By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights will be seeking bids for design services beginning the renovation process of the city’s police dispatch center.
The City Council approved request for bids Nov. 23 during a virtual meeting and is only for design services, which is mostly for technology and operational updates.
Upgrades needed include LED lighting with dimmers, durable hard flooring, securable cabinetry, ADA compliance, stripping of wall paper and new painted walls, and space for four computer workstations plus one additional station for administration.
The budget for design services is $250,000 and a total of $800,000 has been allocated for the complete project, which includes the construction portion.
“This is a good project for the city and long over due,” City Engineer Ali Dib said. “It will put us back where we need to be in regards to dispatch.”
Dib also said meetings and site visits will be conducted as part of the bid process and then the council will be presented with a recommendation.
Bids for construction will come after the design bid is approved.
In April, the council unanimously rejected putting a proposal for joining the Dearborn Unified Dispatch Center on a ballot for voters to decide.
The most recent public hearing on the topic was held March 16 to voice opinions on Police Chief Mark Meyers’ and Fire Chief Dave Brogan’s recommendations to join the consolidated dispatch in Dearborn.
Residents voiced their opinions, saying they were in favor of Dearborn Heights keeping dispatch services within the city.
The Dearborn Heights dispatchers in attendance at the hearing said they do not have an interest in joining the Dearborn United Dispatch Center. They said they would like a proper running system for the residents.
The Dearborn Heights dispatch services are inside the Justice Center.
Dearborn Heights also had the discussion to possibly join the Dearborn Unified Dispatch Center in 2016.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)