Gov. Markell Must Audit DelDOT, Other Departments

With the new developments that DelDOT is facing $1B in budget shortfalls, now is the time for Governor Jack Markell to face reality and audit DelDOT and every other department. A comprehensive up-down and sideways audit of each agencies financing and operations measures will revenue just how effective they really are. 

There is no excuse to not audit these agencies.  Now with increased news of fiscal recklessness at DelDOT, what is happening at other agencies?  Markell owes answers to Delaware taxpayers who trusted him to do the right the right thing.

Now is the time to act, and he cannot wait any longer.  Ask Markell to conduct and independent review of DelDOT and other agencies today.

State Rep to DelDOT: Basketball Hoops Grandfathered

Apparently the controversy over basketball hoops has been going for a while before the State wasted taxpayer funds on removing the poles last Friday.  State Rep. Bryon Short (D-7), responded via letter to former DelDOT Secretary stating the basketball hoops were intended to be grandfathered since they were installed prior to the passage of HB234 back in the 139th General Assembly.

Short also states that the kids, not the poles, are the reason for the traffic flow issues.  And that this issue is not the purview of the DelDOT

Let's hope there is an investigation into this issue and the lying of the State Trooper to the homeowner on the stealing of the homeowner's private property.  Not to to mention the threats of arrest because they were questioning this.

Is this still America?

Here is a copy of Rep. Bryon Short's letter to Wicks:

DelDOT's Abuse of Power

Beleagured DelDOT Secretary Wicks Resigns

DelDOT Secretary Carolann Wicks who as head of the state transportation agency amid highly questionable land deals and agency mismanagement has resigned.  According to her statement, she wants to retire and spend more time with her family.

Wicks departs on March 18th amid scrutiny over multiple land deals in Sussex County over payment to not build on the land to two separate developers.  Blue Hen Conservative reported on this earlier.

Wicks also has received extensive scrutiny over fiscal mismanagement of  the 2,600 person agency with a budget near $1 Billion, yet the department had a shortfall for much need road projects. 

Governor Jack Markell stated that search most likely outside of Delaware will occur to replace Wicks.

Delaware GOP House Leaders ask Markell to "Fundamentally Reassess" DelDOT

Delaware House Minority Leader Greg Lavelle (R) and House Minority Whip Gerald Hocker (R) have submitted a letter to Governor Jack Markell asking him to "fundamentally reassess" DelDOT. 

The Delaware Department of Transportation has been in the cross hairs due to questionable land deals and poor fiscal management.

Delaware Liberals Cause Budget Shortfalls at DelDOT and NCCo Government

Tax and spend liberals have lived up to that moniker through Delaware.  Today, reports about budget shortfalls at DelDOT and the New Castle County were made public. 

Blue Hen Conservative broke the story on the fiscal wrecklessness of New Castle County back in October 2010, during the heated U.S. Senate campaign.  While mainstream media (News Journal) ignored this blog post and warnings of Republican U.S. candidate Christine O'Donnell, New Castle County taxpayers may have to pick up the slack. 

DelDOT fiscal mess is the fault of its leadership, and the failure to bring about cost reform to the agency.  Delaware drivers will most likely pay the price at the pump and through higher tolls to close this budget gap.

When will Delaware voters realize that elections matter?  It does not have to be this way.

DELDOT's Route 113 Bypass Land Deals Require Investigation

The Delaware Department of Transportation's decision to pay two land developers $60,000 per month not to build should be cause of concern for the Delaware taxpayer.  It does not take a rocket scientist to know that the U.S. and Delaware are still reeling from a protracted recession, of which includes the housing market.  DELDOT's decision to reward two land developers in this market are akin to bailouts doled out by the U.S. Department of Treasury to large firms suchs as General Motors, Chrysler and all of the national money-center banks.

The premise of rewarding the two land developers was brought to Delawareans' attention today.  But a News Journal article alone will not address the premise of the why the two developers are being rewarded.  And that is why Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden and State Auditor Tom Wagner must investigate.

• Why were the two developers the only ones rewarded, of the 416 affected by the new bypass plans? 
• Is the planned bypass through Dagsboro the best alternative to problems on Route 113?
• What authority does DELDOT have to reward $60,000/month to two developers for something not to be built? (This is different that compensating homeowners affected by a road project on fair market value due to loss of property).

The State Auditor must also investigate DELDOT Secretary Carolyn Wicks' premise that the deals were responsible to the Delaware taxpayer.  Her own comment ""We are responsible with taxpayers' money," is simply not true.  Rewarding two developers to the tune of $60,000 each per month is not good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. 

Further investigation needs to be done to investigate Rte 113 alternatives as they fail to address the East-West congestion.  The congestion on Rte 113 is North-South, but the East-West congestion is due to traffic coming from Rte 113 where there are shopping opportunities east to the shore points.  The Bypass alternatives will not alleviate that traffic congestion as Rtes 24, 26, etc may be landlocked and may not be condusive to expansion.