Road commission reacts to Wayne County scandal

RCOC has ‘multiple checks and balances’

“We like to think that we have a culture here at RCOC that doesn’t allow that type of thing to occur.”

— Craig Bryson, road commision’s spokesman

Road commission officials are aware of an embezzlement case being pursued against former Wayne County road commission officials. But they don’t seem to be worried about similar crimes happening at the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC).

The Detroit Free Press this week reported that two Wayne county road officials were arrested this week and face wire fraud and other criminal charges.

“I cannot imagine something like that ever being able to happen at RCOC — we have multiple levels of oversight required in the purchasing process,” said Craig Bryson, the road commission’s spokesman.

He said the RCOC’s purchasing process has several checks and balances. One example he gave is that no RCOC division could just go out on its own and buy a generator, let alone 1,000.

“First, the expenditure would have to be included in the approved capitol outlay plan,” he said. “Then, the first line supervisor would have to approve, the second line supervisor would have to approve, the department director would have to approve and the Finance Director would have to approve.”

Supplies like generators are paid for by the RCOC’s purchasing division, which also has a series of oversight processes, he said.

Bryson said there “is no way to guarantee that no employee will ever commit fraud,” adding that multiple levels of checks and balances minimize the risk.

“Also, we like to think that we have a culture here at RCOC that doesn’t allow that type of thing to occur,” he said, adding the employees are more focused on using funds as efficiently as possible for “roads that we maintain in order to ensure they remain safe for the public we serve.

“This may sound hokey,” he said, “but I truly believe this sentiment runs very deep at RCOC.”