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Proposed Corey Lake Special Assessment District Map 
(PDF - 528 KB - Updated: 05/29/2009).
This is the proposed Corey Lake Special Assessment District map that will be used to petition the circuit court. Please be aware that this is a draft map and it will be up to the circuit court judge to accept the proposed district or make changes he may choose to make in court. We do not have a court date yet but everyone within the boundaries of the special assessment district map will be noticed when we have a court date.
Drain Commissioner Information
The Drain Commissioner is an elected official serving a 4 year term. The Drain Commissioner serves on the Board of Public Works, Parks and Recreation Board, Palmer, Long Lake Board and Fish Lake Board. He is responsible for managing over 180 county drains and all lakes that have a court ordered legal lake level.
The County Drain Commissioner is currently a part-time position. Please call the office for an appointment; to be sure the Drain Commissioner is there.
Chapter 8 Petitioned Projects, Improvements for County Drains
Petitioned drainage projects must go through numerous steps before they actually become a project:
- A petition must be submitted to the Drain Commissioner with 5 signatures or more from property owners in the district.
- A Board of Determination is made up of three disinterested property owners in the County, who do not have any interests in the drainage district.
- A public meeting is held and the Board of Determination determines if the drain needs cleaning, extending, tiling, widening, deepening, straightening or relocating or does not need any work.
- If the Board of Determination determines the project is necessary the Drain Commissioner then takes over.
- An engineering plan and profile is done.
- Final Order of Determination by the Drain Commissioner.
- Construction bidding.
- Computation of Costs.
- Day of Review held for the property owners in the district to review their assessment. The properties within the drainage district are assessed according to their benefits.
- Construction or clean out of the drain.
Note: If you would like a petition for a county drain please contact our office and we will supply you with a petition. You will need to circulate the petition and 5 or more signatures must be collected. Finally the circulator will need to sign the petition in the presence of a notary public before submitting to the Drain Commissioner.
Petitioned Drainage Projects
Portage Lake Drain, Mendon Township
Grover & Coohon Drain, Colon Township
Colon Number One Drain, Colon & Nottawa Townships
Felker Drain, Park Township
Nye Drain, Sturgis Township
Wilcox Drain & Branch, Nottawa & Lockport Townships
Note: We also have many other smaller drainage projects that are considered maintenance. If you would like more information on these or any other projects in our office please contact us.
Public Act 222 of 2001, Municipal Liability For Sewage Disposal System Events
In 2001, the Michigan Legislature passed PA 222 which creates an exception to the protections afforded to a governmental agency against liability arising from damages caused due to a “sewage disposal system event.” If you experience an overflow or backup of a county drainage ditch and you wish to seek compensation, according to Public Act 222 you must file a written claim with the St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner, 115 S. Dean Street, P.O. Box 427, Centreville, MI 49032, (269) 467-5600. Failure to provide the required notice will prevent recovery of damages. Contact the St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner immediately upon discovery of an overflow or backup.
Permits
If you are planning to do any work on your property that involves connecting into, crossing over, under, or through a county drain, please contact the Drain Commissioner’s office to obtain a permit.
New Storm and Water Rules & Regulations
We will soon have standard rules and regulations for storm water. Please contact our office for more details.
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