Vickie Thomas of WWJ Newsradio has learned that Detroit’s inspector general has just wrapped up an independent investigation of the city’s parking department that sounds like probes into many other city departments over the years.
Details won’t be revealed until possibly next week, but WWJ has obtained a copy of a scathing audit of the department that shows co-mingling of funds, questionable expenses, poor record keeping and in some instances, no record keeping at all by Park-Rite Detroit, which runs lots and garages for the city.
Because of the investigation, Steven Hicks, president of Teamsters Local 283, said the city is firing Park-Rite and laying off 14 union workers, Thomas says.
“My understanding is that Norman White, from municipal parking, is going to lay everyone off," Hicks told Thomas. Despite the problems, Hicks said it appears the city might hire the general manager of Park-Rite, Theresa Kozak, under a personal service contract.
