Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner Brian Wendling already has 22 drain projects in various stages for 2017. The map here shows the location of Saginaw County’s more than 2,100 drains. (TCC Photo by Jeanne Marcello) Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner Brian Wendling has 22 potential drain projects on his plate for 2017. “We have a lot of projects going on,” he said. On Nov. 8, Saginaw County voters re-elected Wendling for four more years as public works commissioner. During his previous four-year term, he worked 29 major drain projects, in addition to overseeing maintenance on the county’s more than 2,100 drains. Wendling recently sat down with the Tri- County Citizen to discuss the current status of potential drain projects within the Tri- County Citizen coverage area. “In my office, we don’t make the decisions to do these drains,” Wendling said. He explained that residents (and sometimes municipalities) petition to have drainage work done. “When a petition is received, I’m required to hold a Board of Determination meeting,” Wendling began. The three-person board will hear testimony from the petitioner and residents who want to speak. After the hearing, the Board of Determination decides whether it’s necessary to do anything. “If they find it necessary, they sign an order directing me to address the issue,” he said.
Each project goes through several public hearings, which is based on the type of drain. This could include the determination of practicability, followed by the determination of necessity, an informational meeting, and assessment roll review before the project moves forward. Often a professional engineer is hired to design plans for the work. Projects that exceed the level of maintenance funding are generally bonded. Property owners throughout the drainage district are assessed for the improvements.
Wendling likes to give property owners the option of pre-paying assessments to avoid interest. But most opt to make payments, which include interest.
“If they’re asking for [drainage work] there are assessments involved,” Wendling said.
He described each of the drain projects within the Tri-County Citizen coverage area.
BEAR CREEK DRAIN
The Bear Creek Drain project involves portions of Chesaning Township, St. Charles Township and a small section of the Village of Chesaning. Wendling explained that his office received a drain petition due to stagnant water in the drain, water backing up, farm fields flooding and flooding a road. “Bear Creek has been hanging out there for a while. It is long overdue,” Wendling said.
The Bear Creek project has been designed, but is pending. He explained that has been delayed due to the possibility of establishing a new drainage district serving Young’s Ditch. Young’s Ditch runs along Ditch Road and Johnstone Road in southern Saginaw County. Wendling explained that approximately 2,100 acres of property drains from Young’s Ditch in Shiawassee County into the Bear Creek Drain in Saginaw County.
“The Young’s Drain has never been established. I had to put the Bear Creek on hold until we figure out how we’re going to address this. That should be this month,” Wendling said.
He explained that if the water coming from Shiawassee County drains into the Bear Creek Drain, then they have to engineer the project for increased capacity. The water would have a long distance to travel.
However, if they establish the Young’s Ditch Intercounty Drain, it could be directed to flow into the Shiawassee River. Wendling believes this would keep costs lower to property owners.
NO. NINE DRAIN
The No. Nine Drain covers 1,828 acres, including portions of Brady Township, the Village of Oakley and a small portion of Chesaning Township.
According to the online project information, it’s been approximately 74 years since the No. Nine Drain was cleaned. An engineering team reported that the majority of the drain is filled with sediment, trees and brush. The upstream area has evidence of cattails, sediment and stagnant water.
Wendling said he expects to have a cost estimate out to the municipalities toward the end of January, early February.
MISTEGUAY CREEK DRAIN
Albee Township filed a petition for improvements to the Misteguay Creek Intercounty Drain in April of 2010. An engineering study of the Misteguay included approximately 20 miles of creek, 19 miles of dike and three flood control dams. The survey identified certain segments of the dike as being at high risk of dike failure.
The Misteguay Creek Drainage Board has been meeting regularly for six years dealing with disputes over the scope of the project. Several lawsuits ensued, primarily over procedural matters, with the most recent lawsuit being over the delay in the project. As 2016 came to a close, the Misteguay Creek Drainage Board agreed to amend the scope of the project to include new flap gates in order to secure the easem*nts necessary to move forward on the project.
The Misteguay Creek Intercounty Drainage Board met on Thursday, Jan. 19.
MITCHELL CREEK DRAIN
Wendling said the drain office is currently overseeing a maintenance project on the Mitchell Drain. The Mitchell Drain includes portions of Maple Grove Township as well as small areas of Albee Township.
THOMPSON DRAIN
Work on the Thompson Drain in Chapin Township is nearly complete.
JONES AND KRANZ DRAINS
Wendling said that both the Jones and Krantz drains in Brady Township will be getting some maintenance work in 2017.
REST OF THE COUNTY
Other drain projects Wendling is overseeing during 2017 are petitions for work on the Wolf Drain, Seidel Drain, Zehnder Drain, Hemlock Tile Drain, a branch of the Upper McClellan, Milks Drain, the Universal Drain Pumping Station, Stanton Intercounty Drain, King Street Tile Drain, Webster Drain, Marsh Creek Drain, Blank Tile Drain, Earl Tile Drain, O’Grady, Beier and McClellan Run drains, the Fales Drain, Swan Creek Intercounty Drain, Gage Drain and Gage Pumping Station, and the recently added Jo Drain.
Wendling recalled the county only had a couple of drain projects going when he started his first term four years ago. He said, “When residents see the need for improved drainage, they ask for it.”
Wendling acknowledged concerns expressed by Chesaning Township Supervisor Bob Corrin about multiple drain projects being a drain on shrinking municipal funds. “They’re on a shoestring budget. I am taking a close look at the townships’ share. It used to be 25 percent, we brought it down to 15 percent,” Wendling said.
