The Watson Township Board Thursday evening adopted a resolution to petition the Allegan County Health Department to create a drain district for residents living on or near Big Lake.
Trustees Michelle Harris and Chuck Andrysiak and Treasurer Sue Jones voted to establish the district and Clerk Kelli Morris and Supervisor Kevin Travis abstained because they would be affected financially by the project.
The move comes a month after a packed house of citizens appeared at the June meeting to complain about flooded basements and problems related to high water from Big Lake.
The residents’ troubles apparently have persisted, prompting Larry Town to tell State Rep. Mary Whiteford, a guest at the meeting, “All I want is to make my basement dry… I want to know what we’re going to do to get it fixed.”
The drain district, if approved, would spread the costs of a drainage project to include all affected households. Payments may be made over several years.
Allegan County Commissioner Gale Dugan said the Big Lake problems can be tied to the rainy weather this past spring.
“In the 60 years I’ve been around here,” he said, “I’ve never seen it this wet.”
Watson Township, with the action, is agreeing to pay for the $1,660 in costs of the drain assessment while the affected residents will share the expense over time for the work by the county.
Supervisor Kevin Travis said that despite his abstention, “For the record, I would have voted yes because I think it’s needed.”
Morris essentially echoed Travis’ sentiments.
In other business Thursday evening, the Township Board:
• Learned that Andrysiak, also a member of the Planning Commission, will attend a seminar on hot planning and zoning topics at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo the evening of Wednesday, July 18. He said the session will take up the latest developments in handling requests for rural wedding and events barns.
Dorr Township has been grappling with the issue and neighboring residents of the facilities tend to be vocal in opposition. However, a bill has been introduced in the State Legislature to protect such facilities under the Right to Farm Act.
• Agreed to pay Consumers Energy $305 for installation of new LED lights at 122nd Avenue and 22nd Street.
• Was told by Travis that people who recently dumped recyclable material outside a full bin at the township hall parking lot will be ticketed.
• Noted a resident on Big Lake received a cease and desist order after establishing a duplex without a permit.
• Heard from Travis suggesting the township hire a constable for zoning enforcement, but citizen Ken Pardee explained that a zoning enforcement officer has more power in handling zoning violations.
• Was told by Dugan that the Allegan County millage rate will be 4.5778 mills.
• Was told by Whiteford that the State Legislature has adopted a $26 billion budget and better economic times has resulted in an increase of about $500 million in the surplus. She said Allegan County schools are likely to get an additional $240 per pupil in state aid for the next academic year and the state will spend a record amount on fixing roads.
• Renewed its annual insurance contract with Burnham & Flowers for $4,506.
• Agreed to make a $1,000 donation to the Hopkins Area Recreational Committee to help cover costs incurred for Fourth of July activities.
COVER PHOTO: Watson Township Sexton Mark Simpson points to areas on the map affected by Big Lake flooding.