Oakland County IT Contract Scandal: $450,000 Violation Exposed

UPDATE: Oakland County is embroiled in a scandal after a nearly $450,000 taxpayer-funded contract with Zaydlogix LLC was found to have violated state law. This urgent revelation comes following a months-long investigation that has raised serious questions about accountability within the county’s leadership.

The contract was awarded to a company owned by a current county employee, which triggered an investigation after a whistleblower alerted officials in early July 2023. This whistleblower’s email prompted immediate action, leading to the cancellation of the contract before any payments were made. The findings from the independent investigation conducted by Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone were confirmed at a county committee meeting on Tuesday morning.

Officials revealed that the contract was improperly awarded, violating both state law and county policy. Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson stated, “That should not have happened,” acknowledging that employees involved did not adhere to the county’s conduct policy. The findings were summarized in a three-page report, which has drawn criticism for lacking transparency.

Michael Spisz, an Oakland County Commissioner, expressed outrage over the handling of the situation. “Everybody that was involved with that discussion should have known better,” he stated, emphasizing the need for accountability among seasoned officials.

Despite the serious nature of the violation, the investigation found no evidence of fraud, kickbacks, or pricing rigging, as confirmed by Walt Herzig, Chief Deputy Oakland County Executive. However, the lack of detailed disclosure has left many questions unanswered. “I personally believe that there has to be information missing from the actual report,” said Commissioner Kristen Nelson, highlighting the absurdity of receiving a filtered summary from internal legal counsel instead of the full investigation.

The contract was tied to the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS), which is crucial for police and court operations across the region. Every day, law enforcement officials rely on CLEMIS to share vital information including criminal histories and emergency response data.

As the fallout continues, Oakland County officials are under pressure to ensure such violations do not happen again. The county paid $17,836 for the investigation, yet transparency remains an issue, with the full report still withheld despite a public records request.

Moving forward, the focus will be on how the county addresses these violations and ensures accountability among its leadership. Residents are urged to stay informed as this developing story unfolds. For further updates, follow Heather Catallo’s reports. If you have information regarding this matter, please email her at [email protected].