Buying a home in Dearborn is about to get a whole lot easier.
Under a move proposed by Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. and approved by the City Council, Dearborn has eliminated what had been known as its “escrow policy” and replaced it with a new pre-occupancy agreement (POA). The action follows a recommendation by the Dearborn Area Board of Realtors.
Beginning on June 1, the City eliminated the requirement that home buyers deposit money in an escrow fund equal to the cost of fixing building and safety violations, or purchase a performance bond to ensure that critical repairs are completed.
Both methods were to guarantee that repairs were made before the buyers moved into a house. But the requirements could be burdensome, especially to first-time home buyers.
Now, the POA will ensure essential building and safety repairs are completed before a house is occupied, helping to keep people safe and Dearborn’s housing stock maintained to minimum building standards.
The fee for the POA is $495, which covers the cost for the Residential Services Department to monitor the progress of essential repairs.
Appropriate inspections are still needed. The inspection fee for a single-family home is $200.
Conditional occupancy of the home is allowed only after safety and exterior items are addressed.
The owner then has another 90 days to fix any remaining violations. At that point, the owner can receive a full C of O.
Either the buyer or the seller can pay the $495 fee to the City.
A preferred option is for the seller to complete all the repairs before the sale and obtain a C of O, in which case no POA is needed.
More information can be found at wwwcityofdearborn.org or by calling Residential Services at 313-943-2150.
Dearborn residents have begun receiving their new trash and recycling carts, with the expectation that all households will have the new carts by July 5.
The carts are being delivered to every household at the curbside. Residents being asked to then store the two, 96-gallon carts in an appropriate place and not to use them before their collection day on the week of July 5.
Until the week of July 5, residents are asked to use their existing trash cans and recycling bin.
A complete packet of information is inside the new carts detailing the use and storage of the carts.
Note that nothing has changed or will change regarding curbside yard waste collection. Residents should still put out their yard waste as usual.
Trash days will stay on the same day as they always have been for every household.
Curbside recycling will also continue to be on trash days, but residents will recycle every other week on their trash days.
Each recycling cart will have information posted on them so residents will easily know which week to recycle.
For more information,contact the Department of Public Works at (313) 943-2285 or Republic Services Customer Service at 1-800-878-4626. More details are available at www.cityofdearborn.org.
The public is invited to attend the City of Dearborn’s annual Flag Day commemoration ceremony, which this year will be held a day early.
The ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 13, at the flagpole in the parking lot of the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Avenue. Flag Day is June 14.
The ceremony is held in conjunction with the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council.
As usual, the June 13 Flag Day commemoration will include a dignified ceremony to burn tattered American flags, in keeping with American Legion protocols for the disposal of flags that are no longer fit for public display.
To promote children’s literacy and creativity, the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave., will be hosting the free Kids Read Comics Convention Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13.
A variety of hands on workshops, panel discussions and presentations for children and families are planned to encourage reading comics and graphics novels.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. both days, with activities lasting from 10 a.m. -5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 12 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.
Advanced registration is required for many of the workshops. Registration can be done on the Kids Read Comics website at www.kidsreadcomics.org.
Camp Dearborn will host its 14th annual Children’s Fishing Derby Sunday, June 13, from 8 a.m. until noon.
The fishing competition will be broken into four different age categories: three - five years old, six - eight years old, nine - 11 years old, and 12 - 15 years old. Prizes will be awarded in each age category for both the most fish caught, and the biggest fish caught.
Children can enter the derby free of charge but must register upon arrival to compete in their age group. They must bring their own rod, bucket and bait.
Free T-shirts will be given to the first 100 children to register, courtesy of Impressions Specialty Advertising.
Camp Dearborn is at 1700 General Motors Road, Milford. Admission is $4 per vehicle for residents of Dearborn and Milford and $6 per vehicle for all others.
Residents, businesses and visitors to Dearborn are encouraged to reserve Friday evenings to attend a free outdoor mini-concert series sponsored by the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (WDDDA).
The first concert features the versatile “Sun Messengers” and will be on June 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Muirhead Plaza adjacent to the Bryant Library on Michigan Avenue.
On July 2, concert goers will be entertained by the “Beat Club,” a Beatles Tribute Band from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On July 16, Brian Cleary Jazz Quartet will play from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Well known on the Detroit music scene, the Brian Cleary Quartet combines jazz stylings with elegant traditional music. On July 30, Crush, the sounds of classic rock and more, will entertain from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In case of rain, the concerts will be held in the Centennial Library next to the Dearborn Police station.
The WDDDA recommends that concert-goers bring chairs for outdoor seating.
Maps and details are available at www.DearbornWestOnline.com.
Dearborn residents are invited to take part in a free household hazardous waste collection event sponsored by Wayne County’s Department of Public Services from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, at Huron High School, 32044 Huron River Drive, New Boston.
This event is open to all Wayne County residents. You will be asked for photo identification to show proof of residency.
Only household-generated products from Wayne County residents will be accepted. For more information, call 734.326.3936.
June 17, 18 and 19
Museum Guild of Dearborn Garage Sale, on the grounds of the McFadden Ross House, 915 Brady. Please note that no item from the Dearborn Historical Museum’s collections will be on sale. The merchandise is donated from Guild members and other Dearborn residents.
June 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Museum Guild of Dearborn’s Third Annual Garden Party Tea, on the grounds of the McFadden Ross House, 915 Brady. $35. Fine teas, delicate finger sandwiches and sweets will be served. Dearborn’s first lady, Christina O’Reilly, is the host.
All proceeds from both events will benefit the Museum Guild of the Dearborn. The Guild benefits the Dearborn Historical Museum exclusively.
Your Subscription:
www.cityofdearborn.org
City Clerk
Film Initiative
Follow us on Twitter
View our photos
