Orient Township officials press Oakland County for sheriff contract true‑up documents after FOIA denial

Representatives from Orient Township used public comment to press Oakland County for documentation tied to the sheriff’s office contract true‑up and to raise a FOIA dispute.

Chris Barnett, Orient Township supervisor, said his township and five others have repeatedly requested the county’s underlying cost information and that a formal FOIA submitted to the county executive was denied on April 30. Barnett said the township’s analysis shows about a $2,000,000 discrepancy between what the county reported and what the township received in earlier records; he asked the board to review a highlighted packet he left for commissioners and requested a meeting with county fiscal staff.

County staff present — including fiscal and administration representatives — told Barnett that a county official (Brian Leffler) had offered to meet with township supervisors and staff. Ashley Coyle, Orient Township’s budget director, later told the board she and Barnett want a seat at the table to reconcile line‑item calculations. Coyle said she will email follow‑up documents and requested a rescheduled meeting after an earlier April 7 appointment was canceled.

The board did not take action during public comment but commissioners and staff acknowledged the dispute and encouraged the townships to meet with fiscal staff to review the records; Barnett said some townships have already met with fiscal while others have not. He said the issue has moved to circuit court as a result of unresolved information requests.

What’s next: Township officials will request a meeting with county fiscal staff and re-submit supporting documents; county staff said they will meet to review the FOIA records and the true‑up calculations.