Dearborn Heights City Councilmember Hassan Saab said his support for the new fire station location was conditional on full transparency, and when he and other council members were excluded from a planning meeting a week later, he withdrew his support.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – The City Council unanimously rescinded its support July 8 for its June 11 motion 25-326 approving the location for a new north end fire station on Beech Daly Road.
The original motion approved a site on city-owned land that is part of the Warren Valley Golf Course, between Hines Drive and Warren Avenue.
The new station is meant to replace the building on Beech Daly south of Ford Road that was build on unstable ground and has subsequently been subject to structural problems, as well as mold.
The motion to rescind during the July 8 council meeting was made by Councilmember Hassan Saab and seconded by Councilmember Tom Wencel.
Saab said when he voted on the new fire station location, he made it clear that his support was conditional, and he wanted to be included in every planning meeting, to which the administration agreed.
“One week later, they held a secret meeting,” he said. “No notice, no invite. Suddenly, everything’s so secretive and I was told I wouldn’t be a part of it.”
Saab said he doesn’t play games.
“I promised the residents full transparency, and I meant it,” he said. “That’s why we rescinded the fire station motion and council backed it.
“This is what accountability looks like.”
Saab said that as long as he is in office, he will hold Mayor Bill Bazzi and his administration accountable.
“That’s what I was elected to do,” Saab said.
Bazzi has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador to Tunisia, and is undergoing a vetting process.
Bazzi did not reply to a request for comment by press time.