Frequently Asked Questions

The duties of the Drain Commissioner are established by statutory law (Michigan Drain Code of 1956, as amended) as well as delegated by the County Board of Commissioners. The Lenawee County Drain Commissioner is responsible for the maintenance of 709 separate drainage districts encompassing over 1,500 miles of drains within the boundaries of the county. The job also includes the administration and maintenance of nine (9) separate sewer systems and four (4) water systems. This office also issues and enforces soil erosion permits, inspects preliminary plats and maintains the court-ordered lake levels on eight (8) lakes in the county.

County drainage districts are separate public corporations with their own financial records. Each drainage district is supported by a Drain Special Assessment that covers the cost of maintaining the drainage system. County drains are not maintained by Lenawee County general fund taxes.

A drainage district is a legally established area of land that drains to a common outlet. Drainage district boundaries are determined by the natural topography of the land and rarely correspond to political boundaries such as townships or counties. Common words for drainage district include “watershed” and “drainage basin”.

The Lenawee County Drain Commissioner’s Office has maps and aerial photos that can show the location of your property and the county drain within the drainage district. These documents will be available on the Day of Review. Even if your property is not adjacent to the county drain, stormwater may flow toward and into the county drain.

Each notice informs you of a Drain Special Assessment for a different drainage district. Your property can be in multiple Drainage districts because stormwater moves from smaller watersheds through larger watersheds, ultimately discharging to the Great Lakes. For example if your property were located in a small watershed that is “nested” inside a larger watershed, you would receive an assessment for each district, should they both be assessed in the same year.

The law requires that assessments be based on benefit derived as determined by the Drain Commissioner. All properties within the drainage district are assessed based on size of the parcel and the land use. Distances from the drain or the location of the property within the drainage district may be factors. Drainage is considered as an independent system with the entire system benefiting from the maintenance of the common outlet.

The law requires that assessments be based on benefit derived as determined by the Drain Commissioner. All properties within the drainage district are assessed based on size of the parcel and the land use. Distances from the drain or the location of the property within the drainage district may be factors. Drainage is considered as an independent system with the entire system benefiting from the maintenance of the common outlet.

All property owners within a drainage district receive an assessment, unless specifically exempted by law. In addition, Cities, Villages, Townships, Railroads, Lenawee County, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (as appropriate) also receive an assessment for a portion of the maintenance costs. The Drain Code does not exempt most non-profit or religious properties from assessment.

Although the work for which you are being assessed may have been completed prior to your purchase of the land, the Drain Code requires that Assessments be levied to the property, and assessed to the current owner of record. In most cases, the work performed will benefit the property for years to come.

If you are unable to attend the Day of Review and have questions regarding your assessment or the assessment process, please call the Lenawee County Drain Commissioner’s Office. It is possible to make an appointment at times other than the Day of Review, although the appeal period begins after the date of the Day of Review.

Appeal of the Drain Special Assessments may be made to the Lenawee County Probate Court within 10 days after the Day of Review.