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Council approves environmental, background-check and repair contracts, accepts grants and amends budgets
Summary
On Oct. 28, Dearborn Heights council approved an environmental-services bid (subject to counsel review), awarded a police background-investigation contract to Damron Investigations, approved library garage repairs, accepted conservation and MIDC grants and passed budget amendments covering traffic, federal forfeiture and COVID-related accounts.
The Dearborn Heights City Council on Oct. 28 approved several contract awards and grant acceptances and adopted budget amendments to reflect recent procurements and grant receipts.
Bids and contracts: The council voted to award environmental testing and consulting services to Environmental Testing & Consulting (ETC) at a proposed cost not to exceed $5,500 (50 hours) for asbestos/lead/radon and monitoring work; the motion was amended so the final contract will return for corporation counsel review prior to execution.
The council also awarded the police background-investigation services contract to Damron Investigations at a per-unit cost of $1,475. The background-check award prompted a lengthy debate about whether to continue in-house investigations or outsource them. Police and administration argued outsourcing provides faster turnaround and avoids overtime costs; opponents asked for statistics showing overtime savings. After discussion and assurances the contract can be terminated if needed, the council approved Damron by roll-call (recorded mixed yes/no votes; motion carried).
Albana Construction received a contract for library garage repair (base bid $14,783; not to exceed $16,261 including owner reserve); staff confirmed three bids were considered.
Grants and budget actions: Council accepted a $19,500 Michigan urban conservation/community grant to fund resident engagement and small-scale flood-mitigation planning for properties purchased with FEMA funds (no local match required). The council also accepted a Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) FY2026 grant totaling $369,405.90 with a city match of $9,879.39 to support indigent-defense services; staff noted those funds will reduce jail-related costs by enabling earlier attorney access.
Council approved multiple budget amendments reallocating previously approved but later-incurred expenses (for example, radio and police-vehicle purchases that fell into the current fiscal year) and adjusting accounts related to federal forfeiture and COVID public-assistance grants. Staff explained some previously untracked COVID expenditures limited the total federal reimbursement the city could claim; additional reconciliation work has recovered some, but not all, eligible funds.
Vote-at-a-glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Environmental testing bid (ETC) — approved with amendment requiring corporation-counsel review before final contract (voice vote). - Police background investigations (Damron Investigations, $1,475/unit) — approved after debate; roll-call recorded mixed votes and motion carried. - Library garage repair (Albana Construction, not to exceed $16,261) — approved (voice vote). - MIDC indigent defense grant ($369,405.90) — accepted (voice vote). - Michigan urban conservation grant ($19,500) — accepted (voice vote). - Budget amendments covering traffic/mobilization, federal forfeiture and COVID grants — approved (voice vote).
What comes next: Contracts subject to legal review will return to council for final execution. Staff also will provide follow-up on grant reconciliation and outreach plans tied to the conservation grant.
Sources: Staff presentations and motions during the Oct. 28 council meeting; roll-call vote record for named votes included in the meeting transcript.
