Protecting and Promoting Your Interests

STATE AUDIT VINDICATES MICHIGAN AGGREGATES ASSOCIATION IN REVIEW OF MDOT MISSTEPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 18 2019
CONTACT: John Sellek
jbs@harborstrategic.com

STATE AUDIT VINDICATES MICHIGAN AGGREGATES ASSOCIATION IN REVIEW OF MDOT MISSTEPS   
LANSING — The Michigan Aggregates Association issued the following statement upon being vindicated in today's state audit of MDOT missteps under the previous administration as it conducted a much-needed study of Michigan's strained aggregates supply, which is causing fewer roads to be fixed due to higher costs for taxpayers.

MAA spokesperson John Sellek:
 
"This audit again vindicates the aggregates industry because it shows that MDOT, under the previous administration, sought input from MAA, that MDOT's decisions when using that information were theirs alone and that there is zero evidence for sensational claims that the actual independent authors of the study were affected in their work by MDOT's missteps.     

The fact is, all state departments seek input from stakeholders but only departmental leaders can decide how to use that input, as was the case here. It is unfortunate for all taxpayers that internal MDOT disputes between its staff and management resulted in decisions which are now under fire.
 
The real issue remains that road building costs continue to rise and the state must take steps to increase raw material supplies, shorten the distance materials are being trucked and end the tyranny of a few wealthy people in Metamora who have pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into an endless fight that is killing Michigan’s ability to fix the damn roads.
 
Michigan's aggregate producers are small businesses that provide good jobs to women and men across our state. They are proud to serve as a driving force behind both the repair of Michigan's infrastructure and building of Michigan's economic future. Their goal today, as always, is to help rebuild Michigan's roads with the highest quality materials at the lowest cost to taxpayers and continue to support legislative reforms to do just that.    
 
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