Brian Jonckheere was elected Livingston County Drain Commissioner in 1996. Mr. Jonckheere is a fourth generation resident of Livingston County. His background includes work in the environmental health area as a Sanitarian for the Livingston County Health Department. He was also an engineering technician for Boss Engineering of Howell, Michigan. Mr. Jonckheere's education background includes a Bachelor's degree in Fisheries Biology from Michigan State University, a Master's of Science degree in Environmental Biology from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and PhD course work in Resource Development at Michigan State University.
The role of a Drain Commissioner can best be described as a water resource manager that also needs to balance the protection of individual property and human health with environmental protection. The Drain Commissioner deals almost exclusively with issues that directly or indirectly affect water quality. The Drain Commissioner's office is actively involved in county-wide storm water management, watershed planning, lake management, solid waste programs like household hazardous waste disposal, wastewater treatment, soil erosion control programs, and emergency management. Mr. Jonckheere is the Director of the Board of Public Works. Under that title he oversees the construction and operation of ten wastewater sanitary sewer facilities in Livingston County.