Residents press Oakland County chair to deny consulting relationship with Sheetz, call for investigation

Two residents publicly asked Oakland County Board Chair David T. Woodward to confirm whether he has been paid as a consultant by Sheetz and urged the board to investigate alleged ties between the chair and the company.

Raymond Langley told the board he had viewed a video by an independent reporter and asked, "Are you a paid consultant of the Sheetz Corporation?" Langley said he believed emails had been sent to the board and that at least one member responded; he said a relationship between Woodward and Royal Oak Mayor Fournier raised concerns that county influence was being used to help obtain approvals for a Sheetz location in Royal Oak. "I strongly urge you and everyone on this board to publicly admit or deny if you are being paid directly or indirectlytipped by the Sheetz corporation," Langley said.

Dave Monroe made similar allegations and asked Woodward to answer the same question publicly. Monroe told commissioners that, if true, the relationship would constitute a conflict of interest and urged immediate resignation or a board investigation. Monroe also raised environmental and long-term liability concerns tied to fuel tanks at Sheetz sites, saying taxpayers could later be left with cleanup costs.

Why it matters: The commenters said the allegations could bear on local land-use decisions and public trust. The board did not take formal action on the allegations during the meeting; public comment concluded without a response recorded in the transcript.

Speakers cited an independent reporter identified in public comment as Ed Zadarax as the source of the video they had watched. Commissioners did not record a formal investigation request or vote during the meeting.