MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Tuesday, April 7, the Ingham County Drain Commission brought forth three requests before the Meridian Township Board.

The first: to have a study performed on the Smith Drain. The second: for Meridian Township to submit the appropriate petition requesting the consolidation of six drainage districts, known as the Smith Consolidated Drain District, and to have improvements made to the Smith Consolidated Drain. The third: to have Meridian Township advance $35,000 to the Drainage Districts for the study. If the Township does this, it would receive a credit against future assessments against lands in the drainage district.

"The study may find that the capacities are there. But because of all the ongoing development in that area, they do have some concerns, and that's why they want to have this analysis done," says Derek Perry, Assistant Township Manager and Director of Public Works.

The Smith Drain originates in Alaiedon Township, runs south of I-96 and runs north, approximately 1,500 feet west of Okemos Road, to north of Bennett Road, then northeasterly across Okemos Road to the Red Cedar River.

The requests will be discussed further at a future Township Board meeting.