The Dearborn Heights City Council on Nov. 25 advanced a package of administrative changes: it approved a first reading of an ordinance to create a standalone Department of Water Billing, approved first reading of an ordinance to create a Grants Department, and approved adding a grant-writer position with a salary cap of $100,000 to be covered this fiscal year by the vacant deputy comptroller position.

Councilman Saab moved the ordinance creating a Department of Water Billing (H-25-11). Mayor Baidoun said the change is intended to give water-billing issues their own director and staff rather than splitting responsibility between DPW and the controller. The mayor announced discussions with vendor Neptune to provide residents a free online portal to view water usage (hour/day/week) and help identify leaks. Corp. Counsel Miyake said the ordinance had carve-outs intended to avoid collective-bargaining conflicts and that the director position is classified as executive-level management.

Separately, council approved adding a grant-writer position and discussed how to amend the comptroller's budget later to reflect the reallocation once the department and salary are finalized. Council noted the position is expected to identify external funding sources for infrastructure and operations and would not increase the general-fund balance this fiscal year because money was reallocated from a vacant deputy-controller line.

Council also moved first reading of an ordinance to create a Department of Grants (H-25-12); members discussed prior temporary authorizations for grant work and asked staff to confirm previous procedures. All three items passed their respective readings or votes at the meeting; council flagged follow-up steps including budget amendments and job descriptions before hires occur.