Engineers inspect Red Mill Pond dam

Inspectors were on the water at Red Mill Pond Dam on Thursday, Oct. 17, but rainy weather prompted surveyors to put away boats and equipment after a morning attempt to gather data. The work is being done by Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber (FTC&H) of Grand Rapids, an engineering and consulting firm that has contracted with the Lenawee County Drain Commission for the project. Water levels at the pond had been falling since Sept. 30, after the Drain Commission obtained a permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Resources Division to temporarily lower the pond about six feet for the inspection. The water level will return to the court-ordered level following the inspection process. A crew of inspectors walked the banks of the dam and boats with equipment were also on the water for a time in the morning until the rain interfered with their work and the equipment had to be put away and protected. Workers hoped to get back on the water for a closer look later in the day. FTC&H previously compiled a report with an estimated cost of $315,000 to repair and maintain the dam, but a closer inspection was needed before any work goes out to bid. Drain Commissioner Stephen May said special assessment amounts for property owners on the roll would not be determined until the information gathering process was complete and bids obtained. The Drain Commission is also looking for grants to help with the costs.Joe Brezvai, Drain Engineer II with the Lenawee County Drain Commission, was on hand Thursday to oversee the inspections. He said FTC&H would compile a report from the information gathered at the dam and then share it with county officials.“I’m not sure when the information will come back from today’s inspection or when it will all be up to date, but we hope to be bringing an informational meeting together with results to share with the affected property owners sometime in November,” Brezvai said. He added that residents included on the special assessment would be notified of the meeting date when it was set.