Roscommon County renames Drain Commissioner office to Water Resources Commissioner

The Roscommon County Board of Commissioners voted 4–0 on May 27 to adopt Resolution No. 2026-05-04 to change the name of the Office of the Roscommon County Drain Commissioner to the Office of the Roscommon County Water Resources Commissioner under MCL 280.21(8). The resolution states the drain commissioner performs functions beyond traditional drain commissioner duties — including operating sewers, enforcing lake level and soil erosion rules, and facilitating compliance with federal Clean Water Act mandates — and that the Drain Commissioner consented to the name change.

The resolution directs that the Water Resources Commissioner be elected in the same manner as a drain commissioner and carry out the same statutory powers and duties. The clerk was instructed to forward a copy of the resolution to the Roscommon County Water Resources Commissioner. No amendments or dissent were recorded on the motion, and the resolution passed by roll call (Milburn, Morley, Wolfsen, Sensor: ayes; nays: none).

The change is administrative in name and clarifies the county office’s broader water-related responsibilities as described in the resolution and under the Drain Code provision cited in the meeting materials. Implementation steps listed in the resolution include forwarding the resolution and rescinding conflicting parts of prior resolutions.