The purveyors of dirty dealings with Detroit's dirt — Den-Man Contractors of Warren — have been slapped with a hefty $4.7 million fine and a 20-year business ban from the city following a fraudulent scheme that left residential properties contaminated. As reported by The Detroit News, the contractor, led by owner David Holman and former demolition director David MacDonald, billed the city for clean dirt but instead used contaminated materials received free of charge from sources like highway reconstruction projects.
A statement from Detroit Inspector General Ellen Ha characterizes the dirt as potentially having come from "a gas station or from a highway, you have all these contaminants." An investigation launched by the Office of Inspector General, which initially received a complaint about the peccadillo in 2018, has been a long-running saga, as noted by FOX 2 Detroit; where not only was the dirt contaminated with substances like arsenic, mercury, and other toxic elements; but the dubious practice continued across roughly 90 Detroit properties over two years til the issue came to light showing a reckless disregard for not just the environmental integrity but also the financial onus on the citizens who rely on the city's safeguards.
Both Holman and MacDonald faced charges, each receiving probation and community service, amidst the fallout of their dishonest operations, as detailed by WWJ Newsradio. Their actions necessitated a cleanup operation that dug into the penalty funds to remove the contaminated soil and replace it with clean dirt, purportedly restoring the sanctity of the affected terrain.
Speaking to the gravity of the malfeasance, Ha affirmed, as per FOX 2 Detroit, "We will investigate, and we will hold contractors accountable for their actions," indicating that despite the contractor's business bearing the brunt of its malpractice, the onus ultimately lying on the inspector general's office to ensure the sanctity and safety of the community's environment is undisturbed and entrepreneurs' cavalier approaches to contractual obligations are thoroughly checked, making sure that the vital duty owed to the people of Detroit, who trust in the official processes to protect their well-being, is maintained unscathed.
