SHIAWASSEE COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER Anthony “Tony” Newman, at right, testified with Rep. Ben Glardon before the House Committee on Local Government. (Courtesy Photo)
Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Anthony “Tony” Newman traveled to Lansing to testify in support of legislation that would provide consistency in the state’s drain code, state Rep. Ben Glardon announced.
Newman testified with Rep. Glardon in a House committee on a bill that would determine what type of expenses can be recovered by drainage districts. The drain code does not specifically allow recovery beyond the current engineering, legal, and administrative costs, and there are cases where full cost recovery cannot be completed. There is one major project currently approaching this situation between Shiawassee, Saginaw and Genesee counties.
House Bill 5278, introduced by Glardon, would allow for principal and interest to be recovered. There are projects that have outstanding principal and interest cost for bonds or notes that are not included within the current recoverable expenses. It would also allow intercounty drain districts, those that span at least two counties, to recover the same costs as intracounty drain districts.
“Language and recovery methods should be consistent and fair between both intercounty and intracounty drainage districts,” said Glardon, R-Owosso. “Counties shouldn’t be penalized for working together and improving services for our communities. Without this change, these counties would have no way to recoup the cost associated with the project.” The bill was approved Wednesday, Feb. 24 by the House Committee on Local Government.
Shiawassee County Drain Commissioner Anthony “Tony” Newman, at right, testified with Rep. Ben Glardon before the House Committee on Local Government.
