MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the November 3rd Township Board meeting, a discussion of the Daniels Drain Improvement Project was continued.

There was a notice of intent to file a petition regarding this project.

The Board determined that part of the land in the Township may benefit from the Daniels Drain Improvement Project.

The Board requested that the Ingham County Drain Commissioner delineate a proposed drainage district for a drain affecting an area in portions of Meridian Township.

One of the most back and forth topics of conversation regarding this project was the cost.

"It would be appropriate to move forward with this intent to file a petition at this time, however I think we need to really watch the cost and I hope that the way the costs are apportioned, the benefits will put a major portion of the cost on the ponds that are the chief beneficiary and minimize the assessments to the lots in the subdivision that seem to be happy as they are," Township Board Trustee John Veenstra stated.

Township Clerk Brett Dreyfus shared his thoughts on the issue as well.

"I would encourage any residents that have any concerns in either direction pro or con to make sure that they show up for that public hearing preferably with as many facts and data as possible," said Dreyfus.

Once the Board shared their thoughts and concerns on the Daniels Drain Improvement Project, Township Manager Frank Walsh spoke up and provided his insight.

"Taking all of the comments into consideration, the Drain Commissioner has been very up front that the Township is going to have a seat at the table beginning to end on this project and the residents will as well. This is not going to be something that is done at the dark of night where we come back and they just throw a figure at us and that's what were going to have to do... we're going to be very actively involved in this project so we're going to be involved from step one to the completion," said Walsh.

After the discussion of this project had come to a close, the action to move the petition forward was passed unanimously by vote.