Wayne County Executive Warren Evans
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans has a history of being tone-deaf about conflicts of interests.
Here's the latest: The county sold a building for $11 million and Evan's half-brother Matthew Evans ended up benefiting from it, according to WXYZ's Ross Jones.
Here's how it worked, according to the journalist:
Last year, Wayne County put a nearly 100-year-old county building on Temple St. in Detroit up for sale. Only a few blocks from Little Caesars Arena, it attracted a bidding war with at least four companies submitting offers.
Two companies tied for the highest bid: $11 million. But Evans’ team picked Temple Group Holdings, saying their proposal was stronger. A few weeks later, two members of Temple Group would form a new business with Wayne County’s CFO, Tony Saunders.
When it came time to start fixing-up the nearly century-old building, the Temple Group developers hired a construction company not based in Detroit or even in Wayne County. Instead, turned to a firm out of Grand Rapids, Rockford Construction.
The head of Rockford's Detroit office is a blood-relative of the Wayne County Executive: Matthew Evans, the CEO’s half-brother.
Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb tells Jones the coincidences keep adding up.
“The pattern is scary,” she said. “To find out later that the person that was chosen to buy 640 Temple over the other party who bid the same amount is doing business with a family member? On the face of it, it sure doesn’t pass the smell test. I mean it sure doesn’t look good."
Evans' spokesman says his boss had “nothing to do with the selection of subcontractors," a reference to his half-brother.
Rockford Construction issues a statement:
“Rockford Construction has been active in the Detroit area for more than 20 years, completing over 100 projects totaling nearly $500 million. Rockford was contracted to complete renovations at 640 Temple owned by Temple Holdings, and we look forward to working with our local trade contractor partners to provide exceptional service and results.”
