Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lake Levels topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clare County board approves lake‑level resolutions, authorizes assessments and financing steps
Summary
The Clare County Board adopted a series of resolutions backing repair work and special-assessment financing for Cranberry, Dock & Tom, and Dodge Lake chains after the drain commissioner reported failing outlet and spillway issues and required engineer inspections under Michigan law.
The Clare County Board of Commissioners on [date not specified] approved multiple lake‑level resolutions and related financing steps after the county drain commissioner outlined engineer findings that some lake control structures have reached the end of their useful life.
Kyle, the county drain commissioner, told the board that engineer inspections required under Part 307 of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act identified a failing concrete‑encased outlet pipe at Cranberry Lake and spillway capacity inadequacies at Dock & Tom Lake that do not meet a 100‑year storm standard. He said inspections are required at least every three years and that Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) dam safety division reviews the reports and can make regulatory recommendations.
"Cranberry Lake and the outlet pipe failed to, steel pipe kind of encased by concrete," the drain commissioner said, summarizing the engineer’s finding that the pipe is at the end of its useful life and needs replacement.
The board moved and adopted resolution nos. 25‑18 and 25‑19 to approve the computation of costs and the special‑assessment roles for Cranberry Lake and Dock & Tom Lake projects as presented by the drain commissioner. Commissioners then adopted resolutions 25‑21 and 25‑22 pledging full faith and credit for issuance of notes to provide lump‑sum financing for those projects, with the intent that special assessments will repay the debt.
The drain commissioner also asked the board to approve resolution 25‑20 for the Dodge Lake chain, noting that state law requires county board authorization when anticipated spending on a lake can exceed $10,000 in a year. He described Dodge Lake as a large special‑assessment district because of the number of properties included and said the resolution authorizes preliminary work and oversight while computation of final costs and assessment rolls proceeds.
All motions were seconded, roll‑call votes were taken and recorded as affirmative by present members, and the chair announced the motions carried.
The board’s actions authorize the next steps in bidding, engineering and repairs. The drain commissioner said bids used to compute costs have already been collected and that affected property owners will be assessed according to the court‑established special‑assessment districts. The resolutions do not themselves obligate immediate county general‑fund spending beyond the procedural authorizations; final costs and assessment notices will be presented to the board as required by statute.
The board did not discuss detailed dollar totals for each project during the public presentation beyond referring to bid‑based computations; the drain commissioner said specific computation of costs will be brought forward in the assessment hearings required by law.
