Dearborn Heights hears progress report on water, sewer and paving projects as residents press contractor and tree concerns

During a study session, Dearborn Heights city staff and consultant Wade Trim reviewed the status of multiple capital projects affecting drinking water, sanitary and storm sewer systems and local streets, and answered residents’ questions about contractor oversight and damaged trees and property.

The presentation covered three federal- and state-funded programs: the city’s water-meter replacement program, a lead service-line replacement project funded through Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) money, and a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) project to separate combined sewer overflows (CSO). Staff reported construction is underway on several projects, with some contracts 30–45% complete and anticipated finish dates in 2025–2026.

Why it matters: the projects affect water reliability, billing accuracy, street access and neighborhood restoration. Council members and residents said poor subcontractor oversight and incomplete restoration have left lawns, parking lots and street edges damaged; staff said contractors are on notice and that the city with its consultants will pursue punch-list work and repairs.

City staff presentation and project details

A Wade Trim project manager told the council the firm and city project teams begin each job with resident outreach and on-site inspection routines. "We start off each project by distributing flyers explaining the project and giving specific dates," the project manager said, noting a staff and field-engineer contact list is provided to affected residents. The manager said inspectors complete daily reports and photos that are compiled into monthly pay requests.

On water meters, staff said contractor Ferguson (with subcontractor VEPO) has installed 7,480 new meters to date and that the program is roughly 32.8% complete; the city expects to move toward automated remote reading once collectors are fully deployed. Staff said the meters themselves are expected to last about 20 years and that the radio transmitters have a shorter life (roughly seven to 10 years) and will be maintained or replaced under warranty or through the city’s ongoing maintenance plan.

For lead service-line replacement, the city said it has a contract to replace up to about 1,700 lead or galvanized service lines; that work had not fully started at the time of the presentation, but staff said the contractor will begin within weeks and that the state recently added more funding to that contract because the work is a public-health priority.

On sanitary and storm-sewer work, staff emphasized the CWSRF-funded CSO separation will remove combined sewer flows on a set of streets to reduce basement flooding and river discharges. The project list included Princeton, Norfolk, Dartmouth and other local streets; staff showed recent photos of installed storm pipes, inlets and manholes and said design uses larger-diameter pipe and standard conveyance sizing for a 10-year, 1-hour storm event.

Techniques and costs

Staff described pipe-bursting and directional-drilling methods used to replace buried water mains with fused HDPE pipe; in one example crews replaced a 6-inch main with an 8-inch HDPE line to increase capacity without full-depth excavation. The presenter said an average large repair that requires excavation and bypassing utilities can take five to seven days and can cost "in the 25-plus" thousand-dollar range, not including labor rates for emergency or weekend work. Staff also said the city tracks master meters where wholesale supply enters the system and is preparing a distribution study to use in future contract negotiations with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) to better manage pressures and reduce break frequency.

Resident complaints and contractor oversight

Multiple residents and council members raised concerns about subcontracting, on-site crews and restoration. One resident said a worker told him, "I am my own boss... I was hired by ProLine," and questioned whether the subcontractor was insured and properly listed as an approved subcontractor. Council members asked whether prime contractors must list subs in bids and how staff enforces substitutions; staff replied subcontractors must be disclosed in bid documents and that unlisted substitutions are a contract violation the city can enforce.

Council members also pressed staff about visible damage at work zones: torn turf, unfinished concrete curves, oil puddles near laydown areas and what residents described as inadequate re‑seeding. Staff said contractors are placed on notice when restoration does not meet contract requirements, that the city maintains inspectors’ photo records and daily reports, and that the city holds retention and will not release final payments until punch-list items are resolved.

Tree and easement damage

Several council members and residents asked the city to inspect trees near recent construction where root systems were exposed or severed during trenching and edge-drain installation. One council member described a neighborhood where contractors’ work left large roots exposed and urged arborist review before concluding whether trees must be removed and replaced. Staff said they will review tree concerns case by case and pursue remediation with contractors where the city determines damage resulted from construction activity.

Paving, ADA and funding context

Staff showed maps and photos of streets that are complete, in progress or scheduled this year; everything marked in red on the project map was described as completed, underway or scheduled. The pavement program draws primarily on state Act 51 (gasoline tax) funds and local allocations; staff said state appropriations recently increased and the city is contesting mileage calculations to potentially secure additional road funding. Project designs also incorporate ADA ramp corrections and other accessibility work where contractors replace sidewalks or curb ramps.

Next steps and staff commitments

Council members asked for follow-up on specific contractor substitutions, restoration schedules and tree inspections. City staff said they will investigate the subcontractor claims on Norfolk and other streets, provide inspection reports and photo logs on request, pursue punch-list items before releasing retention, and coordinate with the DPW and consultant teams to confirm warranty and testing reports for concrete pours. The presentation concluded with staff saying they will report back on the outstanding resident concerns and on the status of lead-line and CSO work.