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 bundles, riprap at bends), removal and regrading of point bars and enlargement of cross‑sections with two‑stage ditches near the pond north of 44th Street to restore floodplain storage and reduce flow velocity. County staff said they will submit required EGLE permits this month, finish design after permitting, and advertise the project for bids in winter 2026, with construction in 2026–early 2027.

How the work is paid for: Kent County said the drain is in a distinct drain district, a legal municipal corporation that levies assessments for work on parcels in the district. County staff explained petitions can be filed by at least five property owners, a municipality or the road commission; a three‑member board of determination then hears testimony and issues a written order if the project is “necessary.” That order can be appealed to circuit court within 10 days. Ken Yonker said, “I am held accountable to Public Act 40 of 1956, which is also known as the drain code,” describing the statutory authority and the assessment process.

Estimated shares and timing: using the county’s preliminary allocation, the City of Wyoming would carry a roughly 16.5% at‑large share plus a 6.89% road contribution (about 23% total), which county staff estimated at roughly $700,000 on a $3 million project; property owners in the district would carry about 72% (roughly $2.1 million). County staff said there are about 2,400 parcels in the district; dividing $2.1 million evenly would be about $900 per parcel but the county emphasized assessments are weighted by parcel size and land use and will vary, and large institutional owners (ResLife, Ramblewood, Maple Hills Golf Course) will absorb a larger share.

Financing details county staff described: the county usually bonds assessments and repays them over a multi‑year term; staff told council they commonly structure bonds from six to 20 years depending on the project and taxpayers’ capacity, and that the county uses a working assumption of roughly 5%–5.5% interest when modeling annual payments. Ken Yonker said property owners and municipalities are generally not expected to pay the full assessment in a single payment and that assessments are placed on the winter tax bill once a plan is finalized. He also said the county has a maintenance threshold: the law allows routine maintenance up to $10,000 per mile of drain per year without petition; larger expenditures require a petition or municipal approval.

Questions and concerns: councilmembers pressed the county on whether the county contributes directly to costs (the county pays for county roads in a district; there are no county roads in this district), on how assessments are calculated and on timing for final numbers. County staff said final assessments will be published after bids are opened; the county is statutorily required to hold a day of review within five to 30 days after opening bids, and that review will trigger the statutory appeal opportunity for individuals concerned about their allocation (appeals contest allocation, not the necessity determination). Joel Morgan said some elements may be exempt from EGLE permitting but that permitting timelines are variable and could add months.

What’s next: the county expects to submit EGLE permit applications imminently, finish design after permitting, advertise for bids in winter 2026 and construct in 2026–early 2027. Staff recommended residents report blockages quickly (the drain office said it can respond within 48 hours for reported obstructions). Ken Yonker said the drain code is designed to address discrete local problems when petitioned and that the county is also moving toward an asset‑management approach to reduce future deferred maintenance.

Ending: city staff said they are actively coordinating with the county and will work to include the city’s share in the FY2027 budget if the project proceeds. County staff encouraged property owners to use the day‑of‑review process to ask questions about their assessed share once bids are in.

Direct quotes used in this article come from Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker and Joel Morgan during the Oct. 13, 2025 Wyoming City Council work session.