On May 28, 2015 erosion under the Gun Lake Dam on Patterson Road in Yankee Springs Township threatened to wash out the dam and the road. Emergency repairs saved the dam that night through the combined efforts of the Barry Drain Commission, Road Commission, Emergency Management, Orangeville and Yankee Springs fire departments and the local gravel pit.
Planning for a permanent fix to the dam moved forward Tuesday with a recommendation of approval for engineering studies by Land & Resource Engineering by the Barry County Commission’s committee of the whole. The engineering firm will assess the dam’s structural integrity, potential permanent repairs and ways to accomplish them, at a cost of no more than $24,950.
The commission will consider the committee’s recommendation Nov. 29.
According to the Professional Services Agreement, Land & Resource will report to the county drain commissioner every week, or more often, and the county can ask for on-site inspections. The study is expected to be completed within three months and a final report given to the county commission.
Land & Resources was chosen for the study last month after the commission reviewed the statements of qualifications submitted by six companies, interviewed four and narrowed the choice to either Land & Resources or GEI.
