There were lots of questions about Dearborn’s city calendar at Monday night’s City Council meeting so we thought we’d remind readers again about what needs to be done if you’d like to receive a free city calendar for 2012.

Residents who want a calendar mailed to their homes must have their order in by Nov. 4. The preferred method to order is through the city’s website, www.cityofdearborn.org

The direct link to the request form is HERE. Ordering the calendar at www.cityofdearborn.org ensures accuracy and reduces the cost to taxpayers.

As an alternative method only, residents without Internet access can order a calendar by calling 943-3003 and leaving a mailing address.

As a cost-saving measure, it is no longer mailed to every household automatically.

The 2012 City Calendar will also be found at www.cityofdearborn.org in January and can be viewed or printed in its entirety or by individual pages.

Those who order a calendar should receive it in the mail before Dec. 23, 2011. Additional copies will be available in December at public buildings while supplies last.

Is the 1968 C10 Chevy panel wagon dressed with a custom graphic advertising Peder Blohm’s Internet business a commercial vehicle or a personal use one?

At a Dearborn Traffic Commission meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Blohm will find out.

Is Peter Blohm's 1968 C10 Chevy panel wagon, pictured in the driveway of his Dearborn home, a commercial vehicle that is a nuisance to his neighbors or a personal use one?

Blohm’s “Beast”, the name he has affectionately given his ’68 Chevy, was recently found in violation of the city’s ordinance regulating commercial vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods.  According to Blohm, he received two violation notices at his Dearborn home that were signed by a Residential Services employee (formerly Building and Safety) telling him he had until Oct. 2 to move the vehicle.

Blohm says he contacted Dearborn’s Residential Services and tried to explain that the vehicle was not a commercial vehicle, and that it was registered as a wagon, driven for personal and not commercial use, and displayed at local car cruises and car shows. Still, he says, the inspector insisted it was a commercial vehicle.

We’ve written on these pages a couple of weeks ago how Dearborn was stepping up its enforcement of its ordinance regulating commercial vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods (see earlier story, HERE).

In a way, you can’t blame the enforcement officers. They are being told by their leaders to write up every commercial vehicle they see following a slew of complaints from residents on this very topic. In a recent four day sweep of the city more than 160 citations were issued.

Blohm admits that his vehicle has colorful graphics for a member-based Web site, mynewmarketplace.com that he is part owner of, and which helps to connect buyers and sellers nationwide.

He says when he asked the inspector if he were to purchase a $300,000 Bentley, put graphics on the doors, and keep it parked in his driveway, would it be considered a commercial vehicle. The inspector quickly replied “yes.” Blohm said he was told that if he continued to park his vehicle in his driveway the city would fine him and he’d be taken to court.

Which is why he is headed to the city’s Traffic Commission meeting Tuesday night with a petition signed by all of his neighbors (all want the city to approve it) seeking an exception to the ordinance.

(more…)

Earlier this summer, former Dearborn Charter Commissioner Raymond Trudeau came before the Dearborn City Council to ask questions about Judge Mark Somers and the more than $1.1 million in damages against him from two lawsuits that the city could end up writing a check for.

In his confrontational style of question asking, Trudeau wanted answers to two questions: would the city would have to pay $1.1 million for the jury awards and why Dearborn didn’t settle these two civil lawsuits for a fraction of the cost rather than going to trial.

City leaders said Dearborn wasn’t responsible for those jury awards.

That appears not to be the case now.

The Michigan Court of Appeals late last week denied an appeal hearing made by the attorney general’s office to throw out the award of $463,820 to Simone Calvas, a former probation officer at the district court in Dearborn.

This means the city of Dearborn could be forced to write the check for the entire amount. It is worth noting that the Appeals Court denied the motion because the attorney general’s office was late in filing the appeal within the required 21 day window from when the jury award was made. Kind of makes you wonder if the State should pay for the entire amount for being late with its appeal request.

The Calvas award is one of two that separate juries in two different civil trials awarded to two former District Court employees in Dearborn over claims they were fired by Judge Somers in violation of Michigan law. The second award was for $732,000 to Julie Pucci, a former deputy court administrator.

At that council meeting Trudeau attended in July, he never received an answer on why the city didn’t consider settling with Ms. Pucci.  According to Trudeau, Pucci would have settled for less than $50,000. One city council member told Deepsaidwhat.com that Judge Somers was asked to consider settling the suit on several occasions but he declined.

Dearborn residents are invited to discover the results of three public workshops and an online survey that contributed to the creation of a new master plan for the city, at a meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The Summation Workshop will be in Club Room One of The Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.

Dearborn’s new master plan is being developed as a vision for the future of transportation, land use, the economy and environmental and cultural stewardship in the city.

The master plan will help determine the physical characteristics of the city and facilitate the renovation of the community residents want to see for the long term.

Three public workshops on different neighborhoods of the city have already been presented. As part of the process, residents also had a chance to take an online survey to give input on the desirable features they’d like Dearborn to cultivate.

The city of Dearborn will be activating its citywide Emergency Warning Sirens at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 in observation of the National Moment of Remembrance. Residents are advised not to call the police when they hear the sirens.

The city of Dearborn is observing the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 in two important ways: by promoting the National Moment of Remembrance at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 and by partnering with The Henry Ford and the Dearborn Area Ministerial Association (DAMA) for a public Remembrance and Unity Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11

The National Moment of Remembrance, initiated by the U.S. Senate, asks all people in America to cease work or other activity at 1 p.m. September 11.

It is also asked that the moment be marked in an appropriate manner, including by ringing bells, blowing whistles, or sounding sirens at 1 p.m. Dearborn will be activating its citywide Emergency Warning Sirens.

The Dearborn City Council, upon request of Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., approved the resolution in support of the National Moment of Remembrance at Tuesday’s council meeting. The resolution is attached.

In addition, Mayor O’Reilly is inviting the public to attend the Remembrance and Unity Vigil Sunday on the lawn of the Henry Ford Museum, the same site that hosted a community candlelight ceremony in September, 2001.

The City is joining with The Henry Ford and DAMA, as well as the Dearborn Public Schools, the Vanguard Voices and other community members to honor those who perished on September 11, recognize the changes that the event brought to all of our lives, and to look forward with hope, empowered by strong community connections.

Mayor O’Reilly and Gov. Rick Snyder will speak and the ceremony will be hosted by Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford.

Local clergy will offer prayers and reflections, and members of the community will light candles in memory of the victims, and in honor of the heroes and families still touched by the tragedy.

Other members of the community will present hopeful visions for a more peaceful world.

The ceremony should last about one hour and will be presented regardless of the weather. Candles will be provided. Chairs will be available only for people who are disabled.

After years of delays, it finally appears that three vacant buildings in downtown West Dearborn could soon be demolished by year’s end.

The former Brothers Tuxedo building at Michigan and Howard is one of three buildings city council approved to be demolished.

Dearborn City Council on Tuesday night approved (yet again) the demolition of the three biggest eyesores on Michigan Avenue: the Bally Total Fitness (previously a Vic Tanny); Brothers Tuxedo (gutted years ago and rotting since) and the remaining half of the building that was once Guilano’s restaurant.

Regular readers of this site will recall that the removal of these three buildings — all on the north side of Michigan Avenue between Military and Howard streets — were a key part of the Dearborn Village Partners (DVP) corporation’s planned development on Michigan, which at one time included a movie theater and condo/apartment living. In fact, those very plans for the development were submitted to the State of Michigan in order to obtain Brownfield tax credits.

A birdseye view of an early rendering of the DVP project that was once proposed on Michigan between Military and Howard.

With the economy still struggling, it is doubtful the scope and magnitude of the original development will ever see the light of day. The good news, however, is that a new plan for the property must be submitted to both the city and state if DVP still hopes to secure those tax credits.

It isn’t quite clear who will pay for demolition of the three buildings. At one point, it was going to be the city of Dearborn. The city would then hold a lien on the property until it recouped its cleanup costs. It now appears DVP will be paying to have the buildings razed.

Steve King and the Dittilies will help campers rock ‘n roll through the last official weekend of the season at Camp Dearborn, marking the end of summer for many. The band will perform Sunday evening at the ever popular Canteen Dance.

The official camping season traditionally ends with an end of summer bash. The band will play Sunday, Sept. 4 from 8 till 11 p.m. Tent and cabin reservations are expected to be fully booked.

A favorite camping destination for many in southeast Michigan, Camp Dearborn wraps up another busy season with the Labor Day weekend crowd. Tents and cabins in Tent Village have been filled since mid-June. The camp office maintained a waiting list for much of the summer.

Camp Dearborn runs its full activity season from mid-June through Labor Day each year. Camping with limited activity is available as early as May 1 and runs through October.

In addition to the permanent camping units of Tent Village, Camp Dearborn offers 191 temporary sites for those with their own equipment. Temporary sites are either full hook-up or electric only and can be reserved by calling either of the Camp offices: Dearborn Recreation Department at 313-943-2350 or Milford Camp Office at 248-684-6000.

(more…)

Dearborn’s Master Plan workshops for residents continues Wednesday at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course.

Residents are invited to guide the future development of the city through participating in these public workshops. The survey process was completed Aug. 1 and interested residents may participate in these special workshops.

Wednesday’s meeting is the third in a series and begins at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. This workshop is focused on neighborhoods in the northwest part of the city.

Input will be used in the creation of Dearborn’s new master plan, which will be a vision for the future of transportation, land use, the economy and environmental and cultural stewardship.

The master plan will help determine the physical characteristics of the city and facilitate the type of community residents want to see for the long term.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Summation workshop: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Club Room One, 15801 Michigan Ave.

The city of Dearborn removed the foundations that were to be used to build additional condos in West Village Square.

The city of Dearborn has ripped out the rotting foundations that were to be used to build condominiums on in West Village Square, removing an eyesore for nearby residents.

Known as the Abbey Lane condos, just off of Mason in what was the former overflow parking lot for Jacobsen’s department store, the foundations were poured sometime in 2008.

The development was part of the project by developer Burton-Katzman, who the city sued for failing to complete the West Village Commons project on Michigan Avenue. The condo development was part of the unfinished project.

While the city had to pay for the removal of the foundations, a lien will be placed on this property for the city to recoup its costs when or if the property is sold again.

The removal of the foundations is good news for the residents of the Abbey Lane condos who will now have a green space to use for the near term. However, it is an expense (however small) that some readers of Deepsaidwhat.com are questioning, particularly given the city’s financial situation.

“More mismanagement by the city!,” wrote one reader. “The neighborhood begged the city to put less density on that 1.7 acre lot! The neighborhood begged the city to consider 36 units rather than 48 units in that development and to make more green space and PARKING between the units. The city was too bullheaded and tax revenue hungry to listen. So they went with 48 units, built 36 units and stuck it up the neighborhoods’ collective arses! Now they have to pay to remove two of the units foundations to create a green space at the end of the development which makes no sense whatsoever. These same baffoons that are in office now are the same ones that wouldn’t listen to the neighborhood . . .”

Another reader had this to say: “ . . . in the city’s pursuit to be in the real estate business, they (we taxpayers) are now going to have to pay the costs to rip out all of this prepared building slabs to make way for a “green space”. Nice job once again City of Dearborn leaders!! Remember this when voting day nears.”

They are valid arguments. On the other hand, Dearborn city leaders have an obligation to properly maintain our city, even in tough economic times. No one can deny that the green space now at the corner of Michigan and Brady is far more attractive to look at than the abandoned motel that once occupied that piece of land. The city paid for that demolition, too.

There are many more vacant buildings along Michigan Avenue that need to be demolished to help clean up West Dearborn. If this city is going to attract new residents and businesses, looking the part is a good first step.

Libraries, property inspection, parks, swimming pools and recreation, as well as youth and senior programs could become unaffordable luxuries without state help, according to the Detroit Free Press.

In an editorial in Monday’s paper, the Free Press says private citizens can make a difference as evidenced by residents in Romulus. The fund-raising efforts of the Friends of the Romulus Library reopened the local public library after it closed on May 1 due to a millage defeat.

“Everyone should applaud the Friends of the Romulus Library, whose fund-raising efforts reopened the local public library after it closed on May 1 due to a millage defeat,” the Free Press writes. “Their work demonstrates what engaged private citizens can do when cities fail to provide needed public services. Elsewhere in southeast Michigan, other citizens groups have also stepped up and provided money and volunteers to restore programs for seniors and others.”

The editorial also suggested a survey be sent to residents for input on what services to keep. Dearborn did this earlier, sending surveys to 2,000 residents with dozens of questions.

“In the short-term, local governments can help with multiyear budgets that set narrower priorities. Local leaders should talk to — even poll — citizens about what services they consider essential, as SEMCOG has recommended. Many municipalities in southeast Michigan — including the Grosse Pointes, Warren, Wayne, Garden City, Farmington Hills and Ferndale — have already conducted citywide surveys that ask residents to prioritize and rate municipal services.”

For the full editorial, click HERE.