Wayne County, Mich. evasive with public records

This WXYZ-Detroit report exposed the tactics employed by officials in Wayne County, Michigan's largest county to avoid releasing public information. The story featured a 20-year Wayne County official whose own requests for routine salary information were stonewalled, as well as unions whose requests were simply ignored, causing them to file suit. Legal fees for these requests are being footed by the taxpayers. WXYZ's own efforts to enter the county's new $47 million headquarters were resisted for a month until the station's reporter and photographer showed up unannounced. Inside the building, they found an ornate "staircase to nowhere" that serves only the executive floors and was constructed at a cost of $100,000. Six elevators and two staircases were already provided access to the floor.