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Drain commissioner proposes contracting assessments; residents voice alarm over large assessments
Summary
Drain Commissioner Richard Wagner proposed outsourcing drain assessment work to a contractor paid by landowners to meet mandated workload. The plan includes a small per-parcel assessment to cover costs; some residents said large individual assessments remain a crisis and vowed to press state officials.
Richard Wagner, Eaton County Drain Commissioner, told commissioners the drain office must trim costs and proposed contracting out assessing duties to a firm that would bill landowners directly. Wagner said the contract would shift the cost of assessing to landowners and estimated the per-parcel charge would be a "couple dollars" ("a 2 to $3 fee per parcel, depending on parcel size and land use," Wagner said in discussion).
Wagner described the drain commission's workload: roughly 650 drains and 1,200—1,500 miles of drain system across the county. He told the board his office is already operating with a small staff and that a contracted assessor would reduce salary obligations. He said his office remains responsible for mandated state duties and for overseeing projects such as the Bank Intercounty Drain (Hobart/Lee/Hedrick projects were cited).
During public comment later in the meeting, resident Jim Billig said he was actively contacting state officials to press for relief after receiving a large drain assessment and urged the board to change state rules. Billig said many residents face "$50,000 and higher" assessments and called the situation "life changing," pledging continued public pressure.
Commissioners asked Wagner questions about response time and staffing; Wagner said the office maintains a call log and that the contracted assessor would charge a small per-parcel fee to cover costs. No vote was taken on the contracting plan; commissioners directed staff to review the draft contract with county legal counsel and the controller's office as part of the ongoing budget and program review.
