The County Drain Commissioner can perform drain maintenance work on a legally established county drain according to Section 196 of the Drain Code of 1956. Maintenance typically includes woody debris removal from open county drains, excavation of accumulated sediment, erosion repairs/stabilization, storm sewer repairs and nuisance control.

1. The Drain Office can expend up to $5,000.00 per mile or fraction of a mile of drain per year. Example – 0.5 miles drain can spend $5,000.00, 1.2 miles drain can spend $10,000.00 and 4.5 miles drain can spend $25,000.00 annually. These maintenance costs are then assessed back to the property owners, cities, villages, townships, County at Large, Road Commission; and MDOT and railroads, if applicable.
   
   
2. If the proposed maintenance cost exceeds our annual monetary maintenance limit, we can ask the township for a maintenance resolution to exceed that amount. In instances like this, maintenance can also be performed in stages if a maintenance resolution is not approved.
   
   
3. Larger projects outside of the Drain Office’s maintenance exemptions can be petitioned for improvements by property owners, the Road Commission, municipality, or a Township.

Soil Erosion Sediment Control Standards

MACDC APA SESC Standards

Petition Bid Letting Notices

Pre-Qualified Contractors