Re: [Winona] Consolidation of Government

[Janice Turek]

[Winona Online Democracy]

I have been thinking long and hard about Keith's question regarding the need for Townships.  My thoughts on the need for Townships continue to come back to "choices".  We pride ourselves as Americans to be able to have choices in all aspects of our lives:  Who we vote for, the choice to worship the way we want, the choice of profession, degree of education and so forth.  Townships offer people a choice of lifestyle.  It offers people the choice to live under a different regulations that govern the area they live in.  In one definition I read regarding Townships, it talks about "inhabitants of townships are invested with certain powers for regulating their own affairs".    You only need to attend one or two Town Board meeting to note the difference on decision making between the city and township.  I am not saying the way decisions are made in the City or Township are right or wrong or better than one another, they are just different which allows people to have a choice.  If we take away choices, and there is only City and Farms and nothing in between,  we loose our level of democracy.  Without choices we live under a dictatorship.  I too believe the bigger and higher you move up in the government, the less you are heard.  I do not feel that way about a Township government.  Townships offer more local control.  They offer better communication.  Because Townships have different regulations and in many ways are far less complicated than living in under city regulations the choice is appealing to many.  Don't look at taking choices away from people especially for the wrong reasons.    Janice Turek          In the United States, many of the States are divided          into townships of five, six, seven, or perhaps ten          miles square, and the inhabitants of such townships are          invested with certain powers for regulating their own          affairs, such as repairing roads and providing for the          poor. The township is subordinate to the county. ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Severson To: Keith Nelson ; winona@mnforum.org Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 4:43 PM Subject: RE: [Winona] Consolidation of Government [Winona Online Democracy] I believe that the township is the most efficient and therefore the least expensive form of government following this line of reasoning the city is the second most efficient.  Each time we involve more people and get further from the task we add expense and inefficiency,    That�s why the federal system tried t get the government closer to the people.   Thanks Tom   Tom Severson Box 736 Winona, Mn. 55987 507 452 3402 ext 214   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Keith Nelson Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 4:17 PM To: winona@mnforum.org Subject: [Winona] Consolidation of Government   It appears, from the lack of responses to the question �What does a township offer that the County can�t do more effectively?� that the only apparent answer is that people like the closeness they feel to the township form of government vs. county.  That is a valid response.    Paul Double said �Townships are established by the County Boards in Minnesota and "their geographic boundaries or existence is under the distinct control of the county board."    Perhaps their existence should be given a second look.  Now that would be a tough political decision, but sometimes tough ones are necessary.  We can not always afford everything we like.    As County officials have actively become involved in the annexation discussion they must believe that township duties are better handled by the County.   Keith Nelson Winona, Minnesota 507 457 8274   _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at  http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org

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