Commission Chair Dave Woodward
In case you haven’t noticed, Sheetz, the gas station chain headquartered in Altoona, Pa., is trying to open a lot of stations in Metro Detroit as it continues its expansion. And in some communities, it’s meeting resistance.
That being said, Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Woodward is catching a little heat for working as a paid private consultant for Sheetz. Some are questioning whether it’s a conflict of interest for a person in local government to be helping the chain, particularly as it meets resistance from citizens and gas stations.
Woodward, according to the Detroit News, insists it’s not a conflict, pointing out that the county commissioners have not taken up any votes relating to Sheetz. He also says zoning issues are decided by municipal planning commissions and city councils — not commissioners.
“There absolutely is no conflict of interest,” Woodward said. “A number of (county) commissioners have jobs outside the commission. I mean, the reality is, in order to make ends meet, you pretty much need to have a job outside the commission.”
Sheetz has plans to build to build 50 to 60 locations in Michigan in the next several years.
The News reports:
Charles Semchena, the former Royal Oak city attorney and a former city commissioner, said Woodward’s consultant role jades his ability to properly serve as county commissioner, highlighted by a recent approval by the Royal Oak City Commission for Sheetz to build a site in Royal Oak at 14 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway. The approval came even as residents and gas station operators opposed the development.
