Dearborn Heights’ City Council on Nov. 25 approved adding a grant‑writer position (salary not to exceed $100,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year) and advanced two ordinances to create separate Department of Water Billing and Department of Grants.

Councilman Saab moved to add the grant‑writer role, temporarily funding the salary from the vacant deputy comptroller line; the motion passed after members requested an explicit budget amendment and clearer salary figures once a candidate and contract are identified. Mayor Baidoun said the hire is intended to bring external grant revenue to finance infrastructure and other priorities.

On ordinance business, the council gave first reading to Ordinance H‑25‑11 to create a standalone Department of Water Billing with a director who would manage billing and customer complaints instead of assigning those responsibilities to DPW or the comptroller. The mayor described a plan to provide residents a Neptune online portal showing detailed hourly and daily water usage to help detect leaks.

Council also gave first reading to Ordinance H‑25‑12 to create a Department of Grants; corporation counsel said the draft includes carve‑outs to avoid conflicts with collective bargaining and is designed to formalize prior temporary arrangements. Questions from council included whether unions were consulted, the number of new positions required, and how the new director roles would be staffed; counsel said the director posts are executive‑level and would not be a union classification. Both ordinances passed their first readings; the water‑billing ordinance recorded a 6–1 vote.

Councilmembers agreed the hire and new departments are intended to improve service and revenue generation but asked for follow‑up budget language and to bring contract details back to council before filling the positions.