plumbing and backflow installations unless fully permitted, publicly bid, and performed by properly licensed contractors.

✅ Apply fair and consistent enforcement of backflow compliance laws — no more favoritism, no more skipping permits and inspections for select individuals or contractors.

✅ Reimburse or credit affected property owners and contractors where free labor or City-facilitated work created unfair economic harm.

✅ Implement clear policies and oversight mechanisms to ensure taxpayer-funded resources are never again used for unauthorized private work.

✅ Make the full investigation process and outcome public, and ensure that complainants and the community are included in the resolution — not excluded from it.

This affects all of us. Please sign and share this petition. Let’s demand transparency, fairness, and accountability in Merced.

– Michael C. Morin
Owner, MCM Plumbing
CSLB #1002279 | AWWA #13829