Drain Commissioner

Drain Commissioner

William R. Byl, Drain Commissioner

1500 Scribner NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone: (616) 336-3688
Fax: (616) 336-3575

Mission Statement

The mission of the Kent County Drain Commissioner’s office is to improve and maintain storm water drainage for the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare of the citizens of Kent County and also to be an effective and efficient steward of our natural and fiscal resources.

Staff Contacts

Overview

The County Drain Commissioner is elected to a four-year term to perform a number of duties assigned by State law. The office of the Drain Commissioner is responsible for the administration of the State Drain Code as it applies to the receipt of petitions for the establishment, improvement or maintenance of over 533 miles of County Drain and 356 storm water detention ponds in Kent County. Under the Subdivision Control Act, this office reviews storm water plans for all plats developed within the County and maintains records on over 1,800 developments. Other duties include the administration of 19 court established lake levels under the Lake Level Act, participation in the NPDES Phase II program, participation on lake improvement boards, maintenance of the GIS system as it pertains to County Drains and the resolution of citizen complaints and storm water concerns.

Currently, this office is actively developing a project and meeting with local government engineers to solve flooding of homes in the Shawmut Hills area of Grand Rapids, undertaking projects to address obstructions to the flow in the Troy with Mosher & Farnham Drain, the erosion of the stream bed and banks of the Black Creek Inter-County Drain which is causing sedimentation of Lincoln Lake, and is constructing a project on the Warner Drain to solve flooding problems experienced by homes at the upper end of the drainage district.

Goals

  • Administer the Drain Code (Act 40, PA of 1956) as it pertains to the establishment and maintenance of drains in Kent County
  • Administer the Subdivision Control Act (Act 288, PA of 1967) as it applies to stormwater management
  • Administer Inland Lake Levels under Part 307 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Part 307, Act 451, PA of 1994) as it pertains to the establishment and maintenance of lake levels in Kent County

2011 Adopted Uses: $661,921

2011 Adopted Revenues: $141,520

Selected Performance Measures

Performance Measure
2008
Actual
2009
Actual
2010
Actual
2011
Expected
Percent of drain permit request processed within 2 days
95.00%
95.00%
95.00%
90.00%
Percent of complaints/requests resolved within 90 days
98.00%
96.00%
92.00%
90.00%
Percent of responses to complaints/requests within 2 days
90.00%
93.00%
86.00%
90.00%
Drainage problems resolved
150
160
149
120
Drain permit applications reviewed
25
14
15
20

Department History of Uses

Uses 2008
Actual
2009
Actual
2010
Adopted
2011
Adopted
Personnel $459,675 $474,076 $481,953 $497,374
Commodities 16,467 22,596 8,175 16,515
Contractual 77,032 67,549 67,994 70,312
Operating Capital 2,470 1,800 1,200 1,200
Special Projects 195,614 75,430 73,805 76,520
Total Uses $751,259 $641,451 $633,127 $661,921
 
Personnel FTE 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.2

Significant Budget Issues

For the 2011 Budget Year, hours for the Administrative Intern were reduced by 0.3 FTEs.

Signficant Accomplishments

As the designated authority for the maintenance of the legal lake level of Pine Lake, the County Drain Commissioner has removed and replaced 300 feet of lake outlet pipe to reduce seasonal fluctuation of the water level in the lake.

The Drain Commissioner’s Office inventoried the storm water controls on all the properties owned by the County.

History of Uses (in millions)