Report from the drain commissioner

St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wenzel said 2014 was another good year for his office.
Addressing the county’s board of commissioners, Wenzel said with the additional duties of administering soil-erosion permits, the office is keeping busy and maintaining a high profile in the county.
The office in 2014 issued 147 permits and more than 600 inspections were conducted over the 12-month period, Wenzel said. In addition, Wenzel said he handed out 29 drain permits and 15 permits to address beaver-caused situations.
Wenzel said the department financed five projects: the Grover and Coohon Drain in Colon Township for $18,708; the Felker Drain in Park Township for $49,333; Colon No. 1 Drain in Colon and Nottawa townships, $35,908; Kaiser Lake in Fabius Township, $3,985; and Beaver Lake in Colon Township, $4,470.
Total drain and lake assessments in 2014 equaled $112,406. Wenzel said 2014 marked the fifth and final year of the Kaiser Lake and Beaver Lake assessments.
Wenzel, 55, is in his seventh year as drain commissioners. The full-time position pays $47,500 annually.