The Leland Township board unanimously approved a resolution objecting to the planned Schomberg drain project at its regular meeting July 14.
According to the resolution, the Leelanau County Drain Commission initiated the “The Schomberg Drain Project,” a large portion of which is located within Leland Township. The Schomberg Drain District, which was established in 2019 as a result of a petition initiated by a single resident of Leland Township, would provide potential relief limited to six parcels, including the petitioning property owner. The project is estimated to cost $1 million, and would be assessed/paid by different government entities including: Leelanau County — $300,000, Leland Township — $90,000, Centerville Township — $10,000, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) — $150,000, and drainage district residents (120 parcels) — $450,000.
The approved resolution essentially objects to the creation of the district and any construction costs associated with it “given that the project provides little to no benefit to township taxpayers and any potential benefit to residents within the drainage district is limited and not proportional to cost.”
