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Council refers SRF payment approvals for water projects to study session after oversight concerns
Summary
Council agreed 4-3 to refer authorization of payments for drinking-water and clean-water SRF projects to a study session, citing the need for clearer project oversight and payment timing.
The Dearborn Heights City Council voted 4-3 to send the matter of payment authorizations for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund projects to a study session rather than immediately authorizing vendor payments.
Council members in favor of referral argued vendors who undertake major water-main and meter-replacement work should be paid promptly but that council wants clearer oversight, monthly budget-to-actual reports, and confirmation of field inspection arrangements before authorizing a standing warrant process. Members opposed to the referral said delaying payment could harm contractor cash flow and slow essential water infrastructure work.
The resolution to refer payment authority was approved on a 4-3 roll call: Tom Wenzel — yes; Hassan Ahmad — yes; Hassan Saab — yes; Denise Malinowski Maxwell — yes; Robert Constance — no; Nancy Bridal — no; Moby Doon — no. The council asked staff to schedule a study session and to bring vendor invoices, field inspection arrangements (third-party engineering contracts), and a payment timeline to the next meeting.
