Though plans for the county road commission’s new $43 million administration building remain on hold, the issue may come up at its Thursday board meeting and the matter may end up in court.

On March 24, road commission’s attorney Jennifer J. Henderson sent a letter to the county calling the delay an unlawful overreach. The road commission could take the issue to court, she wrote.

“The unlawful overreach must end,” Henderson wrote. “To the extent that does not occur, (the road commission) reserves its right to seek declaratory and/or injunctive relief and any other remedies available under the law.”

Construction plans were delayed on Feb. 20, after a request from Oakland County Commission Chairman Dave Woodward. At that time, Henderson said she was concerned that the road commission could be sued by contractors over the delay. She emphasized that the road commission and county commission operate independently and are funded separately.

The county commission is responsible for appointing road commissioners, but does not have budgetary authority over the agency.

“Construction started in October 2024 and Commissioner Woodward was personally invited to the groundbreaking at that time,” her letter stated. “And given RCOC’s independent status. His suggestions are just that: suggestions.”

Woodward asked road commissioners to consider alternatives to creating a new office for employees at its Beverly Hills and Waterford Township offices. The new administration building planned at 2420 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford is designed to bring its staff under the same roof in 2026, after decades in separate buildings.

The three road commissioners agreed to hold off on construction for six months but in March they amended the delay to 90 days.

Henderson’s 3-page letter challenged comments to the media by Woodward and County Executive Dave Coulter.

She took issue with Woodward’s remark that the county wasn’t fully aware of plans for the new building, especially since he’s led on a committee studying road commission operations since 2022.

Henderson wrote that county officials knew about and supported the project for at least seven years, even providing the land for the project in 2018. Her letter includes a detailed timeline of events leading up to the road commission’s approval in August for construction to start.

Woodward said his main concern is the need to reconsider spending $43 million on a new administration building when existing buildings, including one used by the road commission, on the county campus may be suitable.

Coulter recently told WWJ radio he didn’t think the road commission talked candidly or enough with the county about their building plans. He said it would be good to coordinate projects to meet countywide needs.

On Wednesday in Pontiac, Coulter emphasized that the county is not trying to take any money from the road commission for any reason.

Henderson’s letter, Woodward said, “is not an official letter from the road commission — the whole notion and characterization is off base and frankly unprofessional. If the road commission wants to communicate with Oakland County, they would do so.”

He said Henderson mischaracterized his statements and that contracts for the new building allow for a 90-day delay.

The road commission’s legal department on Wednesday sent a statement defending the March 24 letter.

“It is not at all unusual for the RCOC Legal Department to write letters to outside entities on behalf of the agency without specific Board of Road Commissioner approval. In fact, the Legal Department represents the agency, via letter, appearance, phone call, email, etc., on a daily basis without authorization of the Board of Road Commissioners,” according to the statement, adding that an attorney is obligated to act on behalf of the best interest of the entity as a whole. Wednesday’s note included the state’s professional conduct rules for attorneys.

Woodward said the $43 million set aside for the new building might be better spent on roads or unfunded pensions.

“We need to have a conversation as to how to best work together — how to save money for the taxpayers and to make sure we’re doing everything possible to ensure optimal safety for everybody.”

Woodward said Oakland County should consider the types of efficient operations that Macomb County 24-7 Communications and Technology Center has. Macomb’s state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot center provides access to traffic cameras for several county departments: roads, sheriff’s dispatch, information technology, emergency management and communications.

“We’re going to have that conversation,” he said. “We’re going to work on collaboration with the road commission and if there is a modification to the plan we might consider it. If the decision is to stay the course, we will.”

The road commission meets at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 10, in the administration building board room, 31001 Lahser Road in Beverly Hills. The agenda, online at https://www.rcocweb.org/AgendaCenter, makes no specific mention of the new administration building. For meeting details, call (248) 645-2000.