[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6182268,"mediaKeyId","5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009","parentId",5107170,"title","Council approves budget amendments; debate continues over prior-year bills and director contracts","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",8116000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009&start=8116&end=8116","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009/thumbnail_8116000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182268/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-approves-budget-amendments-debate-continues-over-prior-year-bills-and-director-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182268-7a41b0214d53e79c2e83f86f70b913c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626176&Signature=Z2aYy-CyQ3y4Xi0jdGt-Q5fkfCy5ji0Zh1EdWskbMBd9qTNelFsirjheIqfK4ZQbi4K~VeFRdWcQE~FdjNekR6GINAxAi783YLLoBctWxPHdZ94iYv4nE7yX-XqcFPbqfQuZ~mY31mt-KRNtpV8VerNgjiE6wW19u7x0KVmtnTXuA09QLXKwIP~XsMqq6pSSSBeVw3JaRVy~oFcBApfhetHIe8P3i2xjcXNPkofF~~Mn9SSaj4ufRxxerUoIyyH7p0V95mV5983BRPM8iVdu-x8cafe2yxkM344HFvP3bPskZYcTC8W7y8le9i4edMy4YODwCnaMtuqoRHFR-XE6Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Dearborn Heights, MI","date","2025-06-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Dearborn Heights City Council approved multiple budget amendments Tuesday, moving funds within departmental general-ledger lines to cover accrued expenses including legal fees and a small tuition reimbursement, and voted to require clearer prior documentation before similar actions.

Council discussion covered several recurrent themes: whether some director-level contracts and special-counsel invoices were presented to the council in a timely fashion; whether the mayor’s approval was required for certain legal bills; and whether the city followed earlier practice for tuition and fringe‑benefit approvals. Public commenters and several council members criticized perceived last‑minute submissions and urged clearer pre-authorization and better budget transparency.

Specific outcomes from the meeting included:
- Approval of multiple budget amendments (agenda item 9g and 9m), including a reallocation that increased available legal-fee funds and a separate small transfer to cover a police tuition reimbursement. Councilman Saab moved an amendment to add a $1,500 tuition transfer for the police tuition line item; the council approved the transfer by voice vote after staff agreed to provide detailed GL account balances via email.
- A motion to adjust council and corporation legal-fee accounts was approved at the dais. Council members debated public‑record obligations and whether some special‑counsel bills had been held for litigation privilege earlier in the year. Special-counsel invoice questions (including bills by Gary Miyake, who had spoken at the meeting) drew extended comment from members and members of the public.

Council and staff direction: several council members asked that future director-level tuition or fringe‑benefit payouts be budgeted and presented to council in advance; they asked the comptroller and treasurer to provide GL balances and to supply backup documentation when invoices exceed account balances. Treasurer Lisa Hicks Clayton said she will return with detailed ledgers and warned that the treasury had rejected some checks when GLs were exhausted.

Ending: The council passed the requested amendments but recorded objections from at least one member who said parts of the package should have been posted earlier for public review. Staff committed to emailing line‑item balances and to bringing detailed contract and payment backup to future meetings when legal- or contract‑related funds are involved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/24/25 - Dearborn Heights City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a series of budget amendments, including reallocations to cover legal fees and tuition reimbursements; the meeting included extended debate over late invoices for special legal counsel and whether some contracts and payments had appropriate prior approvals.","taxTitle","Dearborn Heights, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",4162,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182272,"Council rezones Ann Arbor Trail parcel but requires final site plan return for approval",866,4328000,5194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009&start=4328&end=5194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009/thumbnail_4328000.jpg","/articles/6182272/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-rezones-Ann-Arbor-Trail-parcel-but-requires-final-site-plan-return-for-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182272-d18b044edf79e6a8b5a39e2998dd8de8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626176&Signature=hNNj7wmkoNlyHQQcgs5s5EbEZ7G~RdpRVmgJLVV6G5z6pT2wjlOtoKbpoTTXbRbWhjlahAWpyiY~t3yVE99cqzpHM5H4SGLEyCxdP87ua18JR~SClsHAS-4vl4KE0vZIbH0eG1quudwYTvEiRApuOn6~aESPTxiayFmtW0h~fUYeMP7wx6nSGk8SLiLiSYoR1tJAb1lt3fUXR9qTQkbRa~CHeagEZI0N0hfSCqFcE-9lLpAOjHjxpJ4awJKXC882bW9RU0ghpbX5~wvJKsBDmTMliPYrq7piNdkH-JwRv~3rfcQv3B7nK6z1w-GsRavdTmIveYcRlMnayTmTvz8qUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dearborn Heights City Council voted to rezone a parcel on Ann Arbor Trail from R‑1 (single-family) to R‑M (multi‑family) but attached a condition that the final site plan — when drafted — must return to the council for approval.

The planning commission had produced a tied recommendation on the rezoning, which required council action. Councilman Hassan Saab moved approval of the rezoning; Councilman Hassan Ahmad seconded. During discussion, building director Rick Waddell and planning staff told the council the rezoning is the first step; the actual building footprint, setbacks and traffic and utility plans are subject to the subsequent site-plan review process.

Several council members and local residents urged that the council retain final say over the ultimate site plan. Council members noted past examples where a use approved by one body produced a development outcome different from what council members expected. To accommodate those concerns the motion was amended: rezoning approved but no site-plan approvals or stamped plans may be accepted by the building department without first returning to the council for final sign-off.

Outcome: the rezoning from R‑1 to R‑M was approved as amended. The motion’s amendment passed; the building department was asked to present any future site plan recommendations to the council rather than allowing final administrative approval without council review.

Ending: The rezoning clears the way for the project to proceed to the planning‑commission site‑plan stage, but council members preserved their oversight role by requiring any final plan to come back to the council.","The council approved rezoning of a parcel along Ann Arbor Trail from R1 to RM but amended the approval to require that any planning-commission site-plan recommendation come back to council for final approval.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182277,"Council hears prolonged complaints about Van Houten Park construction, approves then later pauses change-order payments",4147,3203000,7350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009&start=3203&end=7350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009/thumbnail_3203000.jpg","/articles/6182277/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-hears-prolonged-complaints-about-Van-Houten-Park-construction-approves-then-later-pauses-change-order-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182277-8fb227f3023a126f56c43571024bdfef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626176&Signature=bgp1Z1Qnz15BFgekxolzv9RTGgDlvtCikC26yT~IX3TAmaqMIX9SrxrPAjRHyvtXLiUZCDT27DkFJFeLYCoxAHHRUamK8wOdrEqd7E6AyXdnsq0j7~hXwF7Rw-M8uUzs5C7PRVgKAWeELFuGsDHtfv22rkeaCr-7orDLBinRj3H7e6-Ia7PsOniHpHRwQA0a2gvjADxnt8XL5~~CD57U09P5~gBfFuN0HPnnAE0nQ0jlunaAFDFymsuzHNBmGZRca8CzvOAGVr2Jou~Cb48zJTdgB6xz9oTHz43Vk4yFYi0f9SEWO-i2g3g0LO5I3JIuPKqaVf1ZyZF-hGN8zR~~QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and staff spent an extended portion of Tuesday’s meeting on recurring problems at Van Houten Park: construction defects, vandalism and underground electrical issues that staff say require additional work and coordination with the contractor’s bonding company and DTE (the local utility).

Residents and council members described visible damage and safety hazards at the playscape, ongoing vandalism and incomplete punch‑list work; staff said the contractor had performance bonds but some repair work and unexpected underground problems remained to be resolved.

CEDD Director Saad, the city engineer and DPW staff reported repeated electrical failures after installation and damage requiring excavation that in turn damaged playground surfacing. Saad said the contractor’s bonding company and DTE both bear responsibility for portions of the repairs, and the city is holding a final payment while pursuing corrective work. “We’re holding their bond, and they’re still repairing various things,” Saad said; later she added that some underground cables owned by DTE had failed and that DTE agreed to participate in costs for certain repairs.

Councilman questions and actions: the council considered a change order for Van Houten Park improvement work with a proposed increase of up to $85,000 to cover specific additional repairs. A motion to approve “change order number 1” was moved and, in the initial vote earlier in the meeting, carried. Council members later expressed concern that the payment and change‑order details lacked the itemized backup they needed to approve disbursement. After staff explained the complex mix of contractor warranty work and DTE responsibility, council members requested an in-person meeting including city engineering, the contractor (Premier Group Associates), bonding representatives and DTE; council members asked staff to return with a line-item breakdown before issuing any payment.

Chief points raised in the discussion:
- Some playground surfacing was removed to access underground cabling; staff said that removal and replacement is covered where DTE’s work required access, and other defects are covered by the contractor’s warranty or bond.
- City staff report holding roughly $80,000 in retainage tied to unresolved punch‑list items and are pursuing remediation through bonding and direct negotiation with DTE.
- Council requested staff to convene the contractor, bonding company and DTE to establish a shared scope and firm cost allocation before dispersing additional city funds. Council members asked that inspectors and the electrical inspector join that meeting.

Outcome and next steps: while a change order was discussed and a motion was made earlier in the meeting, council members later voted to refer further payment authorization back to administration and to place a detailed breakdown on the next council agenda. Staff scheduled a meeting with the contractor, DTE and council representatives to reconcile outstanding defects, confirm who pays for what and identify safety items that must be closed quickly.

Ending: Staff said they will provide a detailed, itemized estimate to council members and will not issue payment until the breakdown and responsibility assignments are documented. The city’s retained funds and contractor bonding remain central tools to complete the repairs while the city pursues DTE participation for electrical damage.","Officials described persistent construction defects and vandalism at Van Houten Park; the council initially approved a change order to cover additional work but later asked staff to return with itemized backup and to meet with contractor and utility (DTE) representatives before issuing payment.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182282,"Council approves CDBG annual plan; residents and treasurer raise NOFA, notice and programming concerns",4973,322000,5295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009&start=322&end=5295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009/thumbnail_322000.jpg","/articles/6182282/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Council-approves-CDBG-annual-plan-residents-and-treasurer-raise-NOFA-notice-and-programming-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182282-3a08339c21fdbe8e524850172d214f41/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626176&Signature=UrB5ArpIzaVXghicHGgeW~iSeipINBpydzJ-rKfzICuswuPJLwwOEH4a0lhUYrOHEGbnwVAVhn~LrP3OtHfPLW70gAPgqRXq5o~PeT4pmvmdrB34c57XAVoA9aVkbgS~Asz8mHKM8uHZEmUxjbhpLzuapx8JrMIX8UGzcOxrLnXoWOO~VE20s7lEVVwPhqAJwryQIHhayGA~cNRkuGFW4iV2DHJ7VBlOJT8Nfz-wuFbdlNwA6X-Bev9iAfoFZzcQVK8XQGQksQB858yb1SUT9Y06h4J8WsLLx7cytV~NtxMU7lLJs80T64UpM04fKEz1YXhEVmlulpiBTYFokHqhrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Tuesday to approve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan for program year 2025–26 and authorized its submission, while residents and some council members pressed staff on public-notice timing and advertised deadlines for applications.

The council-approved plan specifies about $1.099 million in entitlement and program income for 2025–26, according to department staff, with increases proposed in housing rehabilitation and senior services and continued allocations for public facilities and code enforcement.

Multiple public speakers and the city treasurer raised timing and public-notice issues during the public-comment period. The city treasurer and several residents said they could not find evidence that the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) required for public application had been published in time, and that HUD’s submission deadline cited in materials appeared inconsistent with information those speakers had verified. “The submission deadline for HUD is 08/16/2025, not June 28,” the city treasurer told the council during public comment; another resident said she had checked with a CDBG director in a neighboring jurisdiction and confirmed August 16 as the deadline.

CEDD Director Saad (identified in meeting materials as the director of community and economic development) told the council the department had worked from last year’s allocations because HUD’s formal allocation announcement arrived in May, later than normal. Saad said HUD provided local jurisdictions additional time this year, and staff intended to submit the plan now with general project categories so the city can re-program funds and run a full competition for awards once HUD’s approval and timelines are final. “We were looking for projects early on. But because we were doing this with the original date in mind, we were not able to... HUD does allow us to reprogram funds if we find projects that we want to fund,” Saad said.

Director Saad and her deputy outlined allocations included in the plan: approximately $599,243 for housing rehabilitation (up from about $324,000 the prior year), $158,825 for public services (up from $100,000), $115,000 for code-enforcement activities (up from roughly $85,852), and continued allocations for public facilities and blight projects. Staff said $350,000 previously earmarked for Van Houten Park projects remains undetermined for this program year and will be assigned after projects are identified.

Council members asked staff to publish final funding opportunities and confirmed HUD’s 45-day review period for submissions. Director Saad said that, after HUD’s approval (45 days after submission), the city can go out again to advertise specific opportunities and invitations for nonprofit applicants. “After it is submitted and approved by HUD, you can go back out and publicize the availability of the funds and agencies can apply,” Saad said.

Outcome and next steps: the council voted to approve the plan and the mayor will sign it for submission to HUD. Council members asked staff to prepare a public-notice and outreach schedule and to make a targeted effort to contact community nonprofits that previously received funds. The department also agreed to return to the council if specific reprogramming or larger program changes are proposed.

Ending: The council’s vote advances the application to HUD while staff said they will continue outreach and may issue a second round of notices and public hearings once HUD’s allocation and timelines are certain.","City council approved submission of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan but public speakers and the treasurer questioned whether the required notice (NOFA) and public hearing process had been completed and whether the published deadline was correct.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182287,"Dearborn Heights council presses for tougher enforcement, approves new police radios",8036,661000,8697000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009&start=661&end=8697","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107170-6f9db5f4b4f8a13cac01f489dd8ae009/thumbnail_661000.jpg","/articles/6182287/Dearborn-Heights/Wayne-County/Michigan/Dearborn-Heights-council-presses-for-tougher-enforcement-approves-new-police-radios","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182287-a97da029e204b748be24a1a0d721b6e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626176&Signature=G7g5aNWgeQj9~DML5Ceomzk5OPq~aF9U02F4O3whLsEKu4015N4YibSjV6iHtRgcyY~YaIEzQ5Ek8XOgloOljAplE-IK5zE8ddc3FWylQ~4mnsd~wSkfcO-gvj7D9bAeT1N9z7XB1ulXwmVrPed5B-CgRLQ9UxmLU9fis8Ok68~B7ucRJvXVh9vHmHkbqyLsjH5SiNIMZSy2N1xhPGlsV404VonFogBOlN3rUG60zWmt-2blqc4OCkF-S30pygBvIqeAbBbA2W-9Clmgc5eWWuYxbLzHUKBKiPZHPBOXu1LjuP9GrD4Qf0LR2n6BhGZYdcDzoostb3GcUJ6lykSb0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dearborn Heights City Council members and residents pressed city leaders Tuesday over a summer spike in shootings, reckless driving and short-stay rentals linked by several speakers to neighborhood disorder, while voting to buy new encrypted police radios.

Residents detailed recent shootings, late-night reckless driving and problems around short-term rentals; several called for more patrols and quicker hiring. The council approved purchases the police department said are needed to meet an upcoming state encryption requirement for public-safety radios.

The meeting opened to repeated public comments about neighborhood public-safety concerns. Resident Angela Venegas told the council, “...the gun involvement in the neighborhood has gotten really bad. Both North and South End.” Others reported daytime and nighttime reckless driving and a recent multi-car crash on Kingsbury.

The chief of police (identified in the meeting transcript as “Chief”) described enforcement and staffing efforts and said the department had made multiple recent drunk-driving arrests: “As far as the shootings, the crime rates went up. We've had a couple incidents. Summertime's around. People are drinking a little bit more...We apprehended the guy. He was charged.” The chief said the department is “proactive” and has increased enforcement activity.

Council members and the chief discussed reserves and cadets. Council members asked whether reserve officers can issue tickets; staff noted local policy and union rules limit reserve powers in Dearborn Heights, though other Michigan communities allow fuller power for reserve units. “Reserve cannot write tickets,” a council staff member said at the meeting; a separate speaker noted some municipalities set reserve powers in local policy.

Equipment and staffing actions: the council voted to buy 28 mobile radios that staff said are required by a state “encryption” mandate and approved an ammunition purchase for training. Councilman Hassan Ahmad moved the radios purchase; Councilman Hassan Saab seconded. The motion authorized payment from a traffic-immobilization fund (GL account 266266830060) and passed. The chief told the council the state mandate will require encrypted radios statewide and that the city will need additional radios later to complete the upgrade.

The chief also said the department is pursuing grant funding to hire additional officers; staff said an application could add six officers funded for up to three years and the city expects a decision this summer. “We do have a grant that we're working on that we're almost like 90% there to hire 6 more additional police officers and the grant pays for the officers for up to 3 years,” the chief said.

What council members asked for next: written fund balances and line‑item details before approval of large purchases, clearer timelines on hiring and training, and follow-up on whether reserve/volunteer policies could be revised to expand enforcement capacity. Treasurer Lisa Hicks Clayton told the council she will provide GL balances and cautioned that some funds are restricted to specific police-related purposes.

The council also authorized the police ammunition purchase and an immediate budget amendment shifting existing line items to cover a small tuition reimbursement item discussed earlier in the meeting. Several council members asked that future procurement and budget items include the originating GL account balance and the remaining balance that will result after a payment.

The council closed the item by directing staff to provide more detailed funding backup for future equipment purchases and to return with updates on the hiring grant and on options for reserve/cadet authority.

Ending: Council members and residents said they expect more visible enforcement this summer and more regular updates from police and finance staff. The chief promised follow-up on hiring and equipment timetables; the council asked for the detailed fund balances before similar purchases are approved.","Council members and residents pressed the city Tuesday over rising shootings, reckless driving and short staffing; the council approved purchases of 28 encrypted mobile radios and ammunition and discussed a federal grant to hire officers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves budget amendments; debate continues over prior-year bills and director contracts

Council rezones Ann Arbor Trail parcel but requires final site plan return for approval

Council hears prolonged complaints about Van Houten Park construction, approves then later pauses change-order payments

Council approves CDBG annual plan; residents and treasurer raise NOFA, notice and programming concerns

Dearborn Heights council presses for tougher enforcement, approves new police radios