Vacant lots owned by the City of Dearborn are available for purchase for the construction of new homes.

To see a list of available properties, visit www.cityofdearborn.org

While these lots can represent a good value to potential buyers, there are guidelines to follow:

•The properties may be purchased for the minimum bid price.

•The properties are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

•If you wish to purchase any of the properties, please submit your written request, including your name, address and phone number, directly to: Licia Yangouyian, Assistant Corporation Counsel, 13615 Michigan Ave., Ste. 8, Dearborn, MI 48126.

•You must submit a $500 deposit for each property that you wish to purchase.

•Buyers are required to comply with the City’s Guidelines for Land Sales, a copy of which is available at the Legal Department, 3rd Floor, East Wing of City Hall, 13615 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126.

•The lots must be paid in full by certified check or money order at the time of the closing.

•The City requires the buyer to begin construction of a new single-family house on residential property within 12 months of accepting the offer.

•All bids submitted are subject to approval by the Dearborn City Council.

•Buyer must comply with zoning laws and will not be granted any variance.

For more information, call the city’s Legal Department at 943-2035.

Dearborn residents voted Tuesday to raise the city tax rate by 4.5 mills and defeated a proposal to eliminate the Civil Service Commission.

On the Public School Board side, a new board member was elected and another long-time member kept his position for another term.

Voter turnout was a pathetic 21 percent with just 12,493 of the 59,160 registered voters in our city casting ballots. A lot more work has to be done by our elected officials but yesterday’s results were a big step in the right direction.

The results are below:

Proposal 1: 3.5-mill operating millage
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,420 (60.42 percent)

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,860  (39.58)

Total . . . . . . . ….12,280

Proposal 2: 1-mill dedicated library millage

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,379 (59.81 percent)

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,959  (40.19)

Total . . . . . . . . . 12,338

Proposal 3: Should the city eliminate the Civil Service Commission? 

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,158  (51.11 percent)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,891  (48.89)

Total . . . . . . . . . 12,049

Dearborn Public Schools Board Member 

Joseph A. Guido . . . . . . . . 5,988  (31.09 percent)

Roxanne McDonald . . . . .  5,922 (30.75)

Mary K. Petlichkoff . . . . . .  4,784 (24.84)

Stephen Stanley Dobkowski, Jr. . . . 2,528  (13.12)

WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 39 (.20)

Total . . . . . . . . . 19,261

If you still need more information about the three proposals on the ballot Tuesday, Dearborn officials have sent out two handy links that explain what they mean.

Proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot ask voters to make decisions about temporarily increasing the funding for City services and authorizing a dedicated source of revenue for the library system.

Proposal One asks voters to temporarily increase the millage rate for city services by no more than 3.5 mills for no more than 5 years.

The temporary tax rate would cost the owner of an averageDearbornhome about $187 more a year, if fully levied. The City has lost revenue for basic services because of sharp declines in property values and other economic factors.

Proposal Two asks voters to approve a one-mill increase to fund library services for up to 10 years.

A third ballot proposal asks voters to decide if the Civil Service System, which applies to certain City of Dearborn employees, should be eliminated from the City Charter.

To find out more, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/688-voters-asked-to-decide-funding-for-city-services

To view a League of Women Voters forum featuring Mayor O’Reilly talking about the temporary tax rate increase, the library funding measure and Proposal 3, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/684-learn-about-ballot-proposals-by-watching-cdtv

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For election information, call the City Clerk’s Office at 943-2032.

The City of Dearborn is finally going on the offensive, working to explain three critical ballot proposals in emails to residents and local media outlets.

While there has been a lot of emotion around what proposals to support, the operating and library millage are ones that need to be passed if Dearborn is to maintain its current level of services.

Below is information about each proposal from the City ofDearborn.

Proposal 1: Operating Millage

Q: What does this ballot proposal ask voters to do?

A: Determine whether to temporarily raise the authorized level of the City’s general operating tax rate by a maximum of 3.5 mills for a maximum of five years. The operating tax rate is the most critical source of funding for most City services.

Q: How much would 3.5 mills cost the owner of an average Dearborn home?

A: $187 a year. The averageDearbornhome has a taxable value of $53,435.

Q: If approved and levied, how long would the temporary tax rate increase be in place?

A: Five years or less. Each year, the city Council would have the authority to levy the number of additional mills necessary.

Q: Why are voters being asked to decide?

A: Because of a structural budget deficit, the City is facing about a $20 million difference in what it costs to offer current services and facilities and the revenue the City takes in.  Revenue for essential City services has declined significantly in recent years because of the decline in property values.

For instance, the value of an average home inDearbornin Fiscal Year 2008 was $69,583. Now it is $53,435. Overall, the City has lost about 16 years of growth.

In Fiscal Year 2008, the owner of an averageDearbornhome paid $948 in operating taxes. Now, the owner of an averageDearbornhome is paying $801, or $147 less, in operating taxes. If the 3.5 mills are approved and levied, the owner of the same home would pay $988. Other sources of revenue for essential City services have also declined significantly while at the same time costs have risen.

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Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad on Thursday was named one of the top public officials of the year, one of nine leaders across the U.S. who were recognized as the best and brightest in state, city and county government by Governing magazine.

The annual awards program, now in its 18th year, recognizes the top state and local government officials for their leadership and accomplishments in their positions and communities.

Here is what the editorial team of Governing magazine had to say about Dearborn Chief Haddad:

“Home to the nation’s most concentrated Arab community, Dearborn, Michigan, boasts one of the most widely admired approaches to counterterrorism — one pioneered by the city and state’s first Arab-American police chief. Heralded as a model for the nation and for federal policy, Haddad’s approach uses community-based policing to defend against violent extremism.  A 7 percent drop in crime in 2010 and Dearborn’s culture of trust and civic engagement are testaments to Haddad’s success.

” . . . Haddad has formed relationships built on trust and respect with all members of his community, particularly the Arab and Muslim populations. Haddad has pioneered a new approach to counterterrorism, using community-based policing as a way to defend against violent extremism.

“[There] can’t be this boots-on-the-ground sort of militaristic, machismo attitude about countering terrorism,” says Juliette Kayyem, the former assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “It has to be one of civic engagement, and I think the Dearborn model is a model for the nation and for federal policy.”

Governing magazine says that Public Officials of the Year are selected from nominations submitted by readers, experts in the public and private sectors, and its editorial team. Among the qualities recognized are leadership, courage, innovation, creativity and good management. Governing magazine has named a total of 167 people as Public Officials of the Year since it began the awards.

“These dynamic state, city and county public officials faced both economic and political challenges,” said Governing Publisher Fred Kuhn in a statement. “Through their collective vision, these stellar leaders worked to better not only their communities but to set an example for future leaders to follow.”

You can view a Kiwanis Club of Dearborn video interview with Chief Haddad about his career by clicking HERE.

In case you missed it, Dearborn resident Paula Hamilton-Stokes, who was elected and served on the Dearborn Charter Commission in 2007, says the city’s move to try and eliminate Dearborn’s Civil Service Commission through a ballot question sets a bad precedent.

In a column that first appeared in the Dearborn Press & Guide last week, she said she does not support Proposal Three, which would eliminate the Civil Service Commission.

“As one of nine former, elected Charter Commissioners I was charged with revising the city of Dearborn Charter. We laboriously scrutinized every section.

“We spent a minimum of time discussing Civil Service. Why…? There was little to discuss. The Civil Service Commission is doing its job. The Human Resources Department is doing its job, and the protections written into the charter are still valid today, perhaps even more so.

“Michigan’s governor has made it quite clear he will find the extra funds he is looking for, possibly at the expense of state employees, be they involved in teaching, or working at the local government level. The residents and the employees need Civil Service to continue standing sentry, looking out for our best interest.

“Changing the City Charter, a mere three years after its unanimous passage, sets a dangerous precedent. If the “powers that be” don’t like something, just re-word it so it suits you. We could find ourselves changing lots of things just because a few don’t approve.”

Hamilton-Stokes raises an interesting question. What has changed in three years since voters approved the City Charter that city leaders now have decided to bring Proposal 3 to the ballot?

Dearborn voters can learn more about the three ballot proposals to be decided in the Nov. 8 election by watching a League of Women Voters forum on the topics on CDTV, the City of Dearborn’s official television channel.

During the Nov. 8 election, Dearborn voters will be asked to make decisions about temporarily increasing the funding for City services and authorizing a dedicated source of revenue for the library system.

A third ballot proposal asks voters to decide if the Civil Service System should be eliminated from the City Charter.

The ballot proposal forum was hosted by the Dearborn-Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters in the Dearborn City Council Chambers.

CDTV is now broadcasting the ballot proposal forum on cable channel 12 on Comcast and cable channel 10 on WOW on the following schedule:

• Mondays and Wednesdays: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m. (Mondays only), 6 p.m., and 10 p.m.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 11 p.m.

• Fridays: 6 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m.

• Saturdays and Sundays: 8 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4 p.m. (Saturday only)

The League’s forum can be viewed any time at the City of Dearborn’s website, www.cityofdearborn.org

During the forum, Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. addressed questions from the League of Women Voters and audience members about the three ballot proposals.

Proposal 1 asks voters to decide if the City’s operating tax rate should be temporarily increased by no more than 3.5 mills for no more than 5 years. The operating tax is the most critical source of funding for most City services.

Proposal 2 asks voters to decide if they want to authorize a 1 mill dedicated tax for library services for no more than 10 years.

The forum also includes a presentation by Eric Lupher, director of local affairs for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, who gave a general overview about Civil Service Systems.

His information was background for Proposal 3, which asks voters to decide if the Civil Service System should be eliminated in Dearborn.

City Attorney Debra Walling joined the Mayor in answering questions about Dearborn’s Civil Service System, which applies to certain City of Dearborn employees.

The League also held a forum with the candidates for the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education. There are four candidates for two school board positions, which will be decided in the Nov. 8 election.

CDTV will broadcast the school board candidate forum every day from now until Nov. 8.

On the Nov. 8 election day, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more election information, call the City Clerk’s office at 943-2032.

Former Dearborn Civil Service Commissioner Marjorie Powell is seeking a court order to prevent Dearborn city officials from trying to eliminate the city’s Civil Service system through a Nov. 8 ballot question.

In a lawsuit filed by Dearborn attorney Morris Goodman, plaintiff Powell claims the city of Dearborn is in violation of Michigan law and is seeking an injunction to have the question removed from the ballot.

The Nov. 8 ballot question asks Dearborn residents to decide on a measure that would eliminate the city’s civil service system, a governing commission that oversees city employee matters, including hiring, promotions and rate of pay. While commissioners are not paid, the city’s human resources administrator, who reports to the appointed commission, earns a six figure salary.

Elected city leaders claim the commission is redundant, duplicating the protections provided by unions. Powell and her lawyer say the ballot question is “disingenuous” and in violation of state law.

“It is clear the real reason that the City of Dearborn wants to change from a Civil Service System to a Human Resources Commission is to rid itself of Marjorie Powell, the litigation in case (she has against the city) and Human Resources Administrator Valerie Murphy Goodrich,” the lawsuit states.

“. . . By eliminating the Civil Service Commission, both Powell and Murphy-Goodrich would also be eliminated so they could not be in a position to thwart attempts to appoint unqualified political cronies to positions of power within Dearborn city government.”

The wording of the ballot proposal says:

“The Dearborn Civil Service System as defined in Chapter 11 of the Dearborn City Charter was created before city employees formed 8 distinct labor unions to represent their interests in negotiating contracts that cover wages, benefits and work rules. The provisions in these contracts take precedence over the Civil Service policies. Dearborn is one of the few Michigan cities that still has a Civil Service Commission. If necessary, the City Council could create a Human Resources Commission by ordinance to oversee any employment issues for City employees.

“Shall the Dearborn City Charter be amended to eliminate the Civil Service Commission by repealing Chapter 11?”

According to the lawsuit, the city is in violation of Michigan law because the ballot question cannot be more than 100 words and “shall consist of a true and impartial statement of the purpose of the amendment or question in language that does not create prejudice for or against the amendment or question . . .”

In addition, the lawsuit points out that most larger Michigan cities do indeed have a Civil Service Commission, including: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Flint, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Livonia, Westland, Troy, Southfield, Kalamazoo, Wyoming, Pontiac, Taylor, St. Clair Shores, Saginaw, Royal Oak, Dearborn Heights and Muskegon.

“To say ‘Dearborn is one of the few Michigan cities that still has a Civil Service Commission’ is disingenuous and needs and explanation,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also notes that a new City Charter was passed by voters in 2007 that “maintained and even strengthened the prior Civil Service Commission provision.”

This could get messy. Stay tuned . . .

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad will meet with residents at a town hall meeting on Nov. 4.

The Dearborn Police Department and Chief Ronald Haddad will be holding a series of town hall meetings to discuss crime prevention and any other topics that might be on the minds of residents.

Representatives from the Dearborn Police Department will also explain the specific ways the department serves the community.

The following is a schedule of the free Town Hall Meetings:

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 19

Bryant Middle School, 460 North Vernon St.

 • 7 p.m. Thursday, October 27

City Council Chambers, Dearborn City Hall, 13615 Michigan Ave.

The final town hall meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2 at Dearborn Public Schools Administrative Building (Ten Eyck), 18700 Audette. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Items on the agenda for the Town Hall meetings include:

• Meet Police Chief Haddad

• Learn about crime patterns in your neighborhood

• Police vehicle display

• Free child identification kits

• Crime prevention material and tips

• Sign up for NIXLE

• Open discussion

Starting November 1, Dearborn Police will step up enforcement of nuisance vehicles stored on private property to preserve the quality of neighborhoods and remove safety hazards.

To avoid a $500 fine, police are encouraging residents who have a title to an unwanted vehicle to take advantage of the City’s amnesty program by calling Rusko’s Towing at 313-274-4550.

The unwanted vehicle will be towed away without cost.

Residents who want to keep their vehicles are encouraged to move any that meet the definition of a nuisance into storage inside an enclosed structure. This includes vehicles that are disassembled, stripped, dismantled, can’t be driven or are in a state of disrepair.

Vehicles found to be inoperative for any reason could be in violation of the nuisance ordinance, known as City Ordinance 13-2.

This applies to property owners who store, or allow to be stored, a nuisance vehicle.

After November 1, vehicles found to be in violation of the nuisance ordinance will be tagged by the Police Department. Residents will have 72 hours to remove or properly store the vehicle.

After that, the homeowner may be responsible for towing/storage and a misdemeanor violation punishable by a fine up to $500.

“When you’re finished working on your car, push it back in the garage,” said Police Cpl. Mike Nelson. “Leaving them out is neighborhood blight.”

Nuisance vehicles also can be dangerous.

They often have broken glass, sharp metal protrusions or are mounted on blocks or jacks that might become unstable.

Because they frequently block access for fire equipment to adjacent buildings and structures, nuisance vehicles also constitute a fire hazard.

They can serve as a breeding ground for insects and rodents.