Council refers $1M+ Warren Valley Golf Course parking‑lot bid back to administration for cheaper overlay options

Dearborn Heights City Council members debated plans Wednesday to fully rebuild the Warren Valley Golf Course parking lot and ultimately directed staff to seek lower‑cost options, including a two‑inch overlay, rather than move ahead with the large‑scale plan presented to the council.

Councilman Robert Constant moved approval of the parking‑lot project as outlined in the comptroller’s backup; Councilman Hassan Saab seconded for discussion. The comptroller’s packet and the engineer’s specifications presented a long‑term reconstruction intended to last 15–20 years; estimated total project costs discussed in the meeting ranged in public remarks from roughly $1 million to $1.5 million depending on alternates.

Council members and residents pushed back on the price and on how the project would be funded. Councilman Saab said the city could use a less‑expensive overlay to address the immediate safety and usability issues without committing large sums of fund balance. “I just don’t see why we’re gonna spend $1,300,000 for extra work,” he said, arguing a smaller repair would be sufficient in the short term.

City engineer Mahdi Deeb explained the bid specifications came from core samples and the aim was a durable, long‑lived repair that would accommodate heavy use by the golf course, banquet facility and schools. “We looked at what is the long‑term solution. I’m looking at a 20‑year life for the facility and a parking lot of that,” Deeb said.

Comptroller staff said the projected unrestricted fund balance at fiscal year end was approximately $2.2 million and that some revenue from the golf course (green fees, concessions, rent) was expected to generate roughly $160,000 annually once operations stabilized. But several council members said that funding did not make the full rebuild prudent without additional commitments from other users — notably the school district — and that the city needed clearer funding language in the motion.

Facing divided views, the council voted to refer the item back to administration for revised bidding specifications that would include a lower‑cost two‑inch overlay option. The roll call recorded: Denise Malinowski Maxwell yes; Hassan Saab yes; Hassan Ahmad yes; Robert Constant yes; Nancy Bridal no; Tom Wenzel no; Moby June yes. The referral motion passed.

Why it matters: The parking lot sits behind a city property that has multiple uses — public golf, a banquet facility, and school‑related activity — and the question before the council was whether to accept a long‑term, high‑cost fix now or pursue a less expensive temporary repair while seeking additional funding partners.

What’s next: Administration will reissue bid documents for a two‑inch overlay option and present new bids to council; councilmembers indicated a timeline to get updated proposals before the school year and events begin.