Would this be considered fraud? - It was not written, just oral agreement

re: Would this be considered fraud? - It was not written, just oral agreement

Wel it was fraud but that is difficult to sue over now--at this late date, and given that it was all oral as well.

Back in 1979 we bought an acre of land from my sister's brother-in-law. He stated upon several occasions through the process of the sale that the county would be coming in and taking over the roads. We assumed he was telling the truth, after all he was almost related. This was one of the main things that made us to decide to purchase this land as we were going to build on it and would need to make sure the roads would be accessible. It is now 2007 and the county still has never took over these roads and they are in horrible condition. We are an average to below average income subdivision and can't afford to do major repairs. We are not the only property owners here that was told this same thing when they bought their land. It was not written, just oral. Is there anything we can do at this point? We feel we have been taken and the county will do nothing to help us.
Cindy