Property owners will be assessed to pay for drain fix

The Drayton Plains Drain stormwater flooding along Williams Lake Road in Waterford Township has worsened over the years to the point where emergency repairs must be facilitated at a cost to all those impacted.

Upon investigation, the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office (WRC) has determined that it will be necessary to construct approximately 300 lineal feet of concrete pipe and clean out about 530 lineal feet within the Drayton Plains Drain in the area of Williams Lake Road near the intersection of Hatfield Road, west of Dixie Highway.

Since the amount of work necessary to rectify the flooding problem exceeds what is considered normal maintenance, the costs must be passed onto consumers.

“This is more than just a general maintenance problem,” said Waterford Building and Engineering Director Doug Bradley. “It’s extensive repair to dig up and replace piping plus reconstructing a portion.”

The recurring problem wreaked havoc last year during the Memorial Day weekend, when stormwater stood a few feet deep across Williams Lake Road, causing a few cars to stall out in the middle of the road.

The stormwater that accumulates in the area is channeled to flow through the Drayton Plans Drain and into the Clinton River. While the Water Resources Commissioner’s Office retains jurisdiction over the drain, the work necessary to relieve the flooding is considered an emergency repair and falls under the provisions of the Drain Code of 1956 that defers the costs of the project to those impacted.

The Water Resources Commissioner’s Office has estimated the total cost of the project to be $150,000. Costs will be divvied out among the owners of properties within the Drayton Plains Drainage District.

“There are close to 250 to 300 homes and businesses in the district, including the township and the Canadian National Railroad,” said Waterford Treasurer Margaret Birch. “Costs vary and are based on use and what part of the property is impacted.”

Waterford Township’s assessment will be 15 percent, or $22,500, of the $150,000 cost total.

To ease the financial burden on property owners, the Water Resources Commissioner’s Office has asked the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to prefund the project and allow the Drayton Plains Drainage District to repay those funds over a five-year period through a special assessment district (SAD).

Waterford Township trustees adopted a resolution authorizing the Water Resources Commissioner’s Office to proceed with the repair project at a Monday, Feb. 14 meeting.

Notifications will be mailed out sometime in late February or March.