Bill Text: MI HR0175 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to declare the Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle unfit to lead the department and express our lack of confidence in his leadership.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-10-22 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [HR0175 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2015-HR0175-Introduced.html
Rep. Dianda offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 175.
A resolution to declare the Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle unfit to lead the department and express our lack of confidence in his leadership. Whereas, Kirk Steudle has served as Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director since 2006, under both Governor Granholm and Governor Snyder. As Director, Mr. Steudle oversees the construction, maintenance, and operation of state roads and bridges, along with local agency federal aid, public transportation, and aeronautics and rail services. The department directly employs over 2500 people and has a budget of more than $3 billion. The Michigan Department of Transportation Director Steudle has not proven to be a good steward of Michigan taxpayer dollars or MDOT employees; and
Whereas, In 2010 the Michigan Department of Transportation began leasing twenty-three railcars for proposed future rail passenger service between Ann Arbor and Howell and Ann Arbor and Detroit. The cars are rented for $1.1 million a year and have sat in a rail yard in Owosso since 2010, racking up costs to taxpayers of almost $12 million in refurbishing and lease charges. MDOT has yet to secure funding or an operator, complete environmental studies, or upgrade track for the proposed rail projects. The cars will not be used for at least another two years. MDOT officials have admitted the cost has been more than they wished. It appears that at worst, MDOT has put money toward projects that may never come to fruition, and at best, is guilty of poor timing between securing equipment and beginning the rail service; and
Whereas, In 2010 MDOT spent $9.5 million on a landscaping project along I-696 between I-75 and I-94 in Macomb and Oakland counties. Two years later, there was a die-off of plantings over large stretches of the area due to erosion, partly caused by mowing, which leached eroded soils into the storm drainage system. Now, MDOT is spending $2.3 million for mulch plus $620,000 in a replanting effort to repair the damage. Poor planning and lack of foresight exacerbated this problem; and
Whereas, In 2015, an Auditor General's report cited MDOT for not following up on road warranties which hold contractors responsible for their work. The department often failed to inspect work and ensure that contractors corrected deficiencies. Over half of warranties expired before MDOT followed up, which put the responsibility and cost for any corrective action on the state instead of the contractor. Similar issues were raised in a 2010 audit and were not comprehensively addressed; and
Whereas, The Federal Highway Administration has endorsed the employment of an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer within state transportation agencies as a best practice. The MDOT civil rights compliance officer has not been supported by Director Steudle, and has accused him of bullying, diverting work from her office, and a lack of leadership in the areas of equal rights and workplace discrimination; and
Whereas, His lack of sensitivity to staff issues and his mismanagement of scarce state funds in the face of the current road funding deficit are unacceptable and demonstrate a failure to properly administer the office and responsibilities of Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we declare the Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle unfit to lead the department and express our lack of confidence in his leadership; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of Michigan.
