Oakland County Contract Scandal: Taxpayer Funds Misused, $450K at Stake

BREAKING: An urgent investigation reveals that Oakland County’s recent contract with Zaydlogix LLC has violated state law, potentially misusing $450,000 of taxpayer funds. The county awarded this contract to a company owned by a current employee, raising serious accountability concerns among officials and residents alike.

The findings from an outside investigation, conducted by the law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, were disclosed during a committee meeting on July 25, 2023. This announcement has triggered outrage from county commissioners who were blindsided by the sudden presentation of the findings. Commissioner Brendan Johnson expressed disbelief over the lack of transparency, stating, “We need to understand what measures are being taken to correct this.”

The controversial contract was linked to the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS), a crucial network used daily by police officers and court officials in Oakland County. This system enables various agencies to share essential information, including criminal histories and emergency data.

The investigation began after a whistleblower alerted county leadership about potential misconduct involving county employees using their positions for personal gain. Following this alert, the contract was swiftly canceled, with officials claiming no payments were made to Zaydlogix. However, the revelations from the investigation have left many questioning how such a significant oversight could occur.

Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson acknowledged the breach, stating, “Employees should have recognized the conduct policy. We should have caught this.” Despite the clear violation of state law, the investigation found no evidence of fraudulent activity or kickbacks, according to Chief Deputy Executive Walt Herzig. He remarked, “This is a pretty black-and-white violation of state law.”

The county is under scrutiny for only releasing a three-page summary of the investigation rather than the complete report, leading to accusations of withholding critical information. Commissioner Kristen Nelson voiced her concerns, stating, “It seems absurd to receive a filtered report after commissioning a thorough investigation.”

As backlash grows, Oakland County is now facing significant pressure for accountability and transparency. Residents and officials alike are demanding to know what steps will be taken to prevent such issues in the future.

Stay tuned as this story develops. For updates, follow Heather Catallo and the latest news from Oakland County.