When will I get fired? That's the question everyone is asking me these days.

While Cheboygan County's Board of Commissioners voted last month to fire me and abolish the position, a bill amending the 19th Century law that mandates the election of county drain commissioners needs to be introduced and passed by the Michigan Legislature and signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Senator Jason Allen (R-Traverse City) and Representative Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire), the House minority leader, have both pledged their support and kicked off the process by requesting the non-partisan Legislative Services Bureau to draft the bill for introduction.

I spent Thursday in Lansing meeting with legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester). Bishop vowed to support the proposal and called it a "good-government" reform. I also had encouraging talks with about a dozen other lawmakers from both the House and Senate.

Until the bill passes the Legislature and is signed by the governor, I still have a job to do.

That means I'm still working out of the drain commissioner's office inside the County Building -- answering questions, rubber-stamping permits and providing resources to constituents who don't know what local government office handles what matters.

Without any drains, there isn't a lot of work to do, but I'm here and willing to serve until the Legislature and the people of Cheboygan County relieve me of my duties.