To make it clear: there are no legally-established county drains under my office's jurisdiction.

While drain commissioners serve a purpose in other Michigan counties, Cheboygan County doesn't have the need for one at this time and hasn't needed one since the 1950s.

Besides having no drains to oversee, non-mandated duties handled by some drain commissioners have been devolved to other county departments leaving me with little to do except approve permits, shuffle papers and help constituents with issues relating to local government.

MIRS, the news service for insiders on what's happening in state government, reports on my effort to get fired and abolish the office of drain commissioner in my county:

Fourteen counties in Michigan don't elect a drain commissioner, but an elected body is charged with appointing someone to either be a drain commissioner or serve in that function. In Huron County, for example, there's a "deputy drain commissioner" that's appointed by the elected road commission to carry out the functions laid out in state law.

This is the solution that's best for Cheboygan County and my constituents, who elected me to office in November. I took an oath of office to serve the people -- I'm not here to cater to politicians and entrenched bureaucrats.

Ahead of Wednesday's vote on a resolution to fire me and abolish the office, I recently wrote and urged members of the Board of Commissioners to support my proposal:

To the Honorable Members of the County Board of Commissioners:

As you know, the Office of Drain Commissioner recognizes the importance of having an efficient county government, especially in today's difficult economics times.

Over my five weeks of service to the people of Cheboygan County, I have taken numerous steps to minimize the expense of this office without compromising my statutory obligations, duties, responsibilities and requirements.

It is the position of this office that the Office of Drain Commissioner must be reformed by the Michigan Legislature to allow Cheboygan County to abolish this outdated office.

While I have certain statutory obligations, duties, responsibilities and requirements under Public Act 40 of 1956, there are not enough duties, at this time, to support the Office of Drain Commissioner.

Under Public Act 40, counties with a population over 12,000, as determined by the United States census, must elect a drain commissioner. In counties meeting the population exemption, the County Board of Road Commissioners is charged by statute with performing the Office of Drain Commissioner's statutory obligations, duties, responsibilities and requirements.

Your predecessors recognized the need for reform and passed resolutions in 1955 and 1956 (1) urging the Legislature to amend the law and provide for the abolition of the Office of Drain Commissioner.

The resolution before you would begin the process for reform, and would urge Senator Jason Allen and Representatives Kevin Elsenheimer and Gary McDowell to introduce the necessary legislation in Lansing.

Senator Allen and Representative Elsenheimer have indicated they support this reform. Both gentlemen have also indicated they would draft legislation and proceed with introduction once this resolution is passed.

It is therefore my humble recommendation that this resolution is passed.

Very truly yours,

Dennis G. Lennox II
DRAIN COMMISSIONER

(1) The Board of Supervisors passed the first resolution on February 1, 1955. Chairman Dagwell introduced the resolution, which was co-sponsored by Supervisor Train. It passed unanimously. The second resolution -- introduced by Supervisor Leslie and co-sponsored by Supervisor Train -- was passed by the Board of Supervisors on January 10, 1956.