(1) Before proceeding on a motion made or a petition filed under section 30702, the county board may require that a preliminary study be conducted by a licensed professional engineer. The county board, by resolution, may require a cash payment from the petitioners sufficient to cover the actual preliminary study costs or of $10,000.00, whichever is less.

    (2) A preliminary study shall include all of the following:

    (a) The feasibility of a project to establish and maintain a normal level of the inland lake.

    (b) The expediency of the normal level project.

    (c) Feasible and prudent alternative methods and designs for controlling the normal level.

    (d) The estimated costs of construction and maintenance of the normal level project.

    (e) A method of financing initial costs.

    (f) The necessity of a special assessment district and the tentative boundaries if a district is necessary.

    (g) Other information that the county board resolves is necessary.