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Detroit Council Members Raise Concerns About Health Department Funds

DETROIT (WWJ) - There could be more controversy involving Detroit's finances.

Some Detroit City Council members are calling for a federal investigation following the transfer of Detroit health department money into the bank account of a nonprofit organization.

WWJ's City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas has obtained financial statements showing $38,000 in cash receipts from the city's health department was diverted to a Fifth Third Bank account for the Institute of Population Health (IPH).  The IPH is a nonprofit organization that at some point will take over health operations in the city.

WWJ has also obtained an email in which Detroit Chief Operating Officer Chris Brown apparently gives Director of the Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Loretta Davis approval for the deposit.

Detroit City Councilwoman Brenda Jones said she wanted both of Brown and Davis to appear before council.

"I did inform them on Monday that if they were not at the table that I was going to proceed and transfer my information I had to the federal agents," said Jones.  "It was truly a surprise to me when I seen the email that came and actually the institute has not even been approved by council."

Councilwoman Brenda Jones said $38,000 in cash was deposited, but not checks made out to the city of Detroit.

"Many people had informed them from finance that they should not be depositing that cash into an IPH account but they did it anyway," said Jones.  "… There's a serious concern and in my mind something illegal was done."

This latest development comes as the future of Detroit neighborhood health clinics remains unclear amid the city's continuing budget crisis.

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