Tax Allocation

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I may be in the wrong deparment to be asking this question, but all of the questions being asked pretain to the paying of taxes, nothing about how to defend ones self if the taxes are not being spent appropriately.

We live in a rural area and have received nothing in the way of road maintenance in the last 6 years (perhaps more, it just became obvious 6 years ago). The only other service our taxes are providing would be Emergency (Fire Department), which was contracted to come from the town furthest from our place, not the closest. (It's called bid rigging and pocket lining.)

With recent flooding in our area, we now have a bridge that needs to be replaced, however, the township does not want to replace the bridge because we live in the outer limits of the township, and are not part of the "Family and Friends Government" encouraged in the county.

In 1996 the township started setting aside money to "Put In" a new bridge farther upstream. One that is still in tact after the flooding, but in need of some fill due to wash outs. The bridge by our place is completely gone. The township does not want to replace our bridge because they feel there is a need to cut back on the number of bridges. (They currently maintain three, ours and two upstream, where bridges are located one mile apart). However, the bridge by our place is the first one for 5 miles upstream. If they continue to maintain the remaining bridges they will have one every 7 miles (that I know of, I haven't ventures any further than that) after ours.

I can't quite comprehend their justification by cutting out the first bridge for 5 miles and forcing people to use another one 6 (that one is currently out as well) to 8 miles away, other than a personal vendetta against someone in our family, that doesn't even live in their township. By not replacing this bridge, they are denying us access to adjoining land and greatly reducing the value of our property. Something that has no significant impact on the other two bridges.

Also, one of the three bridges, to be maintained by the township, was repaired after the flood, without any meeting to decide if that should be done or not. Something that required a meeting the last time the one by our place washed out. (Not completely gone like it is now).

Is there anyone that we can go to with this issue that can possibly help? If you are recommending an attorney, what type of attorney? Like I stated earlier, we are not part of the "Family or Friends" government encouraged here and I don't feel comfortable asking too many questions for fear of it getting back to someone that will retaliate in another way. I don't feel this is a questionable decision. That bridge was used by MANY people for different reasons and is a great loss. I don't know that losing one bridge up stream is going to have the same impact, but if we have to defend our position, I can see where we are going to lose no mater what our defense.

Sorry this is not short and brief, but there are too many variables and I just don't know where to turn.

[abezon]

Run for county council and change the spending priorities when you're in office.