Jenna Morse is the new interim Monroe County drain commissioner.
Morse was unanimously selected March 11 by the three-member Monroe County Drain Commissioner Selection Board. The board also considered candidates Kristy Whitson and Jamie O’Brien.
Morse has been the soil erosion control agent for the drain commission since 2017. She was sworn-in for the interim drain commission position March 11 by Monroe County Clerk Annamarie Osment.
Morse will serve until the drain commissioner post is filled by election on Nov. 3. Morse has announced her candidacy to retain her seat. Osment said so far only Morse has filed to run for the office.
David Thompson, the previous Monroe County drain commissioner, retired Dec. 15. Tim Csurgo, chief deputy drain commissioner, had been filling in as drain commissioner.
“The deputy drain commissioner stayed on but declined the appointment,” Osment said.
In late January, the county began accepting applications for the interim drain commissioner position. A series of public meetings and candidate interviews took place. Selection board members were Chief Probate Judge Cheryl Lohmeyer, Osment and Prosecutor Jeffrey Yorkey.
“I have worked for the Monroe County Drain Commissioner for almost 11 years now, starting at the office in August of 2015,” Morse said in an email. “I have served our local community as an employee of the County of Monroe since November of 2012.”
“Morse brings more than a decade of experience with the Monroe County Drain Commission, developing extensive expertise in county drain infrastructure, water management practices, regulatory compliance and long-range planning. Her hands-on experience and deep institutional knowledge have made her a respected professional within the department,” the selection board said in a news release.
“She is also recognized for her thorough understanding of the Michigan Drain Code of 1956, a foundational statute governing the construction, maintenance and administration of public drainage systems across the state,” according to the news release.
The Monroe County drain commissioner is responsible for overseeing the county’s drainage infrastructure, ensuring effective water management, maintaining compliance with state regulations and supporting long-term environmental and infrastructure planning for the community, according to the news release.
Thompson said, “Having served this role myself, I understand the technical, administrative and community-focused responsibilities the job requires, and I am confident that Jenna is exceptionally well-prepared to meet and exceed those expectations. Her work ethic and integrity make her, not only a capable administrator, but also a trusted steward of the county’s critical drainage and water resources.”
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Jenna Morse is new interim Monroe County drain commissioner
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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