MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Some residents of Laketon Township are expressing concerns over a new drain project that they say will cost them tens of thousands of dollars for drain assessments.
The Chaddock Drain Project will see the drainage district boundaries expanded and the Chaddock drain extended. The Muskegon County Drain Commissioner, Brenda Moore, said the project came about after a group of residents filed a petition to her office in 2020 after experiencing substantial flood damage, asking for her office to address flood concerns.
Moore said the goal of the project is to redirect overland waterflow to a path that will minimize flood damage.
Some residents who would be impacted by the project said they learned about it after receiving letters in the mail giving estimates on how much their drain estimates would cost.
"There's people on fixed incomes in this area, and we can't afford a $15,000 or $30,000 addition to our taxes that we already pay," said homeowner Denise Hamelink.
Hamelink said she was given an estimate around $15,000.
Moore said that the estimates are partially based on the amount of land-area owned and use of the land. She also said residents have up to 15 years to pay the amount with interest, as she works to increase it to 20 years.
Other residents said they believe the project is not fully necessary.
"I don't think that is really what the people wanted," said homeowner Lori Lubbers. "I think they basically wanted to just get their ditches dug out and culverts cleaned."
Lubbers and other neighbors said that the county should focus on maintaining existing drains rather than building new ones, and that new drains would not have long term impacts on flooding.
Moore said that the project will help prevent water from flowing onto lower laying properties.
The Preliminary Engineering Summary for the project also states that the current conditions have widespread drainage and flooding issues, and lack adequate storm water infrastructure. The summary also said there is a lack of adequate floodwater outlets for land south of Giles Road, which the project looks to address.
For some residents however, they said the cost is too burdensome.
"We try to live on our social security, and if we have to maybe take a little savings out. We want that savings to last our lifetime," said Hamelink. "This is gonna put a big crimp in it. I mean, $15,000 when you're living on $60,000 a year budget is a lot of money."
Residents in the neighborhood also said that they are displeased because they believe they were not properly notified of the township's initial meeting to decide on whether or not to act on the petition, but the official notice for that meeting on the county's website said that all homeowners within the district were notified.
A meeting will be held on Wednesday June 5 at the Laketon Township Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The official notice said that the township will review the drainage district boundary, and the apportionments.
County officials invited the public to come and have questions or concerns addressed.
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