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Cass County drain commissioner details culvert and dam repairs, asks board to approve 2025 assessment rolls
Summary
Drain Commissioner Jeff Van Bell reviewed multiple drainage projects — including work at Eagle Lake, Pleasant Lake, McMillan Dam and Shavehead Lake — described emergency response to storm damage, and noted a motion to approve the 2025 special assessment rolls passed during the meeting.
Jeff Van Bell, Cass County Drain Commissioner, gave an illustrated report on recent drain and culvert repairs across the county and described several active projects and emergency responses.
Van Bell showed photos and short videos of work he described at Eagle Lake (channel stabilization to stop bank erosion), Pleasant Lake (culvert replacement via cost sharing with a property owner), and a large, long-unrepaired drain he identified as a multi-decade problem that county crews addressed in a day or two. He also described removal of an old launch at Baron Lake, lake-level control work at McMillan Dam where he noted early signs of leakage, and a significant repair on North Peninsula Drive (Shavehead Lake) where crews installed multiple 15-inch pipes and stabilization work before a storm that delivered 4.3 inches of rain.
Van Bell said some sites were costly and required cooperation with other agencies (dam safety division, road commission) and that the department used turbidity curtains and mulch blankets to control erosion at sensitive sites. He described a case where a property owner installed a temporary fix that required the drain office to assess and coordinate an appropriate response. He also said contractors mobilized quickly, saving the county costs and enabling fast completion even after heavy rain.
As part of his report the drain commissioner presented the 2025 special assessment rolls; the board approved a motion to adopt the rolls (M-142-2025). Shep (sic) voiced appreciation for contractor responsiveness in one project and described working with state dam safety engineers who initially rated a dam poorly, prompting plans for removal.
Van Bell’s presentation emphasized ongoing maintenance needs and the frequency of issues tied to erosion, failed culverts, beaver dams and storm events; he described cost-sharing with property owners in some cases and use of state and local resources in others.
Van Bell also referenced public interaction and local reporting of construction impacts to state regulators (EGLE) after a storm and noted that the drain office coordinates with multiple local agencies to address urgent drainage failures.
Ending: The board approved the 2025 special assessment rolls following Van Bell’s report, and Van Bell urged continued attention to drain maintenance and timely contractor mobilization.
