To increase the amount that a county drain commissioner can assess district property owners for the maintenance of county drainage ditch systems, from $1,250 per mile to $2,500 per mile, or more than that with the approval of the county board. Also, to increase the amount the drain commission can spend on the maintenance of a drain before requiring county board approval, and the amount the board can approve. Also, to allow portions of the salaries, expenses, and fringe benefits of drain commission administrative and engineering employees to be charged to funds that hold these assessments, rather than paid by the county commission out of other tax revenue. Finally, to revise the current-law requirement that the drain commission notify landownwers of assessment increases by first class mail and through a newspaper ad, and instead allow them to do one or the other. Note: “Drain” refers to the interconnected system of man-made ditches that was created in the 19th and early 20th century to convert much of Michigan from swampland unsuitable for agriculture into arable cropland.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not revise the requirement that a drain commission notify landownwers of an assessment increases by first class mail or through a newspaper ad. Instead, the current law requirement for both would be retained.

To remove a provision that did not allow the drain commissions of large urban counties to cover the cost of administrators and engineers in drain assessments imposed on property owners.

To increase the amount that a county drain commissioner can assess district property owners for the maintenance of county drainage ditch systems, from $1,250 per mile to $2,500 per mile, or more than that with the approval of the county board. Also, to increase the amount the drain commission can spend on the maintenance of a drain before requiring county board approval, and increase the amount the board can approve. Also, to allow portions of the salaries, expenses, and fringe benefits of drain commission administrative and engineering employees to be charged to funds that hold these assessments, rather than paid by the county commission out of other tax revenue. Note: “Drain” refers to the interconnected system of man-made ditches that was created in the 19th and early 20th century to convert much of Michigan from swampland unsuitable for agriculture into arable cropland.

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that would authorize the establishment of watershed management districts.