HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2024.02.07 - 40975
AGENDA ITEM: Appointment of Deputies to the Water Resources Commissioner
DEPARTMENT: Water Resources Commissioner
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 6:00 PM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2024-3756
Motion to approve the appointment of WRC Manager Brian Coburn, P.E.; WRC Manager Gary
Nigro, P.E.; and WRC Manager and Chief Legal Officer Kelsey Cooke as additional deputies of the
Water Resources Commissioner; further that the additional deputies shall have the authority to carry
out all functions and duties of the office of the Water Resources Commissioner in the event that the
Water Resources Commissioner is otherwise unable to carry out the duties of the office; further that
said appointments shall be effective upon the signature by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners
and shall have no effect on the Merit Rules status of the employees identified herein.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Appointment Yolanda Smith Charles
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
This item contemplates the appointment of three new deputies to the Water Resources
Commissioner and the elimination of deputies who are no longer employed at the Water Resources
Commissioner's office.
This request is pursuant to the Drain Code of 1956, Section 280.24 which provides that the Water
Resources Commissioner (WRC) may appoint a deputy or deputies, if the county board of
commissioners approves, and may revoke the appointment at his pleasure. In the event that the
Water Resources Commissioner is unable to execute the duties of the office, the deputy or deputies
may execute or assist in the execution of the duties of the Water Resources Commissioner as
assigned by the Water Resources Commissioner.
The Water Resources Commissioner revokes all previous deputy designations except for Chief
Deputy Anne Vaara and Chief Manager Steven Korth, P.E. who shall retain their deputy
designations. The Water Resources Commissioner is seeking approval for the appointment of the
following persons as deputies of the Water Resources Commissioner: WRC Manager Brian Coburn,
P.E.; WRC Manager Gary Nigro, P.E.; and WRC Manager and Chief Legal Officer Kelsey Cooke.
POLICY ANALYSIS
This is a request by the Water Resources Commissioner to update the list of deputies eligible to
execute or assist in the execution of the duties of the Office. The last time deputies were appointed
was in 2017 through MR #17092.
There is no change to the status of Anne Vaara and Steven Korth, P.E. as deputies. Under the
current request, 3 (of 5) deputies would be newly appointed. Those individuals are:
• Brian Coburn, P.E.
• Gary Nigro, P.E.
• Kelsey Cooke
The individuals who were previously deputies but are no longer employed by the County full-time
are:
• Tim Prince, P.E.
• Ben Lewis, P.E.
• Sid Lockhart, P.E.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
Committee members can contact Michael Andrews, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.425.5572 or andrewsmb@oakgov.com, or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Jim Nash
Steven Korth
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 2/7/2024
AGENDA DEADLINE: 02/07/2024 6:00 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024-01-31 EDI Committee Cover Memo WRC Deputy Appointments
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2024-01-31 Economic Development & Infrastructure - Recommend to Board
2024-02-07 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: None
Seconded by: None
Yes: None (0)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Form DC–001
OAKLAND COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COMMISSIONER
Page 1 of 1 Rev.: 02/12/2018
OAKLAND COUNTY
WATER RESOURCES COMMISSIONER MEMORANDUM
TO: Yolanda Smith Charles, Chairperson of the Economic Development and
Infrastructure Committee
FROM: Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner
SUBJECT: Appointment of Three Additional Deputies to the Water Resources Commissioner
DATE: January 31, 2024
Recognizing the busy schedule and myriad responsibilities of a water resources commissioner, our
state legislature adopted the Drain Code of 1956 authorizing elected drain commissioners and/or
water resources commissioners to appoint deputies to perform the duties of the water resources
commissioner when the commissioner is unable to do so.
The formal language in Section 280.24 of the Drain Code explains that a deputy or deputies may
execute or assist in the execution of the duties of the water resources commissioner. Typically, that is
an acknowledgement that those in my role cannot be in more than one place at a time.
Subject to the approval of the Board of Commissioners, I have appointed three capable individuals to
join my Chief Deputy Anne Vaara along with Chief Manager Steven Korth, P.E., to assist me in
carrying out my statutory duties. They include Brian Coburn, P.E., and Gary Nigro, P.E., two
engineers who currently serve as managers, along with Kelsey Cooke, another manager who also
serves as my chief legal officer.
I am respectfully asking your concurrence for these appointments.
Requested Action: Adopt the accompanying resolution authorizing the appointment of the
above-named additional deputies to the Water Resources Commissioner.
Presenters: Jim Nash, nashj@oakgov.com 248-842-6185
Steven Korth, P.E., korths@oakgov.com 248-858-7598