Detroit Council Upholds Suspension of Demolition Contractor

November 19, 2025

Detroit City Council unanimously voted to maintain the temporary suspension of Gayanga Co. , a demolition contractor owned by Brian McKinney, amid serious allegations of environmental violations and financial misconduct. Testing revealed that 47 out of 51 demolition sites where the company used backfill dirt exceeded state pollution limits, with nearly 30 sites considered unsafe for human contact, allegedly due to contaminated soil from Northland Mall.

Who is affected

Brian McKinney, owner of Gayanga Co.
Detroit City Council members, particularly Mary Sheffield (Council President and Mayor-elect)
Subcontractors owed money: Francisco Javier of A&E Concrete ($285,000), Jeffrey Andrews of Valley Transport ($700,000), and others
Employees of subcontractors (many Detroit residents) facing payment difficulties
Former Gayanga employee Carla Osborne (Laborer's Local 1911), who was allegedly retaliated against and is now struggling financially
Residents living near approximately 2,400 residential demolition sites across Detroit potentially exposed to contaminated soil

What action is being taken

Detroit City Council is upholding the temporary suspension of Gayanga Co.
The city's Office of the Inspector General is investigating the contamination and financial allegations
Environmental testing is being conducted at demolition sites where Gayanga used backfill dirt
Subcontractors are attempting to recover unpaid funds through legal representation

Why it matters

This case highlights critical failures in municipal contracting oversight that have resulted in both environmental and financial harm to Detroit communities. The use of contaminated soil at nearly 50 sites poses potential health risks to residents, while the company's operation without bonding left subcontractors—and their primarily Detroit-based employees—vulnerable to financial losses exceeding $1 million with limited legal recourse. The approval of nearly $70 million in contracts to an unbonded company raises serious questions about the city's contractor vetting processes and financial protections for workers and vendors doing business with municipal contractors.

What's next

Given that Gayanga has filled roughly 2,400 residential sites across the city, Inspector General Kamau Marable stated the temporary suspension will remain in place until all sites are environmentally tested.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle