Tag: drain commissioner

Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, a Democrat candidate for governor, was on WJR with Frank Beckmann this morning talking about the need for "commonsense" reform of government.

He talked about restructuring, consolidating and streamlining government.

Yet his record with government reform at the local level is one of inaction.

After I was on Beckmann's show on February 13, 2009, to discuss my efforts to abolish my own office, Dillon called in and promised to support legislation in the House of Representatives.

Well, the legislation, House Bill No. 5216, was introduced last summer and there's been no action.

Dillon has the power to move this commonsense reform of local government, yet he hasn't.

Whether it's in Norway or the United States, the center-right is the party of ideas. We are the ones proposing real solutions.

Legislation aimed at granting counties the authority to abolish the drain commissioner's office was introduced Wednesday in the State Senate by a bipartisan coalition of senators.

Under Senate Bill 758, which is sponsored by Senators Jason Allen (R-Traverse City), Judson Gilbert (R-Algonac), Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Twp.) and Jim Barcia (D-Bay City), Cheboygan County and other counties with a population under 35,000 would be allowed to devolve the duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner to the road commission..

The legislation is a companion to a bill introduced by Representative Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) in July. Both bills were modeled after my campaign promise to abolish my office.

This legislation reforms the way government is structured in Michigan by allowing taxpayers to decide the type of government that best serves their local community. It's time to take the first step in reforming and restructuring government at all levels across our great state.

If passed by both chambers and signed by the governor, counties could voluntary abolish the office of drain commissioner with the consent of the incumbent, a two-thirds vote of county commissioners and a majority of electors voting in support at a primary or general election held after August 2010.

Under current law, drain commissioners are required -- regardless of need -- in all counties with a population over 12,000. The position, which dates to Michigan's statehood in 1837, is responsible for overseeing water resources.

It's been a long time, but there's finally some news from Lansing.

For too many months my proposal to abolish my office was caught up in the budget debacle, but that's no longer the case.

After 54 years of waiting, voters in Cheboygan County will be allowed to abolish the office of drain commissioner at the next election under legislation introduced by Representative Rick Jones, a Republican from Grand Ledge.

Jones, a former county sheriff, is the sponsor of House Bull 5216 -- which would allow counties with a population under 35,000 to abolish the drain commissioner's position and devolve the duties and responsibilities to the county road commission.

And with the commitment from House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Redford Township, to allow my proposal to come up for a vote, I'm optimistic this good-government reform will pass through the Legislature and get signed by the governor.

My proposal is commonsense and reforms the way government is structured in Michigan by allowing taxpayers to decide the type of government that best serves their local community.

Under current law, drain commissioners are required -- regardless of need -- in all counties with a population over 12,000.

The position, which dates to Michigan's statehood in 1837, is responsible for overseeing water resources.

For the record, Cheboygan County has not had a drainage project since World War II.

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.

A resolution that will lead to the firing of Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox and the abolishment of his office was approved by the Board of Commissioners at this morning's session.

Lennox, a 24-year-old Republican from Topinabee, defeated a two-term Democratic incumbent in November by campaigning to abolish the historic position, which dates to Michigan's statehood in 1837.

By law, the election of drain commissioners is required in counties with a population over 12,000 regardless of whether there is need for the position. In counties too small for drain commissioners, the statutory duties are devolved to the county road commission.

"Taxpayers want real reform at all levels of government," said Lennox, who has pushed his plan at FireDennis.com. "This is a commonsense solution that does away with an outdated position and eliminates waste and excess in government."

Read on...

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.