Orion Township residents and Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch agree, there’s little doubt that something must be done about the Brown Drain.
The question that faces all those involved is: How to fix the problem?
Looking for answers to this question was the primary purpose of a May 23 meeting, held at Orion Township Hall and attended by McCulloch, Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, Oakland County Commissioner Eric Wilson, and concerned residents.
‘With drainage, you can’t go in there and just fix part of a drain,? McCulloch told the group, noting that another area of the drain will inevitably face the same problem shortly thereafter.
McCulloch stressed the need for a ‘mechanism? that could help in addressing the problem.
‘My message to the residents of Orion is, there’s strength in numbers, and you need a process and a game plan,? he said.
McCulloch cited one example of communities coming together in the southern part of the county, where the federal government is in the process of granting $1 million for a system affecting 15 communities.
Only $2.5 million was allocated to the state, so having 15 communities under one initiative really showed a need in the eyes of those making the big decisions, McCulloch said.
‘That just confirms my thought that there’s strength in numbers,? he said.
McCulloch said changing the status of the Brown Drain from what’s classified as a Chapter Four, to a Chapter 20 might be a good first step.
‘Water doesn’t stop and start at jurisdiction boundaries,? he said. ‘The Chapter 20 approach would provide a legal and financial mechanism.?
By changing to a Chapter 20, the process of creating a plan and getting an estimate would likely speed up.
‘All of the funding that I utilize comes from a specified community fund, or from the individual property owners,? McCulloch said, noting that the residents most affected by the drain will ultimately be the ones responsible for its costs.
‘Unless we set this process,? McCulloch said of the Chapter 20, ? We’ll be back here again next year.?
He added that converting to a Chapter 20 is only the first step, and residents will have some input on whether to go forward once the costs of the project are determined.
The conversion process starts with a petition to the county from the township board. The elected officials on hand suggested that the residents get together, and come to the next board meeting as a group.
Regency Home Owners Association President Greg Fischer said there are pressing concerns that need to be addressed now, such as trees being damaged by standing water and potentially falling, as well as West Nile Virus.
‘I think there needs to be a short-term plan and a long-term plan,? he said.
‘Obviously, if there’s an area that needs to be immediately addressed, that’s going to be the focus,? McCulloch responded, adding that any changes will be based on the decisions of the residents.
The Brown Drain comes into Orion Township from the west, and has recently caused problems around the Maybee Road area.
‘We knew it was a problem, but it was the collapse of the culvert (on Maybee) that brought it to everyone’s attention,? Dywasuk said.
Water was unable to get through the culvert, leaving the south side of Maybee with excess water.
Fixing the problem left some residents on the north with a higher than normal amount of water in their yards, including resident Pauline Harris, who lives a few houses from where the work on Maybee took place.
‘The Drain Commission came out and said the drain needed to be cleaned out,? she said. ‘They said they’d do it if Orion would pay for it.?
Harris said the township would not agree to pay for the cleaning.
‘You can’t just do a patchwork thing because it’s part of a much bigger problem,? Dywasuk noted, saying a more comprehensive solution must be found.
‘Ultimately, the residents are going to have to decide if they want to petition the township,? he added.
After attending the meeting, Fischer felt a bit better about the situation.
‘Hopefully there will be something done about it. It needs to be addressed,? he said.
Fischer’s hearing all good things so far, and hopes that there will be a follow- through to the talk.
Mark Stuligross, President of the Lake Forest Home Owners Association, on the south side of Maybee, said teamwork would be the key.
‘It’s important to get everyone together. It’s not going to get solved overnight,? he said.
Based on what he’s seen from Orion Township in the past, McCulloch said doing the right thing shouldn’t be too difficult.
‘I deal with 61 communities within Oakland County,? he said. ‘This is a very progressive township in terms of having a plan in place.?