County approves resolution; state support still needed.
CHEBOYGAN -- The Cheboygan County commissioners approved a resolution Wednesday pushing forward the effort to remove the county drain commissioner, Dennis Lennox, from office.
Lennox has been campaigning for the county to oust him from office and abolish his department saying there is nothing for him to do.
"There really aren't any statutory duties to perform," Lennox said. "About one day a week I'm here in my office in the county building mostly just shuffling papers, reviewing permits and helping constituents with general government questions."
There are no drains under the county's jurisdiction, but state law mandates that any county with a population greater than 12,000 to elect a drain commissioner. Wednesday, Lennox presented a resolution to the county commissioners that would boost that number to 35,000.
The commission approved measure, but with some reservations from Commissioner Leonard Page.
"It may actually be a good idea, but the proposal would have these duties performed by the road commission and we haven't heard from the road commission about how they feel about it," Page said. "I would like to find out from the other departments that work with the drain commissioners just what those duties are.
While the commissioners approved his resolution to abolish the department, Lennox isn't out of a job just yet.
The resolution first has to be proposed to the state legislature in Lansing. If given approval, it would have to be signed off by the governor and presented back before the voters for their approval. That process in itself could take up to two years.
Even for counties that would then be eligible to remove the office, the resolution would require consent from the drain commissioner, two-thirds of a county commission board, and the voters before the position of drain commissioner could be eliminated.
Lennox ran for the drain commissioner position on the platform of abolishing it. While Lennox says taxpayers would save about $5,000, the department's budget approved by the county commissioners for 2009 is only $3,550.
During Wednesday's commission meeting, Page said he was confused as to why Lennox says he does not have enough work, yet on January 23 Lennox asked the board for more money.
In a memorandum to the county board, Lennox asked to double his per diem to $3,000.
"It was brought up to the county commissioner level to make a point that unless there is an increase in the appropriations, this office doesn't have the resources to perform its statutory obligations," Lennox said.
Lennox added he intends to donate his $600 salary to charity. Lennox maintains his effort to get himself fired is all about government reform.
"Taxpayers want real reform at all levels of government," Lennox said. "This is a common sense solution that does away with an outdated position and eliminates waste and excess in government."
If the office is abolished that would likely transfer duties to the Cheboygan County Road Commission.
