Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $3.6 million FEMA hazard-mitigation grant to acquire flood-prone homes
Summary
Dearborn Heights council accepted a $3,626,303 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award that would fund home acquisitions and related mitigation work; the council also authorized temporary use of local funds pending reimbursement and creation of ledger accounts to track expenditures.
The Dearborn Heights City Council voted Jan. 28 to accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award from FEMA and the Michigan State Police totaling $3,626,303 to acquire and mitigate flood-prone properties.
Councilwoman Nancy Bridal moved to accept the HMGP award, CFDA 97.039, project HMGP‑4494‑23, and to authorize administrative steps to sign required documents and to establish two ledger accounts to track the grant and the city’s required 10% match. The motion passed after a roll-call vote.
The motion authorized temporary use of the city’s water/sewer fund to front expenses up to the grant amount, with the city director of Community and Economic Development authorized to process offers for property acquisition pending council approval. The council also approved establishing a general‑ledger account for the city match (up to $353,430) and a separate account to track grant expenditures and reimbursements.
CDD staff said the award would be used for the acquisition of residences in identified flood‑prone locations; staff and council emphasized that federal grant rules and a recent federal stay related to grant processing warranted careful bookkeeping. CDD staff said they had received paperwork from the Michigan State Police and would coordinate with FEMA on final steps.
Council members stressed the importance of ensuring the paperwork correctly names the current department director and that the city follow federal rules when drawing down funds. The treasurer warned the council about near‑term cash‑flow pressures and reiterated that the city must keep restricted federal funds and local funds tracked separately.
The grant acceptance draws on federal funds for hazard mitigation while requiring a local match; council members approved the motion with the restriction that the city would not reallocate other funds without council approval.
