Dearborn Eyes Closure of up to Six City Pools
The City of Dearborn is expected to close as many as six of the city’s aging outdoor pools as part of a cost cutting proposal to help the city this year with its $20 million budget shortfall.
The move most certainly will set off a firestorm of protests in the neighborhoods where pools are slated to be closed.
The last time the subject of closing pools came up, the council and mayor succumbed to neighborhood pressure and did nothing. But that was in an election year and now with the new term only three months old, the outcome likely will be different this time around.
The good news is that while pools will be closed, the proposal includes the construction of a larger, modern pool complex for Ford Woods Park, which will accommodate more swimmers and cost about half of the resources of keeping the six neighborhood pools operating, the city says in a press release.
The city says the difficult decision of closing smaller, neighborhood pools is expected to save $132,000 a year in operational costs alone. More significantly, the City claims it will save $3.8 million by not pursuing investments necessary to keep the six pools that are currently on the chopping block in a safe and healthy condition.
The city has not yet shared what pools will be closed, only saying that “as plans become more finalized, an informational meeting regarding the outdoor pool proposal will be held.”
The city does list what pools will receive improvements. The ones not listed would appear to be in jeopardy. Those include: Whitmore Bolles, Summer Stephens, Ten Eyck, Crowley, Hemlock and Lapeer.
City officials say it will continue to operate outdoor pools at Levagood and Ford Woods parks, and add summer swimming opportunities at three indoor pools inside Dearborn public schools, under a proposal developed by city officials this week. The proposal includes the permanent closure and demolition of the city’s six other aging outdoor pools, built decades ago in 1954, 1956 and 1962.
Ongoing operating costs and the significant investments required for the outdoor pools make this proposed change necessary for the 2010 summer season. The proposal regarding the outdoor pools is part of the budget review process being undertaken by Mayor John B. O’Reilly and his administration, together with the City Council.
April 1st, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Mr. Albano,
Thanks for your calm restatement of the situation. Having only the figure of $132,000 for the operating costs stated by the city, it would seem that revenue from passes, etc would already cover that figure. The last time I bought a family pass it cost over $60. When I pass Crowley Pool on a hot day it is very busy. The same is true of Levagood and others. The attendance seems to be in place.
I think a bond issue or something similar, as Mr. Albano suggests, sounds very workable, and I think it would pass a vote. Mr. Cranky points out that one neighborhood, at least, has never had a ‘neighborhood’ pool. That has been true for a long time, and it is a shame. It doesn’t detract from the argument for the existing pools being a positive thing for our city.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
It’s no secret that this City’s government is in shambles and serves as a perfect example of how to place its children into the bowels of the abyss along with it. A city that once valued social networks has become one of mult-million dollar failed projects. Because of these costly mistakes, a city that was built ahead of it’s time around the concept of NEIGHBORHOODS with local parks, pools, and libraries (yes, the libraries are also on the City’s chopping block), is becoming one of centralized services. I read here someone requesting a logical reason to keep the pools open. Heck, let’s include the libraries here too. Here it is: it’s called SOCIAL CAPITAL – the value that an individual gets from his or her SOCIAL NETWORKS. In his book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, author Robert D. Putnam writes: “… the healthy development of kids depends in large part on the social context in which they come of age. Neighborhoods with high levels of social capital tend to be good places to raise children. In high-social-capital areas public spaces are CLEANER, people are FRIENDLER, and the streets are SAFER.” Putnam points to Criminologist, Robert J. Sampson, who summarizes many empirical studies, and concludes that even controlling for poverty and other factors that might encourage criminal behavior, “communities characterized by (a) anonymity and sparse acquaintanceship networks among residents, (b) unsupervised teenage peer groups and attenuated control of public space, and (c) a weak organizational base and low social participation in local activities face an increased risk of crime and violence.” SOCIAL CAPITAL is what differentiates safe and organized cities and their neighborhoods from unsafe and disorganized ones. Way to go City of Dearborn—the $20 million deficit I’m sure is just the tip a one major big iceberg that this City’s about to hit.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Concerned Cop..Bravo! This is exactly correct and rather than worry about the pools, people better start paying attention to their police officers because without you, this city can have 1000 pools, but no one will live here surrounded by Detroit and Inkster. Homegrown…as soon as I read “good ole boy” I knew you were someone close to the chief or the mayor. Police officers can live outside the city, but the charter requires the chief to live within the limits. I just heard, not one hour ago, that a young woman who had gone through background checks and the entire process in Dearborn, had to take a job in New Mexico because someone told her there was a hiring freeze. Yet this chief is recruiting new officers from the inner city of Detroit churches. He is paying for a recruit to go throught the academny who is the son of an old Detroit PD cronie. Really, pools? I love the pools, and I think they are a great asset to the neighborhoods, but we need to put energy and commitment behind what really keeps the city from falling into the Rouge first.
April 1st, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Big Jack you are turning into a bonified joke. With the problems going on in the police dept., you are trying to hornswaggle people into thinking about something else (the pools). Give us a break and hang it up, you simply can’t handle the job (maybe Norwood can help you). Run for judge as thats what you really want, and give the residents the break they really need.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Off topic, but for those interested in knowing, former Building and Safety Inspector Andrew Pizzino was in 19th District Court on Wednesday and plead guilty to the charges against him in a in plea deal. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, $1000.00 court cost and restitution which will be decided at his sentencing hearing April 22nd.
April 1st, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Just out of curiosity Kay, or anyone that is saying the chief is required to live in Dearborn, where exactly in the city charter does it state that? I haven’t read it in detail but skimming it can’t seem to find that.
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:53 am
Paul: From the current City Charter: Section 6.16. Residency.
All appointive officers shall be residents of the City, or shall become residents within one year of appointment, except as otherwise provided in this charter or by law.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:08 am
Thanks Dearborn Watcher.
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Yeah andy’s finally getting his plus his domestic charges. Correction on his position, he was a supervisor. He was protected by guido (mike and mark) and only did approvals (notice choice of words, not inspections) for the administraton and players (who paid)! The citizens will continue to pay ‘tho because he’ll get his pension @60, so will his ex-kathy who stole from the rec, center. Thank you for the kind comment from emanon, but i left the cities employment several years ago cause i couldn’t stand the open corruption from within. Although most of you have well intentions, you will never know the extent of the unfairness that goes on until you personally experiance it! My closet does rattle and make noise but never did i ever do for a one person that i wasn’t willing to do for everyone else, there in lies the problem! I lost friends and family because in dearborn (the peyton place that it is) so many people feel the since of entitlement because they know someone. Reading all the coments on the pool topic that covers a multitude of subjects just reconfirms my belief that the leadership of dearborn (past and present) over the last 20 years has only been eroding dearborns once proud history! Please deep tell all the news, the fact that andy and others will fall is GOOD news, it’s positive and a slight move towards transparentcy!
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
This is off topic, but I think it is just as important!
I have a good friend that is a Dearborn Police Officer. What I hear from him disturbs me! Apparently one of the trainees the Police Department is paying in the academy is one of the Chief friend’s son. He also (the trainee) has failed his physical fitness requirement several times and complains that the police academy staff is picking on him and at the same is collecting a city paycheck!
I thought I heard Troy is laying off about 50 cops. I sure some of those qualified cops are looking for jobs. Why is the city wasting money, paying for some slug to through the police academy when there are plenty of qualified candidate’s already out there.
What gets me more than ever is where is the press and guide? Why are they not looking into this waste of taxpayer money. If they want to sell papers maybe the should report something that really matters! This is about our safety! If I or someone in my family calls 911 I want a Cop to come, not some slug who’s only reason for passing the academy is because his dad knows the Chief.
Then I read in this thread that the Chief does not even live in the city, he still lives in Detroit! How is he suppose to care about the city he doesn’t even call home.
Deep if you care about this city you should look into this!
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Concerned Cop and Kay:
I think you two need to calm down, stop and read what someone is saying. I don’t get the impression that homegrown is someone that is close to the Mayor and the Police Chief. Quite the opposite, since politically, “Good ol’ boy” refers to “representatives that engage in cronyism.”
If you know anything about the history of the Police Department; Homegrown is refering to Mayor Guido and Chief Ron Diezel. As stated by Homegrown, this was the beginning of many bad decisions and lawsuits within the Dearborn Police Department.
Bottom line: Mayor O’Reilly stated that he wanted a Police Chief to live in this city and he has given Chief Haddad plenty of time to move here. If the Charter states he must live here then the Mayor has some explainning to do.
I would suggest that if there are people who want to express what is going on in the police department then present your concerns at a council meeting.
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Dearborn=Detroit Hts:
This is very disturbing. I have a friend whose son has a friend in that particular academy. He has told the almost exact story. What a shame that Dearborn must scrape from the bottom of the barrel for thier police candidates.
Concerned Cop maybe you could verify –
There was a story going around town that Mayor O’Reilly was very upset with then Police Chief Celeski because he went to Human Resources and tried to change the employment requirements for police officer so his son would be eligible for hire in Dearborn.
If the above stories are true, then where is the Mayor in regards to what this Police Chief is doing?
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Two things about the neighborhood pools.
1) Most of the families that use neighborhood pools are like mine, the kids can ride bikes there and swim in a small pool with supervision that knows the patrons. If our neighborhood pool is closed we won’t buy swim passes at all, it is not worth the hassle to go to Levagood.
2) The city needs to make substantial changes to the staffing and rules at Levagood if they hope to have any increased traffic. The Levagood pool staff is militant, rude, and not family friendly. Moms and dads cannot just come sit near the pool and let their kids swim at Levagood, you MUST wear a swim suit and pass the $%@# shower inspection just to enter the pool deck. If I am swimming I am fine with showering. But many times I just am bringing the kids up and sitting to read while they swim. What I really expect will happen is a trainwreck where the city closes the neighborhood pools, jacks up swim tag fees, and then comes up short because use will plummet.
Double the swim tag fees if necessary, I would pay that if my neighborhood pool is open. Otherwise, allow the pools to be converted to private swim clubs as in Livonia and allow those of us who treasure the neighborhood pools to carry on at the higher cost that would entail.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 pm
MyTwoSenseToo:
I think we all have the same views here, I didn’t think, however, that I ws over reacting. And ‘Concerned Cop’ is obviously very concerned and frustrated. He cannot even speak out at a council meeting. And those of us who know what goes on cannot do so if we can be connected to any of these concerened cops. So, try to understand the passion here. If they only to let the citizens of this city know what is going on is through this or another blog, then so be it.
I’ve heard these same stories, and I have also heard the ‘good ole’ boy’ phrase being used by THIS administration, especially when it comes to breaking up teams, etc. The story about the recruit is true. I can tell you from who I know on the force, no one likes a cop to be hired because he knows someone, even if the chief is his father. They need cops who are going to back them up and keep the alive. If Corey Celeski was not cop material, I’m sure none of our fine officers would go for that sort of nepetism. They respected Chief Celeski. But the Mayor started his micro management of the department before the Chief died. O’Reilly and this chief are going to get someone killed. Oh, and by the way, did everyone in this cityknow that we still do not have a Fire Chief? Still! And the notice was given in May 2009, that the old Chief was leaving. So what is O’Reilly planning? Perhaps recruiting a Fire Chief from outside the city. Why? So he can micro manage the FD as well.
How was that? Not too emotional I hope.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 am
To Cranky in the West End-
I agree with your comments about free lunches and being dropped off in $40,000 cars 100%. How do these people get so much aid? Do they just lie on the applications? Who is checking legitimacy for need?Free health care at the clinics, customized written paperwork to include Arabic, double standards everywhere you look.
Is everyone so afraid as being labeled as a racist or not politically correct that no one speaks up when there are double standards? What I remember is that the United States was a “melting pot”, meaning people from all over the world assimilate to become one, NOT just transfer your culture to our land. Why are we so accepting of putting Arabic in the schools, costing more to hire teachers who speak both languages, all on my tax dollar.
Let’s face it, the Islamic faith does not assimilate, rather it will eventually push until 100% of this city is one faith and culture, theirs. How many of us realize that in probably less than 10 years, this whole city, East and West will have been taken over, becoming an all Arabic city. I no longer tell people where I live because “Dearborn” now stands for “Arabic” in other areas. I am hoping the economy improves enough in less time than more to sell my house and get out of the tri-county area.
April 3rd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Kay:
I agree, we all seem to have the same views. Believe me as a Dearborn tax payer I am just as concerned and frustrated as everyone else on this blog.
I have to say, one thing that may have been incorrectly
stated is that the Police Chief is some how paying only for this one candidate. Some NOT ALL Dearborn Police officers have thier tuition paid for and collect a paycheck from the city while in the academy. Dearborn is one of a few Police Departments that will pay for a candidate going through the police academy. Most departments hire thier Police Officers after they complete the Police Academy.
The problem: With the economy the way it is, why are we still paying for something that we really do not have to? There are so many laid off certified police officers and people who have already completed a Police Academy needing a job. I could see if the city needed to do this to lure exceptional candidates to the department but it does not sound like this is what’s happening. Especially if we are supporting a candidate who is not performing to the best of his ability.
Dearborn City Counicil wake up and ask the hard questions!
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Instead of closing neighborhood pools, outsource the performing arts center. It was over budget, its under used and its nice to have but not as necessary. Residents and kids say the neighborhood pools and parks are necessary — same goes for the DISC. Create skating rinks in the parks like they used to at Elmhurst Park. That can’t cost as much as maintaining the DISC. I hope council is reading these posts. We elected them to do the right thing now JUST DO IT!
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Tyrone G for Mayor!!
“Double the swim tag fees if necessary, I would pay that if my neighborhood pool is open. Otherwise, allow the pools to be converted to private swim clubs as in Livonia and allow those of us who treasure the neighborhood pools to carry on at the higher cost that would entail.”
He says it ALL!!
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:17 pm
My Two Sense Too:
You are correct, the department does pay for many who go through, not just this kid we are talking about. But, right of the bat, the guy is arrogant and not measuring up. But they won’t cut him….it’s just a bad practice and an unnecessary one. I agree, it needs to stop. Let the recruits pay their own way, like the cops I know did. As we all know, when you pay for something yourself and, in this case, make the sacrifice of taking a semester off work because of the academy schedule, it naturally weeds out the slugs. As you said but others may not know, not only do we pay for them to go to the academy, they also draw a paycheck. Absolutely, there is no reason for this at all. 50 cop in Troy are looking and if I am not mistaken, there were a number of State Troopers laid off. This is ridiculous. AND there are plenty of good Dearborn guys who grew up here, love this city, and have gone through the academy on their own dime that cannot get hired. What a huge waste of money and good resources. I’ll tell you what, ending this practice may just take care of the pool issue and then some.
Here’s another thing, and although off topic, still disturbing and actually speaks more to the waste with our Federal taxes too: In the fall I heard that Arabic was being taught in a school or school in the east end. Does anyone see a problem with this?? I contacted the School Board, just to be sure I had the correct information. The member who replied to me was very rude and denied it. Another contacted and was honest, saying that the Federal Government gave us a grant and because the Feds were footing the bill, they were the ones who decided what language must be taught. Now wouldn’t it wonderful if they said, here’s a grant, now teach them English. I would prefer if our city showed some class and said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
I digress..but thought folks would find that interesting.
April 4th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Here is something else to consider.
I think Dearborn does the same for Firefighters in the Firefighter Academy.
I believe tuition for the Police Academy is close to $5,000. This does not include uniforms, gun and books. If you sponsor three or four candidates in the academy that adds up.
Not sure what the costs are for the Fire Academy but I think it is pretty comparable, if not more.
April 4th, 2010 at 10:02 am
At the meetings I’ve attended where the mayor talked about the budget, he said there are no sacred cows, that every service and amenity is on the table to evaluate. There is no doubt that the city is in deep financial trouble in the 2010 fiscal year, which runs from July 2010 to June 2011. As much as we’ve become accustomed to an abundance of amenities and services, there is no way to make up for a $20 million budget shortage for 2010 without cuts somewhere. It will be a shame to see some cuts, but increased revenues will not be able to cover all of the shortages. Mark Guido also stated that the Task Force will have access to all of the financial revenue and expense figures in this budget.
According to the mayor, the DISC will be debt free in less than 3 years, so that it will finally start generating a profit.
Perhaps what others mention about attempting to hire officers and firemen that have passed the academy training should be considered, which would save money. Others we may want to consider also are:
1) Sell or farm out the operation of the Ford Performing Arts Center which runs
negative cash flow each year or at least start charging enough to cover the
expenses and possibly enough to generate a profit. Perhaps bringing in big
name acts and charging more for them, along with opening up the old
skating rink again to skaters might increase revenues.
2) Sell the Dearborn Hills golf course.
3) Sell Dearborn Towers in Florida.
4) Sell the golf course in Camp Dearborn which loses millions each year. The
picnic and camping area of Camp Dearborn has generated a profit the last 3
years based upon operational expenses and it would have to be rezoned as
residential to gain a much better price and Milford won’t rezone it from
recreational, per the mayor.
5) Consider charging a fee for library usage, as the pools do, if it is legal.
6) Consider trash pick up being every 2 weeks instead of every week and
charge for the trash pick up of everything else that the city normally offers
free.
7) Eliminate the Health Department.
8) Eliminate the License Bureau.
9) If it is legal, make it a preference to hire city employees that live in the city,
as they are likely to spend their money in the city far more than employees
who live outside the city, helping increase city revenues.
10)Since Dearborn has cut full time employees by 25% since 2001, then
whatever the percentage of a department that has been cut, cut the pay of
all supervisors and department heads in those departments equal to the
amount of their staff cut, since they are supervising and managing less
employees.
11)Obtain more donations from more sponsors or perhaps charge an entry fee
for Homecoming if it is losing money every year.
12)Partner with surrounding communities on services that are feasible to be
shared, including merging our city pension and health benefits plans with
either surrounding communities or the state.
13)Eliminate free leaf pick up.
I am sure that other people can think of many more…
April 4th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
John No one in the school district checks the apps for free lunch-why?-$$$$ these apps =federal funds. Yes, they get dropped off in luxury autos, wear designer clothes, belong to the Fairlane Club-rent the entire club out for events-live in the gated community next to the Fairlane Club-carry $300 purses to school-go on vacations like cruises and Europe and exotic islands-go on vacations like this at every school break-hec even teachers have fraudulently received free lunch got caught and are now principals I could go on…this is the same reason they have turned a blind eye to non-residents who are discipline problems and drag the test scores down to remain officially unnoticed-they also = $$$$$ state per pupil $$$
Yes we teach Arabic and the grant is official it is how art and music are eeked out of several elementaries in favor of this extracurricular activity. This education is available after school and at private institutions. But unofficially it is being taught in MANY bilingual classrooms as some of the teachers the district has hired cant or dont want to speak english. Which board member did you speak to first Amy? Ask the board about the special permission they got to keep someone in the district-think about why you might need special permission?
April 4th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
I agree with you 100% Michael D. Albano. This city can cut expenditures in so many of the service “amenties” as well as in city-operated departments and look at better ways to increase revenue. Having a city-run health department is duplication of medical services that one can get elsewhere…at their own primary doctor’s office for one. Businesses partner with clinics, why can’t the City do the same? I also heard that Hubbard East is half vacant because no seniors want to live that close to Detroit. Well if that’s true, either sell it or turn it from senior housing into general apartments where you can charge a higher rent. Homecoming? Privatize, privatize, privatize–these companies can do it better and cheaper! Camp Dearborn? Has to stay recreational, so get some federal funds and add to the current tents, cabins, and RV spots, a recreational resort that can stay open YEAR-ROUND, not just in the summer months! Get rid of leaf pick-up? I have 3 very large trees on my property and I will tell you that it’s not a picnic dealing with all the dropped foliage in the fall and it’s rather nice to be able to just get them into the street. HOWEVER, if choosing between leaf pick-ups and neighborhood pools, I would definitely eighty-six the leaf pick-ups!!! Colleges have always charged their students a “lab fee” or “recreational fee” or “technical fee” to keep the physical education, computers and labs operating. Many times students pay these regardless of whether or not they have a phys. ed., science, or computer class. If legal, why not have a “Dearborn Recreation and Library” fee on every household or at least on each swim tag purchased and/or library card issued? There are so many ways to fund these pools and libraries and make them sustainable. I am angry at my City government for not doing their job in pursuing alternative funding in order to keep these important services available. I sincerely hope the City Council reads these comments, listens carefully to its residents, and supports finding ways of keeping the pools and the libraries available for use. Kids come first before conference centers and train stations!
April 4th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I’d say your off to a great start Michael.
April 4th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
How about putting a city income tax on the ballot? Then all those folks who say they are willing to pay for these services can put up or shut up.
How about that? City income tax. 3 percent for everyone whether you live in the city or just work here. Think it would pass? Or should we just print more money like the federal government?
April 4th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
These are all good, good comments and ideas. I hope we all fine the time to go to these pool meetings and to the City Council meetings this year to discuss ALL of these issues. We are awakening, more of us each day. We can survive this if we all stay diligent, on here, on our council members, and even on the mayor.
April 5th, 2010 at 7:21 am
There are many good ideas on this blog. I personally like Childless Adult in Dearborn’s idea of charging a fee for a combined pool and library pass. Perhaps the city could have a discounted rate for the purchase of a combined library and pool pass, making it more financially attractive, but still allow others to purchase a separate pool or library pass.
If the new large city supplied trash can and a 2nd recyclable container plan is going to soon go into effect all over the city, then perhaps the city could still offer 1 of each free to each resident and for households that need more than one can, charge a small, reasonable, affordable fee for additional containers. The city could also charge a small, reasonable, affordable fee for leaf pickup and the additional trash it picks up that includes anything one wants to dispose of.
There are numerous ways to fund those pools at minimal expense to taxpayers. Even though we don’t have any children, nonetheless, since we’ve received such a large property tax decrease, I’d have no issue with paying the full $100 one-time increased property tax to rebuild all the aging pools and a small yearly fee to pay for pool operational costs. We also have to remember that this proposal does not include businesses, which would also help lower the increased property tax per home. Funding healthy, neighborhood, outdoor activities for our children, whether we have children or not, is crucial to the future of our city.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
The city of Dearborn should conduct a comprehensive poll of all Dearborn ciitzens to prioritize their service cuts and the poll should be conducted by an outside company that has no vested interest in the outcome. Mayor Pudding Pant’s community task force should not be able to speak for the entire community!
Printed in today’s Detroit Free Press (April 5, 2010):
Polls take guesswork out of tight budgets
Communities learn what taxpayers value — or don’t
BY BILL LAITNER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Comments (19) Recommend (4) Print E-mail Letter to the editor Share
With many communities expecting steep deficits next fiscal year, dozens of cities statewide are conducting surveys to see what services taxpayers are willing to forgo — or keep.
“We found a majority of our residents (52.6%) said they’d pay higher taxes” — 1 mill more in property tax, or an average of $88 per household — “to keep all of our library services,” including Sunday hours, Huntington Woods City Manager Alex Allie said.
The Oakland County community’s poll, to be discussed Tuesday at a City Commission meeting, was accurate to within 3%, Wayne State University political science professor Jered Carr said. He conducted the survey as training for graduate students.
Cobalt Community Research in Lansing did similar surveys in Ferndale and Warren last year, and expects results for the City of Wayne this month.
By April 12, Cobalt plans to send a survey to residents in all five Grosse Pointe communities, Executive Director William SaintAmour said.
The nonprofit group was founded in 2008 to provide low-cost data to municipal leaders, SaintAmour said.
Getting residents’ feedback is essential because “you can no longer do a haircut approach,” trimming 5% to 10% from each city or township department, said Paul Tait, executive director of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, a regional planning organization.
Many communities must make cuts of 20% to 30% from 2010-11 budgets, “and maybe more after that,” Tait said. Surveys ease the impact by confirming what services residents value most, he said.
The Huntington Woods survey also showed that 57.2% of residents would pay $25 a year for removal of sidewalk snow, which the city now does free.
Another finding was that 45.2% of residents would consolidate public safety with a neighboring town, such as Berkley, to achieve major — although unspecified — savings. City officials said they were surprised because that was less support for consolidation than a 1997 survey found.
“I think we’ve got a really excellent police force, but eventually something like that will have to happen,” Mayor Ron Gillham said.
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said a 2009 city survey will gain value as fresh polls are done every year or two, “so we can see if we’re making progress.”
Fouts said he was happy to find that, although broader polls show Michiganders unhappy with state and federal government, “people are generally quite happy with their local government services here.”
The June 2009 survey of 1,500 Warren residents showed an overall satisfaction rating with life in the city of 61.3%, compared with a nationwide average for large cities of 55%. Fouts said he worried the rating could dip as a result of the hard choices he faces.
“I just announced that my administrative director wants to lay off police. No one wants to hear that,” he said.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
In response to Michael Albano’s last post, add to the list:
Fire all the workers that drive around in their blue pick-up trucks doing NOTHING but burning gasoline and polluting Dearborn’s air!
April 6th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I love that everyone here is willing to personally do something to keep the things we value most about Dearborn. Let’s take our concerns and solutions to the city! There is a meeting scheduled for
Monday April 12 at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers
to discuss the budget and, specifically, the pools. Wear red to show your support for keeping the pools. If you would like, bring your kids and have them write a letter to give to the mayor about why it matters to them.
April 6th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
“Joe Dearborn” raised a valid point about the street sweepers. It seems like those sweepers are sweeping almost year round,i would have to guess the cost of buying those and to maintain them is pretty costly. Do we really need them?
Is the concept of cleaning up the curb in front of your own house too much for us residents to handle ourselves?
I would rather keep our pools open and get rid of those useless sweepers!
How does it make sense to make everyone bag their leaves which in many areas is massive amount,but the city will have a big expensive sweeper remove the dust from your curb?
Think about it people,in sure all of us residents young an old can go out to our curb with a broom and can and clean up at times,but can we all get a rake and rake tons of leaves and bag them and move them to the curb?
The answer is no!
The real solution to cutting cost and saving money is to keep the leaf program and sell and eliminate the street sweepers.
April 6th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
An easy way to save money is eliminating the Park Ranger Program(who are not even armed). The Dearborn Park Rangers are a joke. I know this because I am a Police officer in the city, and I’ve had to clean up after the messes they make on multiple occasion. The main problem with the Park Rangers are they lack training. They do not know how to talk to people and clam down intense situations. Most of them lack command presents, so no one takes them seriously. Some of them have power trips and just talk to people like garbage. What usually happens is they get on the radio and scream for a police officer to come help them out. For the most part, in my experience, the park rangers are mostly at fault for escalating the situation. I tell everyone I know, if you need help at the park call THE POLICE!
Police officers regularly patrol the parks during their patrol duties. And most people are going to call the police and not a park ranger if they have a problem. The park ranger have limited powers to enforce ordinances like parking and loitering and that is it. So it makes no sense to pay these guy 10 and 15 dollars an hour to patrol the park, when armed, trained, and professional Police Officers already do!
So you see this is a big waste of money that can go to the neighborhood pools that I use to enjoy every summer day when I was a small child.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
How about,
I am NOT willing to give this administration and extra penny. Not when they make decisions like buy Montgomery wards for a sky high price and sell it for an 1/8 of what they paid for it. Not when they building parking garages for a development that should have been required to build their own garage. Not when they get permission to sell Dearborn Towers and then wait years for the value to drop. Not when they build this Performing Arts Center that loses so much money daily. Not when Norwood screws up building and safety and is rewarded with another department to screw up. Not when money is wasted redoing the paid parking system, redesign entry ways, antique meters. Not when they allow money to be stolen under their noses. They cannot be trusted with the money I already have to give them, I’m done throwing away my hard earned money on this Administration.
I wish this City had woke up in November and voted in some people who could turn this City around. There were plenty of good business men on the ballot like Kiernan and D’Ambrosio who could have made a difference. To many residents just didn’t bother to go out and vote. Those that did voted for recognizable names instead of merit. Remember this in 3 1/2 years if there is anything left to this City.
April 7th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Wanting for a better Dearborn: You are so right!
April 7th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Not everyone voted for the “recognizable” names last November and I proud to say that I did not vote for a single incumbent, including Mayor Pudding Pants.
April 7th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Regardless of who people voted for and regardless of what some may think of them, should the voters approve funding to keep all 8 pools open, then it would be political suicide for city leaders to not use the funding for the pools that was mandated by voters. To simply not approve funding for the pools because some do not like or did not vote for incumbents, would result in losing 6 of 8 pools forever and this would be a huge loss to Dearborn residents.
April 7th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
We will have to hold them to it. Remember the vote to have 205 officers? That has not happened yet. No matter the vote in years past, it is time for all of us to get involved, more than ever. We are watching our beloved city waste away, starting with Michigan Avenue. The neighborhoods and the citizens who have suffered through all of their bad decisions, i.e. parking…all of it, super block, the performing arts center, the appointment of incompetent leaders, scandals, you name it, we have been loyal. Well no more. It takes a village to save a village. I will not miss a council meeting if I can help it. I hope to seem more people attending and challenging these folks. Enough council meetings listening to the mayor bloviate! We need to take our city back from these people. If not, we will surely go the way of Detroit.
April 7th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
The only thing missing from this Mayor is a speech about “Hope and Change”,is anyone else starting to realize we have elected a Mayor that is in over his head and is driving this City into the ground?
It is great to see such an outcry from all of us citizens but its too little too late,we are stuck with the BIG GUY for another 3 years,the lesson here is that VOTES or NOT VOTING has consequences and now we all see that elimination of the leaf pick up and the closing of the small pools are some of those consequences. Keep that in mind the next time around.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:36 am
In my travels today I spotted another great use of city tax money. What is it you ask? It is a brand new 2010 Escape all decked out with emergency overhead lights, push bumper, and Dearborn Park Ranger Decals. What is the need for this? Why is the city buying the Dearborn Park Ranger’s a brand new vehicle, with brand new equipment? Why does this vehicle need a $1500 emergency light bar on it, when Dearborn Park Ranger’s are not allowed to make traffic stops!
I’m telling all you folks like I said before these Park Ranger’s are a waste of money. And I’m 99% sure they are funded by the recreation department, so that is money coming out of the pool fund right there. This is something someone might want to bring up at the meeting, especially that new vehicle they just got. I would myself, but because of my position as a city employee I can’t speak at these meetings.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
You’re not gonna tell me that Homecoming is a break-even proposition are you, Mr. Mayor? Return the two outdoor rinks to Ford Field (yes there were two), a couple of baseball diamonds so it will be a place families can have fun again.
On the topic of a city income tax: been there. done that. That was voted down a number of years ago. Do it now to save pools and have leaf pick-up? I think not.
April 8th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
The last thing Dearborn needs is more robo-cops running around! We have enough cops as it is! We don’t need fake ones and I know for a fact that there is all kinds of nepotism in the city. The mayor and department heads, specifically the head of recreation, want to keep the rangers so that they can give the jobs to their friends and family. The position pays $17 per hour.
April 8th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Disgusted with Dearborn: you are correct, we need no more robo-cops…park rangers, parking dudes. But real cops…we need them and we need the 205 we voted for. If you don’t think so you may want to befriend a Dearborn cop and listen to some of the crap they keep out of this city.
Turk182: I was thinking the same thing about Hope and Change. How funny. But do not lose heart. 3 years will pass and we are just getting warmed up, on both fronts. Hang in there and stay involved.