Work in Big Rapids Township continues this summer with the large-scale Tonkin Drain project.

The drain, which was established in 1904, previously hadn’t seen major work or upgrades in more than 50 years. After citizens petitioned for improvements, the board of determination conducted an assessment and eventually greenlit the project on May 30, 2018.

“There had been property damage and flooded basements,” Drain Commissioner Karla Miller said. “A culvert also washed out on 13 Mile Road. The system was getting too much water and couldn’t hold it.”

The project has been underway for the past year and remains on schedule. Main construction began in April 2026, leading to an extensive road closure on Northland Drive south of Big Rapids. This work includes replacing failing culverts and upsizing existing tiles, which aims to reroute water and reduce flooding. According to Miller, the entire Tonkin Drain project is still on schedule to be completed by October 2026.

As of Friday, June 12, construction of both the 13 Mile Road box culvert (Division I) and the Northland Drive box culvert (Division II) are complete. Division I of construction, being completed by Jackson Dirt Works of Lake Odessa, will be transitioning to open channel work and storm sewer installation along Arthur Road. Division II, headed by Dean's Excavating of Sand Lake, will be doing storm sewer installation on Gilbert Road.

 

^{Images of box culvert construction on Northland Drive (left) and 13 Mile Road (right). Credit to Tonkin Drain Website.}

Construction for the next project stages are underway, as of Monday, June 15. Traffic will remain open on Gilbert Road, but Arthur Road will be closed and utilize Northland Drive, 205th Avenue, and 12 Mile Road. Time of completion has not been finalized. A map of this detour can be found here: ARTHUR ROAD DETOUR MAP.

While the project has been moving along, the cost of the project has been the hot topic of discussion among community members and residents. The $5.4 million price tag, as well as lack of transparency, have drawn concerns from residents and even the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners.

“I talked to several of the people who signed the original petition and they thought they were going to dig out a ditch here and there, push some dirt around, and send them a bill for two or three hundred dollars,” Chairman Chris Zimmerman said. “Well, that didn't happen. It morphed into this five and a half million dollar project, and the people didn't even know how much it was going to cost until May of 2025. People were blindsided by these huge bills that they got in the mail.”

The county board has since passed resolution 2026-09, which urges state lawmakers to amend the Drain Code of 1956 regarding financial power and checks and balances for the drain commissioner’s actions.

“The Drain Code of 56 authorized drain commissioners to have all this power and it has been unbridled power since that day,” Zimmerman said. “It wasn't said, at the time, that the landowners should have a say in what goes on with a final vote on it. Somehow, that's been lost over time and people can't really have a say in it. All the power is to the drain commissioner, and they have cover under this drain code.”

Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) has been leading efforts regarding the amendment and co-sponsored a package of bills recommending it.

“Michigan’s drain code hasn’t seen serious reform in decades, leaving drain commissioners with near unlimited authority to assess, dig and bill,” Kunse stated.

In response to the recall declaration, Miller said she has followed the legal procedure and the accounting has been found to be assessed correctly.

“As I have said (before), this process was started well before I was the drain commissioner,” Miller said. “It does sound like sticker shock at the beginning to say it’s a 5.4 million dollar project, but there’s people that see the need for this project. We’re dealing with four miles of a drain and a mile of storm sewer tile. ”

According to Miller, the overall cost for the taxpayers has been reduced to about $1.9 million over a 15-year span. Payments have been made by multiple entities, including Ferris State University, the City of Big Rapids, the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners, and MDOT, to help cover the construction costs.

More details on the Tonkin Drain Project can be found here: https://www.tonkindrainmaintenanceandimprovementproject.com/.