High water level problems at Big Lake in Watson Township are persistent, but Supervisor Kevin Travis Thursday night told board colleagues there are plans for the Drain Commission to have a Board of Determination in the second week of July.
Travis said the office of Allegan County Drain Commissioner Denise Medemar has acknowledged receipt of petitions to establish a drainage district and estimated that emergency work through pumping could begin as early as August.
Big Lake’s flooding and high water once again was a huge topic of discussion at the Township Board’s meeting last month, and it was noted that an official from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality had been summoned.
One member the audience suggested a big part of the problem is a tile pipe that funnels water into the lake, but the property owner took umbrage with his neighbor’s trespassing and warned the DEQ has a different explanation of the issue.
“The first thing you do is shut off the faucet, not build a drain. There are other ways (to deal with the problem).”
Another resident said, “It (Big Lake) is the highest it’s ever been. A lot of people are impacted.”
Further complicating matters, Travis said, is that the Department of Natural Resources is threatening to shut down the boat launch at Big Lake because conditions there might threaten nearby fish and wildlife.
In other business at its meeting Thursday evening, the board:
- Appointed Teresa Steffen of Walker, Fluke and Sheldon as township auditor at a cost of $5,110 for a two-year audit.
- Agreed to pay $1,291.96 in dues for the next fiscal year to Michigan Townships Association.
- Decided to pay $2,718.30 for pre-purchase of propane from Hopkins Propane.
- Approved an agreement for mutual aid between the Hopkins Area Fire Association and the Allegan Township Fire Department.
- Was told by Travis that the cost for the culvert being done this year has come in at about $30,000 less and agreed to spend $90,000 next year to finish off the township’s culvert repair and replacement projects.
