[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6259758,"mediaKeyId","3137488-a875a27018209be7ddce2d50ecec4335","parentId",3137488,"title","Crestwood superintendent asks Dearborn Heights council to consent to sublease of Warren Valley parking corner for Riverside Middle School pickup","audioSeconds",7022,"startMs",99000,"endMs",7121000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137488-a875a27018209be7ddce2d50ecec4335&start=99&end=7121","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137488-a875a27018209be7ddce2d50ecec4335/thumbnail_99000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259758/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Crestwood-superintendent-asks-Dearborn-Heights-council-to-consent-to-sublease-of-Warren-Valley-parking-corner-for-Riverside-Middle-School-pickup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259758-179b2c745a8dba98bcd6b0f9b0fd71ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170293&Signature=cBcfJgzVtrLXmaCNT61NEVDVqiPxb9I2CUeSUNtF7wbl5h8X2mhft0b8iPuSCWnfBCrfGjU7XjfI1XgQ-WaPKLxeWRzFMqZhWZ56tubLhZH66ty4XANxxUOSh~dJnUNvmmfq-Ntyl46D5bCc~yGF7o1WcJ4VDyDwbHCUnxxQLzL7cZCSTy-RAm2Gn9NjYamrCR0h8LwPnGakvQ8HBNjkELPjV8aHOsGhzLB-OYyq~x5dPZValcluWDJjyBQxF-o8lxcz5xCISska82iS8tu0CCyzyVTvyn1E9j187sBLTXng0l87bRGr2difRZxXFCI25mWxESWM3Ln8KIvWzY2UPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Dearborn Heights, MI","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Crestwood School District Superintendent Dr. Yousef Musalem asked the Dearborn Heights City Council on April 22 for consent to a sublease of the northeast corner of the Warren Valley Golf Course parking lot so the district can regrade and repave the area and use it for student pick‑up and drop‑off at Riverside Middle School.

The district is seeking council consent to let Issa Brothers LLC sublease that corner to the Crestwood School District, Musalem told the council. If the city consents, the school board must approve the contract, and Issa Brothers must agree; the superintendent said the district plans to fund the work through its bond program and expects to go to bid through the Michigan bid system. Musalem said the district would aim to start work June 16 and finish before the school year begins, listing an August 31 target but adding the goal was to finish two weeks earlier.

Why it matters: Riverside Middle School enrolls about 1,300 students and sits at a congested intersection on Warren Avenue. Musalem told the council the project would remove roughly 75 to 100 cars from Warren Avenue during arrival and dismissal, reduce crossings at the traffic signal and route exiting traffic westbound to smooth flow. He described the work as a student‑safety measure and said the district expects to pay for the improvements and then maintain the lot.

Musalem detailed the plan and process during a presentation that included construction managers from Axiom Construction and representatives of Issa Brothers LLC, the golf course operator. He said French & Associates prepared the design, Axiom is the construction manager and Troon Law Firm will assist with contract and bid opening. \"Every job we do goes through the bid process,\" he said, adding the district uses sealed public bids.

The sublease terms Musalem described include a 50‑year lease in the draft contract and a clause he said would require the city to honor the district’s remaining lease term if Issa Brothers no longer held its lease with the city. Musalem told the council the district would pay for construction and maintenance: \"We will maintain it. We will plow it. We will clean it up. It will be our responsibility,\" he said.

Musalem said Section 5 of the draft sublease sets the lease payment at $1, and he told the council the district expects the work will cost \"over a half a million dollars.\" He also said the board of education will review the contract at its May 8 meeting and the district will not proceed unless the city, board and Issa Brothers each approve.

Jason Prassello, speaking as a golf course representative, told the council the course supports the plan and acknowledged questions about whether the course lease allows a sublease. He said the course is \"really supportive of this as well. We understand the need, and we see, you know, just how dangerous it is out on the streets and the traffic congestion it causes for all of us.\" Later in the discussion Prassello warned the council that the course lease as written with the county and city may exclude the parking lot from the premises and that final authority over the parking lot rights could rest with the city rather than the golf course operator.

Councilmembers and residents raised questions about lease length, liability and traffic outcomes. Councilman Robert Constant suggested a shorter initial term with renewals: \"50 years is a long time. I mean, who knows? ... I would only think a 10‑year period renewable,\" he said. Council members also asked whether the traffic study had been shared with the city police department and whether maintenance and snow removal would be the district’s responsibility; Musalem said the district would handle maintenance and that he believed the traffic study supports the proposed configuration.

Residents and former board members described a long informal history of school use of the golf course parking lot, and several urged the council to prioritize safety. Trustee Sue Kaminski told the council the school’s use dated to a county‑era handshake agreement around 2002 and characterized the current request as formalizing an existing practice.

Council action and next steps: Council moved to take the proposal to a study session for deeper review; the motion to refer to a study session passed. Council members said the administration and council attorneys should examine whether the city has authority over the parking lot under the golf‑course lease and called for a legal review of the sublease language. Musalem said the district’s board will vote May 8 and the district would not start construction without both board approval and Issa Brothers’ final agreement.

Concise details and clarifications drawn from the presentation and public comment: the district said it expects to remove about 75–100 cars from Warren Avenue; the draft sublease the superintendent described includes a 50‑year term and a $1 nominal rent clause in Section 5; the district estimates the construction cost at more than $500,000 and intends to pay for and maintain the lot; bids will be posted via the Michigan bid system and opened under legal oversight; the Crestwood board will consider the contract May 8; Musalem said the district’s goal is to start work the week after school ends (June 16) and to finish before the new school year.

The council did not approve the sublease at the April 22 meeting; it referred the item to a study session so attorneys, traffic engineers and staff can examine legal authority, lease language and traffic impacts before taking further formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/22/25 - Dearborn Heights City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Crestwood School District Superintendent Dr. Yousef Musalem asked the Dearborn Heights City Council on April 22 for consent to a sublease of the northeast corner of the Warren Valley Golf Course parking lot so the district can reconfigure and repave the area for Riverside Middle School student pickup and dismissal.","taxTitle","Dearborn Heights, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4162,"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},6259753,"Dearborn Heights council approves equipment purchases, refers several budget items for review and rejects bank‑signer change",8452,353000,8805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137488-a875a27018209be7ddce2d50ecec4335&start=353&end=8805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137488-a875a27018209be7ddce2d50ecec4335/thumbnail_353000.jpg","/articles/6259753/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Dearborn-Heights-council-approves-equipment-purchases-refers-several-budget-items-for-review-and-rejects-banksigner-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259753-43b321ffde82270cc310187207631485/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170293&Signature=gBhMAqZRrNfS33pIMOX9p4WFvXp4EBZi1VDp8tqX0wP2jq34tnCDoM8gSdCUxo6s0hD7GrJhU2JsJ8IaJlF-YkpB0i40U7hNjpp-D~dhn7WuH0qycZkTccUxaBlMnyubkL4oMP7IWdh3YXdPZBqe6dNmHb4ZUvW8bHF4a0QWTRrJJoBtoL2jtVruOJW9IrIefwK9SNwNhd3W1NSHUVjKAc-Vfqlfvc2PTOjW~LLeSShlA7nO4yKa4LgMN6Dwgm3~gT102eJuSiu6wgKimJIeB4V9mPCP3UzGpz9HW0Td3pzvJvIXwo~3arwAwhSzG-etObMwr341-ApU4rq1oIDAmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dearborn Heights City Council on April 22 handled a series of routine and contested items: it approved purchase of new in‑vehicle and dispatch computers and printers for the police department, accepted a federal Justice Assistance Grant, approved several routine motions including claims and parade permission, and referred multiple budget amendments back to administration for further review. The council rejected a motion to update bank signers after a roll‑call vote.

Why it matters: Several of the items touch the city’s finances and operations — notably police equipment purchases funded from federal forfeiture accounts, budget amendments the administration said were needed to cover rising costs, and a defeated proposal to add the mayor and interim comptroller as bank signers. Council members repeatedly asked administration to find alternatives that would not tap the city’s fund balance.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval — Motion to approve the amended agenda for April 22: passed (voice vote).

- Minutes approvals — Special meeting and regular meeting minutes for April 8: both approved (voice votes).

- Current claims and ACH wire transfers (6‑1 through 6‑308) — Motion to approve: passed (voice vote).

- Annapolis High School Homecoming Parade (permission for Sept. 26, 2025) — Motion to grant permission with police and fire approval: passed (voice vote).

- Update bank signers (treasurer proposed adding Mayor, interim comptroller, clerk and treasurer as authorized signers) — Motion to authorize updated bank signers: defeated (roll call; council recorded unanimous \"no\" votes; motion defeated). Council recorded \"No\" from Hassan Ahmad, Nancy Bridal, Denise Malinowski Maxwell, Hassan Saab, Robert Constant and Moby Doon.

- Treasurer request to open a new bank account for Scouts of America Explorer program — Motion to authorize opening the account: passed (voice vote).

- Debt management policy (Treasurer submission) — Motion to receive the policy: passed (voice vote).

- Fire department budget amendment (9d) — Motion to approve intra‑departmental transfers with no net effect on fund balance: passed (voice vote). Deputy Fire Chief Baskin Badlow explained the amendments move funding within the department.

- Fire department budget amendment (9f) — Motion to approve additional amendments (separate item): defeated (recorded vote; motion failed on roll call).

- Purchase of police vehicles and dispatch equipment (laptops, docks, rugged printers, scanners and tower) funded from federal forfeiture funds (GL account 265330831265) — Motion to approve purchase and authorize warrants: passed (voice vote). The backup shows available forfeiture funds; the purchase was described as required to remain CJIS compliant.

- IT telecommunications budget amendment (9h) to cover increased telecom costs — Motion to approve: passed (voice vote).

- Acceptance of the 2024 Justice Assistance Grant ($18,038) for police — Motion to accept and authorize the mayor to sign the grant agreement: passed (voice vote).

- Parks & Recreation budget amendment (9j) — Council referred the item back to administration for follow‑up, with a request to return with a smaller funding request or clarifying detail.

- Police department budget amendments (9k) — Referred back to administration for corrected account balances and detail.

- Police overtime budget amendment (9l) — Referred back to administration; council asked staff to identify non‑fund balance funding sources.

- Business license renewals — Erwin’s Auto Sales (23706 Van Born) and American Legion Post 232 (23850 Military) were both renewed after ordinance staff reported recent compliance work at the sites.

Council discussion and fiscal context

Council members repeatedly pushed administration to find funding sources other than the general fund’s reserve. Several members said they were reluctant to approve amendments that would draw down the city’s fund balance while revenue uncertainty and accounting cleanups continue. Councilman Robert Constant urged caution on long budget commitments and recommended shorter terms where feasible; other members asked for precise ledger balances before approving transfers.

The treasurer and controller were asked to provide clearer bank account balances and to track reimbursements and grant timing; several amendments were referred back so the administration could supply those figures. Councilwoman Nancy Bridal led multiple motions to refer items back to administration so staff could locate alternate line items and avoid tapping the fund balance.

Quotes

Councilman Robert Constant, during discussion of the Crestwood sublease term: \"50 years is a long time. I mean, who knows? ... I would only think a 10‑year period renewable.\" (first reference: Councilman Robert Constant).

Police Chief (Adar/Haydar) and IT Director Cooper presented the equipment request and answered technical questions about CJIS compliance and tested configurations; council approved the purchase after staff confirmed specifications and available forfeiture funds.

Next steps

Several items were referred back to administration for corrected ledger balances or alternate funding sources; the council asked for those items to return at the next meeting or a special study session. The city attorney’s office was asked to review legal questions where contracts and bank authority were in dispute. The police equipment purchase will proceed under the federal forfeiture fund authorization and the mayor or authorized signers and the treasurer will complete required warrants.","At its April 22 meeting the Dearborn Heights City Council approved a police equipment purchase, accepted a federal grant and referred multiple budget amendments to administration or study sessions; a proposal to add signers to city bank accounts failed on a roll call vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Crestwood superintendent asks Dearborn Heights council to consent to sublease of Warren Valley parking corner for Riverside Middle School pickup

Dearborn Heights council approves equipment purchases, refers several budget items for review and rejects bank‑signer change