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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
Two candidates are running for the Republican nomination of Mason County drain commissioner. The decision on the nominee and the decision on the next drain commissioner will be determined during the Aug. 6 primary election, as there are only Republicans running for the position.
The Mason County Drain Commission is responsible for the care and maintenance of over 130 miles of established drains. The position was established under Michigan Public Act 40 of 1956, also known as the Drain Code of 1956. Read here for more details.
Larry Protasiewicz
Maintenance on existing county drains is funded by special assessments on properties that benefit along with municipal contributions. New drains can be established, following one of several processes as found in the Michigan Drain Code. The office is also the administrator of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program, Part 91, as established by Michigan Public Act 451 of 1994, also known as the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act of 1994.
Additionally, the Mason County drain commissioner is the director of the county’s Department of Public Works, which oversees the waste water treatment line between Ludington and Scottville and the two closed county landfills. The drain commissioner also serves on the county parks and recreation commission.
The starting salary of Mason County drain commissioner is $48,514.34 with a supplemental of $13,376.79 as Department of Public Works director, for a total of $61,891.13.
The two candidates running in the August primary are David Bendele of Custer Township and Larry Protasiewicz of Grant Township.
Protasiewicz became an associate at Spicer Group civil engineering firm in 1991, a senior associate in 1994 and a principal in 1996. In December 2023, he stepped down as vice president and chief financial officer and said he is preparing to retire from the firm. Protasiewicz has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with a major in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University. Protasiewicz grew up in the Saginaw area and graduated high school in 1982. He has owned property in Mason County for several years where he has had a pheasant hunting business. He moved here full time three years ago.
“I have worked with drain commissioners from 55 Michigan counties,” he said. “Locally, I worked with (former drain commissioner) Dave Hasenbank and (current drain commissioner) Dan Rohde. I believe working as the Mason County drain commissioner would be a good transition for me as I retire from Spicer.
David Bendele
Bendele grew up in Alma and graduated high school in 1996. He took business management and corrections classes at Davenport University.
“My career experiences are hands on,” he said. Bendele worked for a tree service and then also in excavation and farm drainage. “A lot of our work that was performed was cleaning ditches, installing county mains and installing drainage tile for local farmers. I have worked for a fertilizer dealer where I obtained pesticide license through the state of Michigan. Previously I worked in a county drain office where I was responsible for taking sediment checks, right-of-way management, and taking county main inventory by use of a drain tile camera. I worked for Marquette Rail where I was responsible for track maintenance and received a certificate through Norfolk Southern for bridge inspections. I owned Bendele Trucking where I provided trucking services all around the U.S.” Bendele has been employed at the Lake County Road Commission since 2016. He said his responsibilities are road repair, right of way management, installation of bottomless arch culverts. He has also served as the president of the road commission workers’ local union for three years. Bendele said he has lived in Mason County for almost 20 years.
“I am running for Drain Commissioner because through my years of experience in related fields and my time spent in the drain office, I have developed a strong interest in drainage management,” Bendele said. “It is a crucial but often overlooked role that is vital for the safety of our communities.”
Protasiewicz and Bendele both agreed that the drain system in Mason County is in pretty good shape.
Protasiewicz said one of his top goals would be to modernize the office’s records and mapping system. Currently, all of those items are on paper. The most recent drain map was drawn in the 1990s.
“It’s time we digitize those records and put them online,” Protasiewicz said. “If there was a fire at the drain commission office in Scottville, those records would be gone. These records contain crucial information about easements and other records that pertain to the county drain system. I believe I could get that information up to date rather quickly.”
Bendele said some of the top priorities he can see include “making sure the sanitary sewer system continues to function properly. Make sure there is a fail safe in place and that it is tested regularly and working properly. Making sure the administrative duties are in place for current operation and future upgrades. Also making sure the maintenance needs are being met for the two closed landfills.
“The needs for county drains include keeping the trees and brush clear and years of sediment removed.”
Protasiewicz said the Michigan Drain Code is an area of concern for Michigan drain commissioners.
“I am very active with the Michigan Association of Drain Commissioners,” he said. “Part of my role there has been helping that organization keeping our lobbyists in place. As a consultant I have not been able to represent the organization in Lansing but as a drain commission I would be able to do that. This is vital. The drain code is a very powerful law and is in need of constant updating. It is also important in keeping local land rights and local control of water issues.”
“Although I don’t currently have any changes to add, the drain code has a history of revisions and will need to be updated over time to stay current with economic changes,” Bendele said.
Protasiewicz said an area where the drain commission could be most visible with local residents is its ability to assist the road commission with culvert repairs and replacement.
“Drain commissioners, through PA 40 have environmental exceptions so the drain commissioner can put in a new culvert with less paperwork, compare to the road commission. This could be a benefit to taxpayers.”
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