News

The DHCA is pleased to update the Dearborn Hills Neighborhood with the latest results of your efforts to Save Our Trees.

 

Thanks to your support and overwhelming active response the City has dramatically changed course. 

 

(The original City bids specified the cutting of all trees in the area between sidewalk and street within 3 feet of the curb.  This would have affected 887 trees in the west Dearborn Hills Neighborhood alone!)

 

First, the Mayor has released a statement promising that no trees will be cut without the homeowner's agreement.  The statement is available at:  http://www.cityofdearborn.org/news-and-events/city-news/1269-statement-from-mayor-o-reilly-and-other-info-about-trees-and-dearborn-hills

 

Second, the City has altered the CSO ("Combined Sewer Overflow) Project schedule to allow more time for the City to develop a plan to Save Our Trees.  The diagram included in the October 14, 2017 letter has been changed and the more complicated areas of Dearborn Hills will be completed in 2019 and later.  We will post the updated diagram on our webpage.

 

Third, the City is rebidding the construction project to account for the changes in the CSO schedule.  The original bids specified the cutting of all trees in the easement (area between sidewalk and street) within 3 feet of the curb.  The new bids will revise that specification.

 

Fourth, the City Engineers will meet with the DHCA within the next two weeks to assure that all reasonable efforts to preserve the trees are taken.  And we will continue to meet with the City Engineers to monitor this entire project moving forward.

 

While the Mayor's statement is unequivocal, the City Engineers' statement indicates several practical difficulties preserving some trees.  We need to continue to be vigilant, but we believe the City now recognizes the need to use their best efforts to preserve our trees.

 

 

Your Voices have been heard!  At this time, there is no longer a need to call City officials.

 

The DHCA has proposed a Resolution to Save our Trees for the City Council to consider.  This resolution was introduced to the Council at a meeting on 10/19 and was submitted to the City’s Legal Department for review. 

 

Though this resolution will not officially come before Council next Tuesday, the DHCA will be there to request the City Council adopt this Resolution.  

 

We would like to invite interested residents to join us at that meeting as a show of support

(City Council mtg. - Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, 7:30 P.M. at the Dearborn Administrative Center, 16901 Michigan Avenue).  

 

As we meet with City Engineers we will provide additional details on the steps the City is taking to preserve our trees and neighborhood character. 

 

For now, there is no longer a need to call or email your City representatives.

 

They heard all of us.  And they heard us loud and clear!