COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners brought forward during their work session on Thursday a revised Soil Erosion Permit Fee Schedule.
The fees have not been revised since 2005 and under the original plan, some of them would have been five times higher in order for the county to stay under state compliance.
Drain Commissioner Mike Hard said based on the comments they got after the revised fees were presented two weeks ago, the cost on residential housing was reduced by a third.
The new fee schedule is needed in order to meet requirements from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
County Administrator Bud Norman told Commissioners during a power point presentation two weeks ago that the fees are based upon moving over 250 square feet of dirt within 500 feet of a body of water.
Formal action is scheduled to be taken by Commissioners next Tuesday.
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