The Drain Commissioner and staff are responsible for construction, operation, and maintenance of just over 100 County Drains. These systems are designed to provide stormwater management, drainage, flood prevention and stream protection for urban and agricultural lands.
A County drain may be any of the following:
- Creek, river, inland lake, or pond
- Retention pond, detention pond, or swale that conveys Stormwater
- Watercourse, open ditch, or underground pipe
Routine maintenance is necessary from time to time to ensure a county drain is properly functioning. The Drain Commissioner may, in any one year, expend up to $5,000 per mile, per drain for maintenance & repair. Major projects are initiated through a petition process. Either property owners or a local municipality can petition the drain commissioner. To recover costs expended for a project, special assessments are levied against private properties, local municipalities, the County, railroads, & State Highways benefited from the construction and/or maintenance. View the important documents below to access drain policies and permits.
Please contact our office to determine if a drain in question is actually a County Drain. There are many private drains or roadside ditches that are not under the authority of the Drain Commissioner.
To learn more about Michigan Drain Code and the role of Drain Commissioners, visit the links below.
Contact the Drain Commissioner
StaffMichelle Martin Drain Commissioner
John Warner, P.E. Deputy Drain Commissioner
Brandon McDougall Interim Deputy Drain Commissioner
Main Phone: (231) 873-3887
Fax: (231) 873-5914
Address
Oceana County Building
100 S. State Street, Suite M-11
Hart, MI 49420