Gossman Drain Information Site

The expansion of the Gossman Drain district to include Old farm Subdivision occurred as a result of a Charter Township of Fort Gratiot official request to the Drain Commission, to deal with the drainage problems.

According to official Township records, there are a total of 4 properties reported with drainage problems within the geographic boundaries of the expanded Gossman Drain district encompassing Old Farm. It would be interesting to learn if the proposed project will address these 4 problems, and how. Surely there must be more than these four drainage problems to justify the $1.3 million dollar cost and the environmental impact.   I have requested a list of all the reported drainage problems from the Drain Commission in my recent FOIA request (click here to view FOIA request).

To see Township records of all the drainage problems ever reported, go to the Supporting Documents page or click here.

• Mariani,  4272 Guilford Lane 6/25/97 and much subsequent correspondence
• Digiuseppe, 4298 Guilford Lane
• Nowak, 3679 old Farm Lane, first report 6/5/2003
• Slezinski, 3609 Sunset Lane  4/9/97 – not part of Gossman Drain project
• Coggins, 3625 Sunset Lane 4/9/97 – not part of Gossman Drain project
• Vincent, 4342 Old Forge 5/11/81

Bob Wiley here, Drain Commissioner. Let me ask, if it were one person only and he/she was at the very high end of the drain, are you saying that person doesnt deserve relief? In order to get the people you have listed help, their water has to travel down a drain that has been neglected for years. The only way to make the problem right is to clean the ditch out in one shot and get the water to flow.

Comment by Bob Wiley January 20, 2011 @ 1:43 am

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No question that drainage issues should be addressed in a economically, socially and environmentally responsible manner. Determining the best solution depends on the exact nature of the problems being addressed. Will the Gossman Drain project as presently planned eliminate the problems reported by these neighbors?

Comment by gossmandrain January 20, 2011 @ 9:17 am

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Bob Wiley, Drain Commissioner. Pete please inform the readers that the information was offered to you but for a price. You didnt recieve what you asked for because you wanted it for free. The hours my staff work on the FOIA must be charged back to either the person requesting the FOIA or the drain district. I felt that since you were asking for it that you should pay for the charge. The other thing I dont see in your comment is that I sat with you for almost a day and a half while you placed sticky notes on every page in the file that you wanted copies of. I have been completely open with you and any other person that has called, visited my office or attended a public meeting. I have an open door policy. I want people to be informed and educated just as much as you do. I ask of you to please help by being part of the solution. If you have and consructive ideas I listen well too. As far as your first FOIA, maybe you can find some neighbors to help split the cost with you and then I will be happy to gather what ever information I have for you and those neighbors. Please dont take this as an offensive comment I’m just trying to do my job.

Comment by Bob Wiley January 20, 2011 @ 1:58 am

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