Mich. Comp. Laws § 247.456

Sec. 56. In case the county road commissioners, or the state highway commissioner, shall deem it necessary for the proper drainage of the highway to be improved, that any drain or water course be laid out and established, deepened and widened, cleaned out, straightened or extended, they may petition the county drain commissioner for the same, and such petition shall have all the force and effect of the requisite petitions by freeholders to the county drain commissioner for the same purpose; and thereupon the county drain commissioner shall proceed to act upon such petition, and shall take the same steps that are provided for him to take under the drain laws of the state.