Kent County outlines $3 million BeeHanna‑Foley drain project; Wyoming faces roughly $700,000 assessment

At a City of Wyoming work session on Oct. 13, 2025, Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker and county staff briefed council on the BeeHanna‑Foley Drain, describing extensive erosion, a recent culvert failure and a petition-driven rehabilitation plan the county expects to bid in winter 2026 and build in 2026–early 2027.

The BeeHanna‑Foley watershed is “just over 3 square miles,” and the county said the drain itself runs about 3 miles. County staff estimated the preliminary project cost at about $3,000,000 and said bidding will follow final design and state permitting by EGLE. Joel Morgan, who presented the project details, said the project was petitioned in 2024 and that the county has secured most easements but still needs additional easements from nearby property owners, including ResLife and Ramblewood Apartments.

Why it matters: county staff said severe, repeated sediment buildup and bank erosion at the lower reach — including a large delta in an inline pond that has been dredged twice in the last four years — have reduced floodplain storage and increased localized scour. Kent County said a March–April storm this year caused a catastrophic failure under Turtle Bend Drive that required emergency replacement of a box culvert.

What the county will do: the preliminary design includes bank stabilization using stream best‑management practices (log revetments, brush…