Drain commissioner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A drain commissioner is an elected official in almost every county of the U.S. state of Michigan.

The drain commissioner is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining surface water drainage systems under the Michigan Drain Code. The need for an elected official is facilitated by the high density of waterways and low-lying areas throughout the state. A commissioner may work closely with other government officials to develop and manage drain systems to accommodate new construction or to maintain urban infrastructure.

A drain may be a natural or artificial creek or ditch, or a massive pipe for carrying storm water. The territory served by a particular drain, its watershed, is typically organized as a drainage district, and the drain commissioner levies tax assessments and directs construction or maintenance of drains and culverts on behalf of each district. A county may have dozens or even hundreds of drainage districts.

Drain commissioners are elected on the partisan ballot in presidential election years to four-year terms.