Governor's residence to get new driveway, 2 EV chargers, in nearly $1M no-bid contract

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Lansing residence is getting a new driveway that could cost close to $1 million, complete with two electric vehicle chargers as the governor attempts to "lead by example," state records show.

In what appears to be a break from precedent, state taxpayers are picking up the entire cost of the no-bid project at the state-owned official residence in Lansing's Moores River Drive area.

Typically, a foundation raises money to pay for renovations and improvements at both the Lansing residence and the governor's official summer residence on Mackinac Island, though the cost of routine maintenance and security improvements have been borne by the state.

But the driveway replacement, which could cost up to $956,000, will be 100% paid for by the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget, according to a contract approved Tuesday by the State Administrative Board. A cement mixer was already pouring concrete Friday.

If that sounds like a lot for a residential driveway, it is.

"This project is more commercial in nature than you or I or anyone else would undertake for a typical driveway installed at our homes," said Laura Wotruba, a spokeswoman for the DTMB.

"For example, the concrete used needs to be twice as thick as what would typically be used for a residential project to hold up to heavy-duty truck traffic from garbage trucks accessing Dumpsters on the property, as well as delivery trucks, catering trucks, and other traffic associated with official state events held at the residence."

The project wasn't put out to bid as a construction contract, in which several companies bid and the lowest responsive bidder gets the work for a fixed price. Instead, the state awarded the job as a "design/construction consulting services contract," selected a "pre-qualified" contractor from a state list to perform the work, and gave the firm a "not to exceed" price to work within.

The contract was awarded to Laux Construction LLC of Mason based partly on its experience, availability, proximity to Lansing, and its ability to meet security requirements, Wotruba said. Another firm, RAS Contracting of Mason, which is eligible for state contracting preferences because it is veteran-owned, has been hired as a subcontractor to provide general trade and on-site supervision for the work, Wotruba said.

Wotruba said the project's cost allocation includes: $822,327 for construction services, which includes $45,000 for EV infrastructure; $117,508 for general conditions and fees, and $16,450 for architectural and survey services.

Whitmer has made the state's transition to electric vehicles, and ensuring that Michigan is a leader in the manufacture of EVs and batteries, major priorities. According to contract documents, the charging stations are included in the project "in an effort to lead by example."

A nonprofit, the Michigan Governor's Residence Foundation, has a stated purpose of easing the impact on taxpayers by raising donations “to restore, repair and refurbish the state-owned Lansing and Mackinac Island official residences of the governor," according to documents filed with the IRS. The foundation last raised funds to pay for painting and furniture so Whitmer and her family could move into the home in 2019, but the board has not met in more than two years and possibly since before the pandemic, said Brian Huggler, who is listed as the foundation president on IRS records filed in 2021.

The foundation has existed since 2011 but had a different name under former Gov. Rick Snyder, records show. There were similar foundations in place under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and former Gov. John Engler.

Huggler said he does not know why the board became inactive and referred questions to the governor's office. Stacey LaRouche, a spokeswoman for Whitmer, did not respond to questions about when the board of the foundation last met and why it has been inactive for an extended period.

Wotruba said state funds are used for maintenance projects at the governor's official residence, including electrical, mechanical and roofing work, just as with all state-owned buildings. She said the building is not just a residence, but a workplace for state employees, so it is appropriate for DTMB to pay for the work.

The driveway is about 14,000 square feet in size and needs to be 8 inches thick, she said. The state expects a 6-inch gravel base beneath the cement will also need to be replaced, she said.

"It is being done because the existing driveway, which we think was last redone around 2003, was deteriorating, causing tripping hazards and requiring ongoing maintenance beyond its 20-year life expectancy," Wotruba said.

But it appears the installation of the driveway was part of a major refit and expansion of the residence in 2003 and 2004, to make room for the family of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, which was nearly all paid for through donations. A foundation raised $2.5 million for the effort, plus about $900,000 in "in-kind" donations, including donated concrete, The Associated Press reported at the time.

The only items the state paid for were $72,000 for a new security system and other security-related costs and about $40,000 to make the home accessible to people with disabilities, AP reported.

Earlier, in the mid- to late-1990s, a foundation collected just over $1 million in cash and goods for major renovations at the governor's summer residence on Mackinac Island, while the state kicked in about $700,000, according to news reports at the time.

Wotruba said she can't speak to work the foundation has sponsored. Asked to cite another example of the state picking up the entire cost of a significant project at one of the governor's residences, she said most of the work DTMB does is routine in nature, such as grounds and building maintenance and security upgrades.

"We worked on a project to install new security gates and fencing at the property following an incident in which a family member’s vehicle was broken into while parked at the residence," she said. "The roof on the Lansing residence needs to be replaced, so that’s on our radar as a future project."

Although the state did not call for bids on the driveway project, Wotruba said the awarding of the contract is still competitive in that Laux went through a process to show they are qualified to perform the work and "costs are evaluated to make sure they fall within reasonable expectations." She said the process used provides the state a simple and streamlined way to handle routine projects, based on the contractor's qualifications.

DTMB officials scope out the projected cost of the project and then work with the selected contractor to refine the details, she said. The department reviews all quotes and audits the project through completion, she said.

One of the EV chargers is for use by the governor or other residents and the other for use by visitors, Wotruba said.

Whitmer, who travels with the Michigan State Police, does not currently travel regularly in an EV.

"This project is not about the current governor but rather, future administrations, and the market is shifting toward electric vehicles," said LaRouche.

"The state fleet already has electric vehicles. Additionally, many individuals who have business at the residence also use electric vehicles."

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Governor to get new driveway, 2 EV chargers, in nearly $1M no-bid job