Closure of longtime Yakima firm leaves electrical jobs undone

YAKIMA, Wash. — The closure of Jack Hornor Electric and its subsidiary, A-1 Pump Service, late last month has resulted in questions about the company, unfinished jobs and, for some, unemployment.

The electrical contracting company has been in business for nearly five decades.

Owner Larry Couette, reached by phone Tuesday night, confirmed the company had a hard time securing credit and paying its employees. He said he could not comment further without consulting with his attorney.

The company had between 31 and 50 employees during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the state Department of Labor and Industries.  

Left behind are many government, commercial and other jobs, including work for a new building at Stanton Academy and for a new J.C. Penney store under construction in Union Gap.

Jack Hornor Electric has a short-term arrangement with Yakima-based Picatti Brothers to take on many, though not all, unfinished jobs, said Doug Picatti, vice president of sales for Picatti Brothers.

Whether this arrangementis permanent is still unknown,he said.

Meanwhile, other job decisions will be made by the main contractor or by the bonding company, in the case of projects funded by bonds, such as the Stanton Academy work, Picatti said.

Other local electricians are keeping an eye on these jobs.

Bailey Electric in Yakima, for example, wants pick up work at the J.C. Penney construction site, said owner Bob Bailey.

Bailey said he’s watching to see how things unfold in the months following the company’s closure.

"They were spread out in so many different areas," he said. "There (are) going to be some loose ends."

• Mai Hoang can be reached at 509-577-7685 or maihoang@yakimaherald.com.