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Grand Rapids approves Nap’s Corner drainage financing, adds payment for storm pumping
Summary
The City approved steps to finance a $19.75 million Nap’s Corner drainage project and cleared an additional maintenance payment after heavy spring pumping. Staff said design shortcomings left the detention pond unable to infiltrate, driving interim pump-and-haul costs.
The Grand Rapids City Commission and its fiscal committee on May 12 approved a package of actions to move forward on the Nap’s Corner Drain mitigation project and to reimburse the county for emergency pumping operations.
The commission approved a resolution authorizing continuing-disclosure documents for the Nap’s Corner Drain bonds, described by staff as supporting a $19.75 million flood‑mitigation project. City staff said about $16.2 million of the project will be financed through bonds the city will repay under previously approved agreements, while other partners — including Kent County ($2.0 million), the Kent County Road Commission ($1.5 million) and Grand Rapids Township ($5,000) — will reduce the bonded amount. Staff estimated the refined financing could save roughly $2.14 million in interest costs by enabling more favorable bond terms.
Staff and commissioners also approved an additional payment to the Kent County Drain Commissioner — the amount cited in the meeting was roughly $144,589 — to cover extensive winter and spring pump-and-haul operations. Staff said a higher-than-expected water table and a design that relied on infiltration rather than continuous pumping led to persistent hauling to keep the detention pond from threatening nearby infrastructure and homes. Repair and longer-term construction activities to fix the pond design have begun, with heavy construction anticipated to start this fall and site completion targeted in late 2027.
Commissioners emphasized that the interim hauling was necessary to protect homes while the permanent solution is built. “The design of the pond basically failed. It was supposed to be an infiltration type situation and that's not infiltrating,” a staff speaker said, describing the rationale for ongoing pumping.
Looking ahead, staff said the financing approvals do not raise the city’s net legal liability and that the construction schedule should reduce future hauling costs. The commission carried the bond and payment resolutions without recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes; speakers recorded the motions as moved and supported and the chair announced they carried.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with bond disclosure and construction procurement; the commission will see further cost and schedule updates as the Nap’s Corner design and heavy construction progress.
