By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — A stalemate city council vote leaves a seventh council seat empty still.
The city council voted for the second time May 8 to fill a council seat vacated by Margaret Van Houten, who stepped down from her position to become a Third Circuit Court judge in March.
Three councilors — Chairman Kenneth Barron and Councilors Margaret Horvath and Ned Apigian — voted for candidate Joseph Kosinski.
Councilwomen Lisa Hicks-Clayton and Janet Badalow voted for candidate Lisa Farrins.
Councilman Tom Berry voted for candidate Brian Pelts.
During the first council vacancy vote April 24, there were not enough councilors present to sway the vote.
Councilors also approved a street lighting proposal from DTE Energy for street lights to be installed in a poorly-lit area where several homes were recently broken into. The installation is scheduled for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“For a while we were having no lights (in that area) and we were having homes getting broken into,” Mayor Daniel Paletko said. “The solution was to bring more lights.”
After further discussion the council approved the proposal with DTE and authorized Paletko to sign the agreement.
Councilors also approved permanent traffic control devices including a “no left turn” sign on 7205 S. Telegraph, and a “no left turn” sign at 25700 Ford Road.
Another segment of the meeting honored longtime former Dearborn Heights Parks and Recreation Director Richard Buckles. Current Dearborn Heights Parks and Recreation Department Director Ken Grybel awarded Buckles with a plaque honoring his three decades of service to the community.
The award was from the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Grybel said he is proud because Buckles is still involved in the Recreation Department.
“He was the first full-time recreation director of Dearborn Heights,” Grybel said. “And here he is all these years later.”
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected])