You may have missed my letter in today's edition of the Gaylord Herald Times:

To the Editor:

I am in full support of the efforts by Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, to reform state government by merging the departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources into a single state agency.

Under Senate Bill 251, an immediate savings of $800,000 — mostly in reduced staff and costs associated with building rentals — would result from consolidating the two into the proposed “Department of Conservation.”

Besides returning dollars to the cash-strapped pockets of taxpayers, this proposal would cut the bureaucratic red tape that plagues sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts in Northern Michigan.

The 21st century challenges facing our great state require 21st century solutions that reform government at all levels by doing away with waste and inefficiency.

It simply doesn’t make sense to have two separate departments overseeing Michigan’s natural resources and protecting the environment.

Dennis Lennox
Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner

In case you missed it, a service I'm offering as county drain commissioner was in the news on TV 7&4 today:

Residents asked to report clogged ditches and drains

CHEBOYGAN -- A new service is being launched by County Drain Commissioner Dennis Lennox that will allow local residents to report obstructed drainage ditches for cleaning and maintenance.

Lennox will work with the Sheriff's Office to use non-violent inmates for cleaning the ditches and removing the obstructions.

"The vast majority of constituent complaints to my office and the Road Commission deal with drainage ditches," said Lennox, R-Topinabee.

"Many of the ditches in Cheboygan County are very old and this service will provide much-needed maintenance."

To report a ditch, residents should e-mail the approximate location and nature of the complaint to draincommissioner@cheboygancounty.net.

A complaint may also be filed during office hours on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Drain Commissioner's Office in the County Building. There is no charge for the service.

As county drain commissioner, I can attest to the appalling state of infrastructure across our great state.

Whether it’s roads, bridges or highways, it’s time for the Legislature to step up and commit to public infrastructure.

While there is plenty of waste and excess in state government, providing safe and good roads, bridges and highways is a fundamental function of government.

Most importantly, this issue is bipartisan. Sound infrastructure benefits everyone and is critical for schools, hospitals, farming and manufacturing.

The Legislature needs to work together on this bipartisan issue.

Let’s drive Michigan into the future on a safe and efficient transportation system.