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Residents press Roscommon commissioners over flooding as drain commissioner resigns
Summary
Residents delivered emotional testimony about flooding and lake levels, pressed the board on the removal of a local gauge and called for accountability after widespread damage; the board acknowledged a resignation from the drain commissioner and outlined the statutory appointment process.
Residents from Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake told the Roscommon County Board of Commissioners that recent high water has flooded crawl spaces, damaged property and left them seeking answers about how lake levels are being managed. Longtime local residents and a former commissioner urged the board to return to an earlier court-ordered winter drawdown practice, arguing it would have reduced damages during recent rain events.
"I will offer my services for free as a consultant because for 14 years, it never had we had a rain event when I was commissioner in charge of that dam, and I had that lake down 6 inches like it was supposed to be in the springtime," said a former commissioner during public comment, offering to assist with dam operations. Neighbors described removing a local gauge and inconsistent data reporting as adding to public confusion: one resident said the local USGS gauge was taken out and that left people "at an increased risk" because they could no longer see timely local lake-level readings. The board confirmed it had received an emailed resignation from the drain commissioner effective May 1 and staff said the statutory appointment committee would meet to determine posting, interview and appointment timelines.
