Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 280. Drain Code of 1956 § 280.103

Sec. 103.(1) The director of the department of agriculture and rural development or a deputy selected by the director shall act as chairperson at the meeting of the drainage board under section 102.  1 The drainage board shall consider the application to lay out and designate a drainage district and do all of the following at the meeting:

(2) If a member of the drainage board would be disqualified under sections 381 and 383  2 from making an apportionment of benefits, both of the following apply:

(3) The owner of any lands that would be liable to assessment for benefits for the proposed drain or would be crossed by the drain or any city, township, or village affected may appear for or against the drain proceedings. If at the meeting or at any subsequent time before the entry of the order designating a drainage district, the drainage board determines that the drainage of the proposed drain area is not practicable, no further action shall be taken on that application within 1 year. If the proposed drain is determined to be practicable, then the drainage board shall cause a survey to be made by a licensed professional surveyor or engineer to ascertain the area that would be benefited by the proposed drain and the route and type of construction of drain or drains most serviceable for that purpose.