Glassel Speaks about Township Roads

Township Roads

It may be a long time before the county can build and pave more roads. The well is dry. If we continue to tax and spend, with no return on investment, we will kill the goose that laid the golden egg, the taxpayer.

As new and more responsible board members get a handle on the budget crisis, the picture will improve.

At that time, we must address the imbalance that exists between North and South County.

It is my understanding that MnDot assesses each Commissioners District by miles of road and traffic count to determine the percentage of county road funds to be spent in a given district.

Commissioners from Districts 1, 2, and 4 bring home the bacon and get their rightful share of road building funds.

For years, District 3 taxpayers have gotten the short end of the stick.

For some unfathomable reason, Commissioner Gustafson has sent way too much of our road and bridge money to District 5 in the Rush City area to help Commissioner Mike Robinson.

Many unpaved Township Roads in Franconia and Chisago Lakes experience far heavier traffic than roads currently being paved in the Rush City area.

In some way, this imbalance must be corrected.

While good roads in all parts of the county do help us all, we must focus on those areas most likely to increase our tax base.

Paved Township roads in South County will increase property values much sooner and will likely attract more new residents than anywhere else in the county.

We need this growth, we need to assist our townships in the road building process.