In a series of administrative actions that shook Oakland County's IT Department, four employees were disciplined after a contract was mistakenly awarded to a company owned by one of the employees. County officials confirmed that the contract, intended for the provision of five tech staff members to CLEMIS, was improperly granted to ZaydLogix, a firm established by a member of their own team, Shukur Mohammad. This revelation, originally sparked by an anonymous tip sent in early July, was disclosed following an independent investigation by law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, as reported by The Detroit News.
County Executive Dave Coulter expressed his commitment to public service ethics, saying, “Oakland County strives to serve the public with the utmost ethics and transparency,” according to a CBS News report. As a result of the inquiry, the individual at the heart of the controversy and owner of ZaydLogix has been suspended without pay and will resign in the coming weeks. A manager involved in the oversight of the contract has received similar punishment. The IT Director and the employee responsible for evaluating and approving the bid from ZaydLogix are also facing temporary suspensions.
The internal scrutiny also led to a broader reassessment of the county's procurement policies, with officials now requiring all employees to annually sign off on Oakland County’s standards of ethical conduct, reports the Detroit Free Press. This move is coupled with comprehensive training in procurement policies and procedures targeted at IT department staff to forestall similar occurrences. Besides employee discipline, the county has undertaken steps to scrutinize existing IT contracts for additional conflicts and to solidify adherence to conduct policies.
While Coulter's office has deemed the violations as not reaching the threshold for criminal inquiry, County Commissioner Michael Spisz has filed a formal request for a criminal investigation with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office, while confirming receipt of Spisz's complaint, declined further comment, according to the Detroit Free Press. Across the county board room, the thirst for transparency has mounted as Commissioner Charlie Cavell has taken steps to circulate a letter among fellow commissioners requesting a review from the Office of the Michigan Attorney General.
