October 9, 2015

In June, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) reported missing snow plow blades to the Maryland State Police (MSP) as a possible theft from SHA’s Glen Burnie Maintenance Shop in Anne Arundel County. MDOT continues to support MSP Criminal Enforcement Division’s ongoing investigation.  
 

Following the official police report, MDOT auditors launched an internal review of the Glen Burnie Shop procedures and conducted a physical count of snow plow blades. Out of an abundance of caution, MDOT auditors conducted reviews of the other 35 maintenance facilities across the state. 

MDOT already had been working with the Department of General Services since March on improving inventory controls throughout MDOT. The MDOT audit teams found long-standing issues with manual accounting and paperwork. 

Based on these reviews, SHA has made personnel changes and is upgrading maintenance facilities to modern standards with individual key card access and limiting access to specific personnel after hours. Additionally, to provide better inventory control, SHA is instituting improved, weather-resistant inventory identification tags for its equipment.

MDOT wants to assure the public that they have more than enough snow plow blades and equipment to manage winter operations through the 2015/2016 season. SHA is committed to keeping roads safe and passable during winter weather, and the internal changes will support improved management of resources.