Thanks to all of you who attended the special meeting on the drain assessment. The Board appreciates everyone’s comments and questions on this very challenging issue.
While the Association has attempted to gather additional information from the Drain Commission, there were questions raised at the meeting that we were unable to answer. Each resident on the lake has the right to voice their questions, comments, and/or objections to the proposed drain assessment directly to the Kent County Drain Commissioner. The Board encourages members to do so. Each of us has a stake in this issue and an opportunity to ask our own questions and voice our own opinions on this issue in a respectful manner.
The Drain Commissioner’s contact information is as follows:
Mr. Ken Yonker
Kent County Drain Commissioner
775 Ball Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-632-7910
drinfo@kentcountymi.gov
Written submissions to the Drain Commissioner must be received by the Drain Commissioner by 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 21. Questions, comments, and/or objections to the Drain Commissioner may also be made in-person at the public hearing on the proposed notice of assessment. The public hearing is taking place on Wednesday, May 21 at 1:00pm at the Drain Commission office at 775 Ball Ave NE.
At the special meeting, the Board voted to prepare and submit a written statement on behalf of the Association to the Drain Commissioner. The written statement will object to the project costs and the special assessment roll/district and will request that residents not be assessed the full cost of the project (i.e., that the County fund a portion of the project itself, given that County drains contribute to flooding conditions during periods of high precipitation). Bryan Walters will also present the Association’s statement verbally to the Drain Commissioner at the public hearing on May 21.
The goal of the Association’s statement is to attempt to persuade the Drain Commissioner (and ultimately the Kent County Board of Commissioners, who will review the Drain Commissioner’s recommendation) to reduce the amount of the assessment to lake residents. Any reduction in the amount of the assessment is clearly in the interest of all Association members.
According to the Association bylaws, the purpose of the Association is “to preserve and maintain Dean Lake [and] its beauty and usefulness.” Having a drain to regulate the lake level would clearly help to preserve and maintain the lake and its beauty and usefulness. However, Association members have widely varying opinions about whether the benefits of a drain outweigh the cost of the drain, particularly at this much higher cost amount.
The Board believes it is appropriate to let individuals express their own opinion directly to the Drain Commission on whether the drain project should proceed, rather than purporting to speak on behalf of the entire Association membership on that issue. Accordingly, the Association’s written statement will not take a position on whether or not the drain project should go forward at this point.
The Board hopes to have its written statement finalized and submitted to the Drain Commissioner by the end of the day on Monday, May 19. The Association’s statement will be emailed to members and posted on https://www.deanlake.org once it has been submitted. Any additional information obtained over the next week will also be posted on the DLA website.
Finally, as discussed at the special meeting, the ultimate decision-maker on the assessment is the Kent County Board of Commissioners. Ben Greene is the Commissioner for Plainfield Township (as well as the chair of the Commission) and Lindsey Thiel is the commissioner for Grand Rapids Township. Commissioner Greene is aware of the issue and plans on attending the Drain Commission hearing next Wednesday. If you are connected with Commissioner Greene or Commissioner Thiel, please follow up with Board President Bryan Walters at bryanrwalters@gmail.com to discuss.
