MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Just east of Hillbrook Park in Meridian Township, the Nemoka Drain is causing a water problem.

Meridian Township sent a petition to the Ingham County Drain Commission to have the problem fixed.

Since the drain has to be fixed, the Drain Commission has proposed to make the stream look more appealing, by changing the flow of the water from a straight into a meandering stream.

In order to make the water meander, the drain commission would need to make the new easement slightly wider than it would be for a straight line.

Drain Commissioner Pat Lindemann says making the stream curvy would be better for the water and the park itself. Lindemann said, " It would add an element of character and ambiance to the flowing water and it would be healthy for the water too by adding oxygen and allowing it to aerate before it hits the Pine Lake outlet, which is it's main outlet which goes all the way to the Red Cedar River."

This idea was presented to the Meridian Township Park Commission during their March 10th meeting.

Whether the Park Commission will want a straight stream or meandering stream probably will not be decided for about a month or so.

No matter, the decision the drain will get fixed. There's no information on when work will actually begin on the project, but Lindemann said once started it could take up to a year before it is complete.