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Dearborn Heights council discusses hiring additional ordinance officers and tougher blight enforcement
Summary
Council members at a Dearborn Heights study session discussed hiring three ordinance officers (one to work in the building department on certificates of occupancy), equipment and workspace needs, a proposed nuisance/blight ordinance and an upcoming planning commission meeting on short-term rental rules.
A council study session on April 29 focused on plans to add three ordinance officers, where they would be assigned and what equipment and policy changes the city will need to support expanded enforcement.
The council member who requested the briefing said the city approved funding for three new ordinance positions but that only one candidate had an offer submitted this week; he proposed assigning one officer to the building department to focus on certificates of occupancy and checks for the primary resident exemption to ensure rental properties are correctly classified. "We've been wanting more ordinance enforcement for a long time," the council member said, urging residents to weigh in on priorities.
The discussion matters because council members said current enforcement capacity is strained: participants indicated the department has five full-time officers and one part-time employee now and that ticketing was up roughly…
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