[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6302404,"mediaKeyId","2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967","parentId",2480156,"title","Sterling Heights previews cultural exchange, upcycled wind-turbine public art and May 1 community-center opening","audioSeconds",219,"startMs",129000,"endMs",348000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967&start=129&end=348","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967/thumbnail_129000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302404/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Sterling-Heights-previews-cultural-exchange-upcycled-wind-turbine-public-art-and-May-1-community-center-opening","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302404-af3c2b8142b80a4532c1fe86cc670e05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200738&Signature=PR--wkeYOrC6LMmkgPCceuEPgh~r1IkAyTqXsCbnblTDMJuwqiHjCLp1VyDMXQgCNiXkND1jkOq0vcB9yVCoZ1tVBUgtXqq8ddBjcG8c5dPwlw0U3Uvdl4GMnk27Yaji9ngZq2kXRHo9YL1VVQfxLEb1H4jSvumPc-Ml9PAHVShjbZXNwIDh4aTFDe0QxFKkd9sfBqJ4ygdq54UolTRgw~~~m77gRLJS0EEybIECpdNWBT8XX8uF9g~CufuVX3SZ~CwlmLchel7Qe6kuq7t0mvOprJ1z1rR110jBOWvYZOZEaS9A4SDqP6NgjAajaoVWPnog4D-5G3Cnayv53dO8bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","SHTV1","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Sterling Heights City staff announced local cultural and public-art plans Tuesday, including the 27th annual Cultural Exchange March 7 and two upcycled wind-turbine art pieces that will be installed at the new community center and nearby garden.

The nut graf: The Cultural Exchange is a longstanding community event featuring music, dance and food from many area cultural groups; city staff also described two public-art pieces made from retired wind-turbine blades that will serve as functional seating at the new community center and the community garden/butterfly conservatory scheduled to open May 1.

Assistant City Manager Dale Duajakowski said the 27th annual Cultural Exchange will take place March 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the community center and is free; a suggested donation of $1 will help fund future events. He listed cultures to be represented, including African American, Albanian, Bulgarian, Chaldean, Filipino, German, Hispanic, Indian, Iraqi, Irish, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Scottish, Slovakian and Turkish groups.

Duajakowski also described two commissioned public-art works made from retired wind-turbine blades: a covered swing measuring approximately 96 inches wide by 36 inches deep and about 80–86 inches tall, and a bench roughly 44 inches wide by 66 inches deep. The pieces will be delivered primed and ready for painting; city materials say artists will complete painting by April 28, and the works will be promoted through city channels. Duajakowski said the community garden and Butterfly Conservatory in James C. Nelson Park are set to open May 1.

Ending: City staff directed residents to the Sterling Heights public-art page at sterlingheights.gov/publicart for more details and said the Cultural Exchange will feature food, music and cultural displays with overflow parking available across the street at the library/police parking lot.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2-18-25 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff announced the 27th annual Cultural Exchange scheduled for March 7 and described two upcycled wind-turbine art installations that will be placed at the new community center, which opens May 1 along with a community garden and butterfly conservatory.","taxTitle","Sterling Heights, Macomb County, Michigan","taxId",5477,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302409,"Sterling Heights swears in five new police officers; council and chief praise recruits",362,406000,768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967&start=406&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6302409/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Sterling-Heights-swears-in-five-new-police-officers-council-and-chief-praise-recruits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302409-2ecd144b4326aca70d96f9c1c209d0c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200738&Signature=WWFsKfesnBTj2bUPQJAYjzGdrIrdJ73dlhNFoyvTm50S8Pq~ZzPK0YMU9ppZh3HLWK~tKGota0V80pH4z3asIKvz4icMSbV-Ct4l9WA8~-zxsjY0LL9m7vTgZ5lnrCWmAcqpK51~ic8PkOCVhHoCPHMQsIthmPHjAmj-bCQizcGQ5Nkf4R2oqlfniKK3aPCzD23JOoOhgExagMeg6n7CLJApcAH2tznJAT0MPE2DcNTfgSd2iYxmFN8mqOxSOnOBAKxdgsoZpnOJD~5U5XKw37MflHLzWfX2lnhuFlVg~2I2FrpR3AKC7TSLaTwf6uEMlnNSCDWUQPO0etMihOwXWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Five new Sterling Heights police officers were sworn in during a presentation at Tuesday's City Council meeting, and city officials urged them to help recruit additional candidates to fill open positions.

The nut graf: The ceremony introduced the officers, summarized their backgrounds, and included remarks from Interim Chief Ken Pappas and council members emphasizing training, community ties and departmental standards.

Interim Chief of Police Ken Pappas introduced the new hires: Liz Domingue, James Morgan, Barry Andre, Louie Shahlavi and Dustin Nelson. Pappas outlined each officer's background: Domingue grew up in Sterling Heights, attended the Macomb County Police Academy and worked for Macomb County Dispatch and Utica Police Department; Morgan has a master's degree from Bowling Green State University and prior service including Port Huron and Bloomfield Hills and experience at the Oakland County Sheriff's Office; Andre has a bachelor's degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and previous service in Utica; Shahlavi attended Washtenaw County Police Academy and worked in Dearborn Heights and at the University of Michigan Police; Nelson comes from Redford Police Department and lives in Sterling Heights.

Officer Liz Domingue said she was \"very thankful for being here\" and noted her father served 30 years with the department. Interim Chief Pappas thanked council for support of training, equipment and contracts that help attract candidates from other departments.

Several councilmembers welcomed the new officers and asked them to help recruit additional candidates. Councilmember Yerko (recorded as Missus Yerko) said the hires helped the city keep promises to residents made under the city's public-safety millage. Councilmember Radke and others praised the department's standards and urged officers to reach out to council if they need assistance.

Ending: After brief congratulations and comments from council, the council recessed briefly to allow families to take pictures before resuming the meeting.

","Five new officers were sworn in during Tuesday's council meeting. Interim Chief Ken Pappas and councilmembers welcomed officers and noted local recruitment and training resources.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302412,"Council approves traffic control order banning on-street parking at Edison Court cul-de-sac; resident warns of lost spaces",620,1540000,2160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967&start=1540&end=2160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967/thumbnail_1540000.jpg","/articles/6302412/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Council-approves-traffic-control-order-banning-on-street-parking-at-Edison-Court-cul-de-sac-resident-warns-of-lost-spaces","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302412-27bc916dd9efcb968de6b70826d6abe3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200738&Signature=DvNtZgUfZ9fI-joDFhPvb4g6~aIK7aW-1sRlJlmNoEPysYFgDnWS5V75SfGOptt8ybgJPvK2t8MZzpFXIC6Bm0l9qbMsF3SQXGUCPexpgxVoDk0GKgl-L46m434m~kDPEfr3qSGewF8lThu1FN~heY25vBzrxhkIv5gnjVNbL~6y3feqFyz7iK7baX7ym2k9ok5j9vrCktq9UPrn0KeSVhWH5qISSuzeg~jJux2O16RN-p3C92sTcWRrnvvjpVAgGWbB8SgMveoVgDdhh9~Gby4ZeezChHq7Tfh6nqKosxV48ruaScuUwAkADGT9thZFPLqx~UPoH2VUsaasvMGcVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sterling Heights City Council approved, on the consent agenda, a traffic control order that prohibits on-street parking at any time on the west side of Edison Court and around the cul-de-sac.

The nut graf: The measure—Traffic Control Order 6-808—was bundled into the consent agenda and approved without discussion as a routine safety and access action; a resident asked the council to monitor parking demand and consider additional parking if the new restriction fills nearby lots.

During the public comment period, resident Yvonne Niaz raised concerns about the restriction. She told the council that before the street was redesigned residents often parked on both sides of the road and on the cul-de-sac, and she urged the city to provide \"way more parking.\" \"If you're not going to have a parking lot, you've got to allow parking on both sides,\" Niaz said.

Assistant City Manager Dale Duajakowski and staff explained the order was written with public safety in mind. Duajakowski said the prior condition of the road had allowed haphazard parking that impeded emergency access; the fire department uses Edison Court as a primary access point for some emergency runs and the redesigned road includes designated parallel parking on the east side but must keep the cul-de-sac clear for emergency vehicles.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to monitor parking at the redeveloped street during the coming season and evaluate supplemental parking options if demand remains high; no immediate change to the traffic control order was made at the meeting.

","A traffic control order prohibiting on-street parking at Edison Court and its cul-de-sac was approved on the consent agenda. A nearby resident told council the change will reduce summer parking capacity and urged consideration of supplemental parking.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302416,"Sterling Heights says snow emergency enabled rapid clearing; council debates ticketing and outreach",2195,277000,2472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967&start=277&end=2472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2480156-de4c02055aa068626825a032db5c1967/thumbnail_277000.jpg","/articles/6302416/Sterling-Heights/Macomb-County/Michigan/Sterling-Heights-says-snow-emergency-enabled-rapid-clearing-council-debates-ticketing-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302416-43ebefd3636bde148098c08533384595/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200738&Signature=VT1w8RiDk04qF6m~Rz0HV~b-6D2c7rUIMNFSBjbcNm~bVbocWX5zPOZLe-AmJOdUJ0OukUbyYOGE~VHK09e4jOocnLkPQNueBdkME73M1L-7FqinmcvWUZybtCWQ-U2BrVBGhrON-wPCBYt8YXopx-bHJHyhlHeFPpKBFCsPHsx9jgpheY2~k8uiMPuIwI5n1ZWPjg2a4TYZb26za5~7y3GBEWXC3ztujABIOr1TM3lLtoTe5j~o5VPzhVjsZpxJ0hGbo5CUH1yINZ9msdTkJh8MSMKS9JIPCMIBElTVz9XdgBD13y9Zg5e~8B-rxxrhqfjFYGuCUYDUTA3GejbmHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sterling Heights officials said a declared snow emergency allowed crews to clear major and local streets after several rounds of heavy snow, but councilmembers and residents pressed the city Tuesday over outreach and enforcement after hundreds of citations.

Assistant City Manager Dale Duajakowski told the council the city declared a snow emergency on Feb. 10 and dispatched 36 plow vehicles and 60 Department of Public Works employees working 16 shifts to clear more than 60 miles of major roadways and about 289 miles of local streets. \"Over 60 miles of major roadways and an additional 289 miles of local streets need to be plowed and or salted during significant snow and ice storms,\" Duajakowski said. He added that 740 citations were issued and about 550 vehicles were removed from roadways, usually after staff sought voluntary compliance at doorsteps.

The nut graf: The storm response shows the scale of the city's snow operations, but councilmembers asked whether the city could reduce citation numbers with better outreach or change enforcement to deter repeat violations.

Councilmember Yanez pressed staff for more detail about the 550 vehicles that were removed. \"No. Those are not—we try to get voluntary compliance,\" Duajakowski replied, saying officers and code enforcement typically ask residents at their doors to move cars rather than immediately tow. Yanez said he wants a follow-up survey of people who received tickets to learn whether they knew about the emergency and city notifications or simply ignored them.

During public comment, resident Yvonne Niaz said the city should avoid using the word \"emergency\" for recurring snow events and asked staff to rethink plow scheduling when snowfall is light between rounds. Niaz said her street was plowed in the early pre-dawn after only about 2½ inches, and she suggested crews could rest between light rounds rather than repeatedly plowing the same neighborhoods.

Councilmember Reicke (spelled in the record as Reicke) defended enforcement levels and asked staff to consider raising the snow-emergency fine. He said the current $25 fine may lead some residents to treat the citation as a low-cost choice. \"If you lived in Michigan for more than a year, you know this is likely to happen,\" Reicke said, adding that 740 tickets represented a little over 1% of the city's vehicles and that enforcement is necessary so plows can safely clear streets.

Assistant City Manager Duajakowski said staff will continue to use email and text notifications and monitor enforcement data. He confirmed the city maintains a database of prior offenders used by officers and code enforcement when writing tickets; that record-keeping began recently and Duajakowski said the city may extend the retention period to capture repeat violators.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff for follow-up data and outreach plans. Duajakowski did not set a deadline on further reporting during the meeting; council direction was limited to requests for more information about notification reach, repeat offenders and an assessment of enforcement policy and fines.

","City officials credited crews for rapidly clearing major and local streets after a multi-day storm, while councilmembers and residents pressed for clearer messaging and stiffer penalties after 740 citations and about 550 voluntary removals during the declared snow emergency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sterling Heights previews cultural exchange, upcycled wind-turbine public art and May 1 community-center opening

Sterling Heights swears in five new police officers; council and chief praise recruits

Council approves traffic control order banning on-street parking at Edison Court cul-de-sac; resident warns of lost spaces

Sterling Heights says snow emergency enabled rapid clearing; council debates ticketing and outreach