Residents urge board to revisit Tonkin Drain special assessment; Drain Commissioner says the project was petitioned

Several Mecosta County residents used the Board of Commissioners' public-comment period on May 15 to oppose the Tonkin Drain special assessment and ask the board to revisit road funding and provide MET fund assistance for legal costs.

John Boyd, Mecosta Township supervisor, asked the county to reconsider road funding priorities, expand Senior Center branches and to support House Bill 1003 regarding Matt Webber. Gordon Gilbert and Fred Myers objected to receiving special-assessment notices for the Tonkin Drain project. Jim Fisher said the special assessment he received "was more than he paid for the house." Gary Gerber, owner of the Social Security Building, said his long-term federal lease prevents him from recouping assessment costs unless they are imposed as property tax.

Chairman Chris Zimmerman asked Drain Commissioner Karla Miller to explain the status of the Tonkin Drain. Miller told the board the drain project was petitioned by residents in 2018 to address failing infrastructure. A correction to the minutes later records Miller answered "No" when asked whether the project could be halted, stalled, or put to a countywide vote.

Other commenters included Lori Brock and Jen Theodore, who requested MET funds to help Green Township with attorney fees related to the project, and Aaron Koning, who asked whether the commissioners were aware of a federal civil-rights complaint filed against the county. The board did not take formal action on the Tonkin Drain during the meeting; the discussion remained in public comment and a minutes correction was entered on June 6, 2025 clarifying Miller's responses.