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Residents urge Mecosta commissioners to pursue legal review of Tonkin Drain; board authorizes counsel and closed session
Summary
After residents said they hired attorneys to sue the Drain Commissioner over the Tonkin Drain project, the Mecosta County Board authorized the administrator to seek corporate counsel and schedule a closed session for legal advice; residents also urged legislative action on the Drain Code and raised concerns about local economic development contracts.
The Mecosta County Board of Commissioners on June 18 authorized the county administrator to seek corporate counsel and hold a closed session to receive legal advice concerning the Tonkin Drain after residents told the board they had retained private counsel to challenge the project.
Commissioner William Routley moved that the administrator be authorized to obtain corporate counsel on the matter and to convene a closed session for legal consultation; the motion passed by roll call, 6 yeas and 0 nays. Administrator Mindy Taylor instructed commissioners to submit questions to the county attorney by 10:00 a.m. Monday in advance of the closed session.
Resident Rudy Bogoian told the board the Tonkin Drain residents have hired Attorneys Alan and Steven Robb to represent them in litigation aimed at holding up the project, and he invited the board to join the litigation to assist with fact-finding and funding. The board did not record a vote to join the litigation on the public record.
During public comment other residents pressed the board on related and separate matters. Jim Fisher raised concerns about liability tied to incomplete drain work on Tonkin Drain. Gary Gilbert urged county and township officials to request meetings with state legislators to address what he described as outdated provisions in the Drain Code. Marjory Steele provided a letter alleging a breach of contract involving Gotion and The Right Place and raised a request from Green Township for legal fees; Commissioner Zimmerman said he would investigate MEDC-related issues noted by residents and report back.
Commissioners recorded no formal action in the meeting to join resident litigation or to initiate legislative outreach; they recorded only the authorization to consult corporate counsel and to meet in closed session for legal advice. The board set no additional public deadlines for those follow-ups during the meeting.
What happens next: the administrator will gather legal questions and the board will meet in closed session to receive legal advice; potential further action (joining litigation or pursuing legislative changes) would require a future public board vote.
