TEXAS TOWNSHIP (WKZO AM/FM) — It looks like Texas Township has a plan to address flooding that has threatened hundreds of homes if they can get the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and their own homeowners to support it.
They submitted the complicated plan to the DEQ this week. Superintendent Julie VanderWeire says it would lower water levels 3 feet over a 9 month period without causing flooding downstream.
It involves pumping the water from one lake to another, than pumping it to a holding area where it will be pumped to a third lake that has an outlet that eventually flows to the Kalamazoo River.
Township Attorney Mike Homier says the plan includes a special assessment district to raise the $800,000 cost of the project.
400 impacted home owners would be assessed about $2,000 each, over time.
There were no major objections to the plan at a meeting at KVCC that over 400 attended last night.
It all depends on DEQ approval, a lengthy process that still lies ahead. The DEQ plans a public hearing on the Township proposal on the 31st.
One complication that could delay the process would be a threat to the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake which is endangered and may be in their way.
Even if its approved and executed, it’s a temporary fix. A permanent drainage system would be up to the Drain Commissioner to design and that would mean additional assessments, for a much bigger solution down the road.
