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Kent County drain commissioner details $15 million in projects, highlights Napps Corner and Nash Creek work
Summary
Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker told the Kent County Board of Commissioners the Drain Commission handled dozens of projects this year with roughly $15 million in spending, outlined problem sites including Napps Corner and Nash Creek, and warned of legal challenges around Ada and Cascade dams.
Ken Yonker, Kent Countys elected drain commissioner, told the county board on Nov. 20 that the Drain Commission handled dozens of repairs and larger projects this year and spent "$15,000,000 a little over" on major work.
Yonker said the commission completed 31 major projects and participated in about 100 intercounty drainage efforts, with Kent Countys share of intercounty work totaling about $910,000. He told commissioners the current assessment roll covers 52 drains and cited a special-assessment total of $1,182,488 for the year.
Yonker outlined several high-profile projects. Emmons Lake Drain, which runs through the village and township of Caledonia, required raising roadway profiles and installing large "box culverts" sized to handle a 25-year storm, work Yonker said will prevent spring flooding that had previously closed roads and blocked bus routes.
At Napps Corner, Yonker described a long-running pump and force-main arrangement he called legally constrained to use only in emergencies. He said the commission opened the project for bid but rejected a single, high and apparently unqualified $6 million bid; the commission is now coordinating with the city and township and preparing to rebid when market conditions improve.
Nash Creek in Sparta, Yonker said, had suffered extensive erosion and sedimentation: a pond once 17 feet deep had silted to only a few inches. The district bought the pond to preserve it as a sediment basin and is dredging to remove roughly 8,000—,000 cubic yards of material so the pond can continue to protect downstream watercourses.
Yonker also described stream-restoration techniques such as two-stage ditching and efforts on Tyler Creek to recreate former meanders and slow flows, which he said would increase fish habitat and reduce erosive banks. He said upstream landowners had granted easements and that the projects have attracted grant interest from partners.
Looking ahead, Yonker listed projects expected for 2026, including a Behan Foley project he said could be in the $3—$4 million range, and he warned of a legal dispute involving Ada/Cascade dam operations. Yonker said conflicting court orders, state agency rules and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversight mean the county, which is legally responsible for dam safety, expects to be in court and will bring future recommendations to the board.
After the presentation, commissioners asked about the use of ARPA funds for Napps Corner (Yonker said ARPA covered soft costs so far and that future bonding will require repayment decisions by the city), contractor availability and long-term water-quality testing. Yonker said he is running an expanded testing program and will monitor results for several years to determine whether restored ponds can improve stormwater quality.
The board did not take formal action on the Drain Commission report; commissioners thanked Yonker for the update and moved on to the days public-hearing and resolution items.
