Midland City Council Approves 145% Drainage Fee Hike

New fees to fund overdue projects and address system decay

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:07pm

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The Midland City Council has approved a 145% increase in drainage fees, effective February 1, to fund overdue infrastructure projects and address the deterioration of the city's drainage system. The fee hike was passed in a 6-1 vote, with Councilwoman-At-Large Robin Poole casting the dissenting vote.

Why it matters

Midland's drainage system has fallen into disrepair due to decades of neglect, with only $17.3 million of the $73 million in needed projects completed since the initial drainage fee was implemented in 2018. The fee increase is necessary to address this backlog of critical infrastructure work and prevent further decay of the system.

The details

The city's engineering services director, Gabe McClelland, presented details on the planned projects, which include $60 million in immediate needs such as improvements to Wadley Avenue, Golf Course Road, and Midkiff Road, as well as an additional $75 million in future improvements. The fee hike will raise the minimum annual residential fee from $20.88 to $59.16, and the minimum annual commercial fee from $100.92 to $3,828.

  • The new drainage fees will go into effect on February 1, 2026.
  • The city of Midland instated a drainage fee in 2018, over two decades after a Master Drainage Plan was created.

The players

Gabe McClelland

The city's engineering services director who presented details on the planned drainage projects and the necessity of the fee increase.

Robin Poole

The Councilwoman-At-Large who cast the dissenting vote against the drainage fee hike.

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What they’re saying

“Drainage fees at (the 2018) and (2026) levels (are) not sufficient to cover all needs. A blended funding source with drainage fees is required to accomplish long-term goals and needs.”

— Gabe McClelland, Engineering Services Director

What’s next

The city believes that even with the 145% fee increase, the finalized amount will not be enough to cover all long-term drainage needs, and another increase may be necessary in the future.

The takeaway

Midland's aging drainage infrastructure has reached a critical point, requiring significant investment to address decades of neglect. The drainage fee hike, while unpopular, is a necessary step to fund overdue projects and prevent further system decay, ensuring the city's long-term resilience.