Wright County: Public Money for Private Roads?
By
Emily Rittman
Story Created:
Apr 7, 2008
Story Updated:
Apr 22, 2008
A group of Wright County citizens say public tax dollars are being used to fix private roads. The Mountain Grove Special Road District is responsible for the upkeep of 60 miles of roads.
In Wright County, people say roads are so torn up and so important they could sway an election. Mike Patchin says, “Our roads are dirt with holes in it." Patchin is part of a citizens group that claims the road district is operating under the good ole boy rule. Patchin says, “It's a misappropriation of public funds."
Sam Parsons agrees. He drives the roads and is in charge of fixing them. He's the Mountain Grove Special Road District foreman. Parsons says while many roads are eroded with dirt, his bosses roads are smooth and level. Parsons says “It's wrong what they're doing. It's favoritism."
Parson's says he and two other workers have always taken special care of certain roads, roads that board members and their friends live on.
Patchin has kept a close eye on Parsons every time he does work on private roads with public money. Patchin gave KSPR photos showing Parsons working at former County Commissioner Paul Gasperson’s house last year. Parsons says he was just following orders. He says, “I just did what I was told. I knew it was wrong."
David Splain is the road district's board president. Splain says, "Yes I told him to do the work because the owner told me it was a county road. He used to be a commissioner so he should know.” Splain says the road in the photos is a public county road. But according to deed documents obtained by KSPR, the road is privately owned by Paul Gasperson. Splain says that was news to him when KSPR showed him the documents. Splain says, “That's good information. We didn’t have this that. It is good information." The citizens group says this is just one of many problems they've found.
You can see the rest of KSPR’s investigation on KSPR News at 5:30 on Tuesday, April 8th.
CORRECTION: KSPR incorrectly identified Paul Gasperson as a Wright County Commissioner. Gasperson previously served as a member of the Mountain Grove Township before that form of government was abolished in 2001.
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Thursday, Jul 24 at 4:38 PM Dawn wrote ...
Guess no one can answer my question! Guess no one knows!
Tuesday, Jul 15 at 5:59 PM Dawn wrote ...
When did Splain tell (who) to take the grader home with him? What money went into someone's pocket? This doesn't make since.
Friday, Jul 11 at 8:32 AM R D Bolt wrote ...
Hey, PM, I guess you would outlaw teaching history then, because it talks about dead people. The dead don't need to defend their lives, because their lives speak for themselves according to how they were lived. My responsibility is to adhere to the truth, not in the honoring of somebody about whom you know virtually nothing.
Wednesday, Jul 9 at 3:21 PM How low! wrote ...
Dead men can't defend themselves. Thats awful that you would trash your father like that!
Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:23 PM R D Bolt wrote ...
My father, Robert Frank Bolt, was county commissioner of Wright County until shortly before he died a few years ago. He told me more than once that decisions on requests for road maintenance were determined by the findings when they reviewed voting records, not only of the person requesting it but of the extended family. Dad told me they had records he could review at will of how everybody voted. Frank Bolt was a corrupt public official who won his first election by stuffing the ballot box.
Thursday, Jul 3 at 7:55 AM TO GIVE ME A BREAK wrote ...
SPLAIN told him to take the GRADER home and use it-so he could get use to it! ASK SPLAIN- who's pocket the money this man had to PAY went in! CAUSE he didn't use it for FREE! THAT'S A FACT! SPLAIN IS A THEIF-HE ADMITTED TO THE FIREWOOD AND TINHORNS!!!
Monday, Jun 16 at 9:10 AM Give me a break! wrote ...
Donna , if there is pot growing out there ,then the foreman and his good buddies put it there,you know the x-employee that the foreman wants to hire back! Please ! This all revolves around that person wanting his job back ! Maybe he needs to fix his driveway again!
Sunday, Jun 15 at 3:47 PM DONNA wrote wrote ...
The pot growing was on 1 of the 6 tapes KSPR had! The grader guy didn't show up the next day for the DRUG TEST! He also didn't stick around during the meeting, for KSPR to question him! That should show you something!!! KSPR should do a follow-up story, when SPLAIN admitted to the FIRE-WOOD and TIN-HORNS, that's the kind of MAN I want on the BOARD! NOT!!! When I told EMILY RITTMAN (KSPR) back in DEC. about the MGSRD, among other thing's-I made HER a believer! EMILY do the other's, we DISSCUSSED!
Thursday, Jun 12 at 7:46 AM To David wrote ...
You call being honest writing one comment and signing your name ,after writing another and signing it concern citizen !I wouldn't call anybody ignorant ,because the more you write the more ignorant you sound ! As much door to door salesman you did for the petition I'm sure people knew you wanted to be on the board ,you were just to busy talking about smack about the employees and board members , people didn't want someone like that on the board. Did a employee tell you they wanted to grow pot?
Wednesday, Jun 11 at 10:08 PM David wrote ...
Tax payers money it is so funny reading your remarks there is alot i would do as in fixing covey road which has been brought to the board members attention for over a year now and nothing has been done about it and yeah you are ignorant i do not follow the employees around what is your problem you cant handle the truth and i guess you say it is ok to steal from the road district then if you do say it is ok then you are ignorant and what you cant put your name on here lmao what a joke
Saturday, Jun 7 at 8:18 AM To David from Taxpayers Money wrote ...
If you call being a good ,honest guy calling people ignorant because they don't agree with you , telling people lies about an employee and his famliy , and following employees while their trying to work then I guess that would be you ! Yet you have not told the taxpayers what you would do differant then anyone else on that board ,your really good at name callin and stir'in the pot ,but how does any of what you've said or done going to change the fact that you got 16 votes and your buddie will
Thursday, Jun 5 at 11:42 PM David wrote ...
To taxpayers money i have told the truth to bad Splain cant tell the truth and the road district is not audited by the state they just tern a report into the county they have never been audited by the state you need to stop telling lies and i have not lied about anything and i dont care bout the election lmao grow up say what you want people know the truth and ill meet any where any time to discuss any of this i am a good guy and a very honest business man and we do have proof of what we say
Wednesday, May 28 at 7:59 AM taxpayers money wrote ...
Go on the internet and look! There is an audit of all special road districts in missouri done in Feb. of 2007 by state auditor, You want people to believe that Special Road Districts don't have to report their books to anyone that is not true.You still refuse to say how much this is going to cost the taxpayers ,when the money should be spent on fixing and improving the roads that you say are n't being fixed. Maybe you should tell all of the story before asking people to sign their name ,David!
Wednesday, May 28 at 12:46 AM To Taxpayers Money wrote ...
Omg i just read your remarks are you ignorant there was no state audit done in february of 2007 lmao now who is the lier the myn grove special road district has never been audited and it needs to be done by the state not one of their friends that is a book keeper that can float the books i cant believe you people condone the board members actions of theft and lies what is wrong with you people you go take a tinhorn from the road district and see where you end up he is no better
Monday, May 26 at 3:26 PM Taxpayers money wrote ...
Just how much is this gonna cost the tax payers I maybe a dumb good ol'boy but unless the W.C.C.F.P. group is paying for this audit I think that the State Audit done in Feb. of 2007 is good enough for me. David ,I personnal Don't know you ,but things i v'e been told you are saying and doing it sounds like you just mad because you did n't win ,and no ones heard much from Mr. Patchin ? Sounds like maybe he got his information wrong .You really should leave the employee only and let'm work.
Tuesday, May 20 at 1:24 AM David wrote ...
Anonymous 7 grow up we are not all happy with it and he is only doing what we all should be doing as taxpaying citizens what is wrong with you people what you not brave enough to put your name on it then u wanna get on here and talk smack it is wrong what Splain has done you should have been at the meeting that night Splain is a crook he admitted to taking the tinhorns whast are you a lamo or something i cant believe you people would support a THIEF SPLAIN IS A THIEF AND WILL GET HIS COME UPONS
Tuesday, May 20 at 1:14 AM Concerned Citizen wrote ...
Tracy come on we all know it is a private road and the deed that was brought to the meeting was a fake deed the county has no record of it i have listened to both sides and done some investigating myself the W.C.C.F.P is telling the whole truth unlike our board members and one that is suppose to be a CHRISTIAN well we know where you are going to end up dont we Splain and i applaud the W.C.C.F.P. for a job well done youns should support them too
Saturday, May 17 at 7:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...
To whom it concerns. I think that Splain should do his job and make sure that the people are working on the roads that are suppose to be done. Instead of private roads to some rich people that could hire somebody and have it done. So because of those rich poele poor people have crapy roads. If Gasperson knew they were working on private roads then he should have stopped it. I think there is more to the story and I hope the news people figures it out and they get sued even more than that!!!
Thursday, May 15 at 12:37 PM BEN wrote ...
The road GASPERSON had the deed to, is'nt the property in question! The property is in fact a private drive, KSPR should clarifiy this-for the tax payer's! There is enough evidence now, that charge's can be filed. Tax-payer's have been so blind and their's those who don't care' but it has to stop! Or it'll be another 100yr.'s.
Thursday, Apr 17 at 11:23 AM tracy wrote ...
I understand that the road in question, is a county road and has been since 1961. Someone didn't do thier job, did they. Maybe you should have all the facts before saying anything. People need to think twice about who they believe, the people who scream the loudest usually know the least, just want to be heard.
Monday, Apr 14 at 9:35 PM Bard members son wrote ...
Donna who is laughing now. Guess you should all get your facts straight. Last I remember secratarys are supposed to keep the board informed. Just like a legal aid.
Saturday, Apr 12 at 7:03 PM DONNA NEUMANN wrote ...
I have to laugh at the last comment, from the board member's son, I was at this meeting in question, so was KSPR news reporter's we all know what took place and lead up to this point. She deserved this! Passing note's to David Splain and whispering! They are all forgetting this was all on tape, correct me if I'm wrong I think EMILY RITTMAN went thru 6 tape's that night! What's the matter Mr. David Splain not so funny now is it ! Now that the truth is in the open, didn't see this one coming! HUH?
Saturday, Apr 12 at 11:11 AM MGSRD supporter wrote ...
I Lived in Mountain Grove for 20 years it is one of the most peaceful communitys and has always been a wonderful place to live. As a teenager I drove every road in wright county and they have always been in usable condition even in the most remote areas of the county. This Mike Patchin sounds like a trouble maker and if he is not happy with where he lives he should move. KSPR should realy check their sources before following blindly behind a troublemaker.
Saturday, Apr 12 at 10:43 AM Board members son wrote ...
Mike patchin threatend to take a Female board member outside and wipe the smirk off her face. Sounds like a real reputable person.
Friday, Apr 11 at 10:30 PM XXX wrote ...
I want to personally thank EMILY RITTMAN,(KSPR) for an excellent report! Also DONNA NEUMANN , for spilling the bean's (HA!) I think the WCCFP would all agree!!! GREAT JOB!!!
Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:17 PM To #7 wrote ...
I moved here from TEXAS, I am part of the group WCCFP, this is all fact's in black and white! Emily Rittman is an outstanding reporter, and I grant you one thing, I'm sure we'll be seeing her in WRIGHT COUNTY again! Their should be charges filed! Now that it is out in the open, attend one of the WCCFP meeting's you would be surprised what this group has uncovered! It doesn't stop here! It's time to put our foot down and take control of our tax payer's money! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Thursday, Apr 10 at 8:55 PM mike wrote ...
citizen wrote clerification cont:what is his expertise? The repairs(transmission?) would have(per MGSRD)cost $15,00.00 and it would have been fine. The grader purchased for $48,000.000(that's right 1 third the cost of a brand spanken new one)was in disrepair and non-operational!!! the board claims to have only spent $700.00 to make it functional, I think they forgot to add all the parts and the new(6) tires they pilfered from the Fiat. State Law prohibits this type of dealing with public funds.
Thursday, Apr 10 at 8:46 PM mike wrote ...
citizen wrote clerification cont:Not only did they hide PUBLIC RECORDS for 5 monthes, but they charged and were paid for 4 copies and a telephone call??? they have now(not until 01/08)produced an inhouse refund check from said private business, please do not forget that State Law dictates they maintain all public records under the care and custody of the custodian of records or elected official !!! As for the Fiat grader, ex-board member Charles Dean appraised it's value at $1500.00 cont:>
Thursday, Apr 10 at 8:36 PM mike wrote ...
citizen wrote/at1252pm-excellent, but let me clear the grader issue. our john deere grader received a new transmission under warranty, but 30,262.00 of our money was spent by the MGSRD. Not until the good citizens questioned this, did the board not until 5 monthes after a request to see the warranty that the board said they knew nothing of did they get a copy(governmental records)from a private business and give it to the citizen who requested it in September of the previous year. cont:>
Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:52 PM citzen wrote ...
How many people out there know,David Splain and other board member's spent $48 thou. on another grader from a bank rupt. the other grader needed minor repair's and still under warranty! All at tax payer's expense, they also paid to have that grader fixed! KSPR has all the proof! Maybe other counties will look back on this, it's not just WRIGHT COUNTY, KSPR did an excellent job thank's to the WRIGHT COUNTY CITZEN'S FOR PROGRESS GROUP, I urge every one to attend a meeting! GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, Apr 10 at 12:04 PM Tom Bowles wrote ...
Those in power have it great when no one knows what they do and they don't have to be accountable for their actions; however, MGSRD is a governmental body. All their actions and records should be open and accessible to any citizen under the Missouri Sunshine Law. All property owners, lifetime or anyone moving here, should be afforded all the same rights. All taxpayers should be treated the same;not disrespected or discriminated against when exercising their rights under the 1st Amendment.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 10:44 PM grove girl wrote ...
These people are as corrupt as they come. They fired the best road grader operator we ever had without just cause, simply because he tried to do his job and do it right and fairly. Since then he has been threatened by the board members repeatedly. Someone needs to investigate that!!!
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 6:03 PM Mr. Michael Patchin wrote ...
To anonymous 7, Prior to personally atacking me, try learning the truth about your peaceful little community... You along with Judy must also be part of the group making phone threats to me and my Mother, throwing eggs at the house, and writing on our vehicles. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about nor the guts to stand-up for what you believe in !!! Wheres your name??? As for the other county depts, who says it's over for them? See, you should learn before you speak...
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 1:25 PM anonymous 7 wrote ...
Mr Patchin has been complaining ever since he moved here from California. The rural fire dept, the county office of Tony Dugger, and now the MGSRD. Who will be next?? Mr Patchin, if your so unhappy maybe you should go back to where you came from?? And the reason the MGSRD goes thru so many board members is because they get all this STRESS and for NO PAY!! Who needs it!!! We all may be dumb hillbillys to you, but we like our peaceful area, so go away!!
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:53 AM sheila wrote ...
i just want to salute kspr for their coverage of this topic and taking the time to come to our county and report on the many discrepancies in our government. there are many other issues other than the mtn. grove road district. the county road district is as badly managed as the mtn. grove rd district. thank you kspr for your great reporting service to the ozarks.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 9:03 AM Mr. Michael Patchin wrote ...
This should be it... Try asking Mr. Hicks why the Tax Payer is paying the Road Crew to cut the brush on his property in TEXAS COUNTY??? For all of you who seem to think that these are all lies, where is the MGSRD DOCUMENTED PROOF??? Why is Mr. Kaylors road (3 houses on his section) earmarked for paving this year??? Why are all the roads in the District not on the Grading Shcedule??? Why did Mulberry, Dean resign??? Who chip and sealed Mulberry's DRIVEWAY??? Attend a WCCFP meeting!!!
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 8:55 AM Mr. Michael Patchin wrote ...
Almost done... Anonymous wrote at 2159hrs., it is all lies and he/she hopes that this Network uncovers the lies we are telling. For your information, our complaints/allegations against the MGSRD are all backed by not the admission of Mr. Splain, but CERTIFIED COUNTY RECORDS !!! As for the other Anonymous who seems to think there are any files at the Road District, try getting PUBLIC RECORDS from them, sometimes if they don't have them they'll make some to fit the mode...
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 10:52 PM Judy wrote ...
If you dont like what is going on in the county, move on. I do know that David Splain is a good business person to deal with.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 9:59 PM Anonymous wrote ...
i think something should happen to the guys that are telling lies about David Splain and it's not a good ole boy system. Splain is not a joke and who so ever thinks he is the biggest joke ever and need to get lives. Splain shouldn't have to check out every road it should be on files. i sure hope the news team will uncover all the lies that the guys are telling!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 5:20 PM Carol Zid wrote ...
We live on Seven Oaks Ln, which was a public road when we bought our land. In 1976 it was graded then the grader for MG township decided that he didn't want to grade it anymore. When we asked the commissioners about grading it we were told that the road was given to us and is no longer a county road. We still get our mail in front of our house but the road hasn't been graded in about 20 years. It has been easier to maintain it ourselves than fight with the county.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 3:40 PM Anoymous wrote ...
Should Splain have to check out every road that he works to see if it is a county road or a private drive? If Gasperson knew that it was a private drive why didn't he stop the work being done? There is much more going on here than even the reporter will be able to uncover. Its not the good ole boy system, but dirty county politics.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 1:42 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Splain says that Gasperson, as a former MGSRD board member, ought to know whether his road is a county road or not. Well, Splain himself is the current PRESIDENT of the MGSRD, and he claims he didn't know. Before spending all that money on a private road, all Splain had to do was call the Wright County Clerk, whose office maintains a record of all county roads. He chose to have the work done without checking, and probably knew it was private all along. He should have to pay it back.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 12:22 PM George wrote ...
One can get too critical of aruguing either side of the issue. Our county, unnamed here, has had a policy for years of helping landowners by making one pass a year if requested and if their workload allowed. Now with the extreme damage to the roads I am sure they will say it will be quite a while before they are caught up with the regular road damage. But common sense has to prevail as there may be some situations when they are right there on the road anyway and would merit this action.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 11:31 AM anonymous wrote ...
this township is a joke and it is the good ole boy system and for splain he is even a bigger joke it is time the community stands up and make some changes in our township
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 7:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...
this has been going on for a long as i can remember i have lived here all my life and send that in the past 10 to 15 years certain roads got better care than others, there has always been a saying if you want your road fixed get on the township and that is just what has happened they get appointed by their good ole boys on the board. i could go on and on but i think maybe things might change since someone finally listened to the complaints. thank you for caring wright county citizen
Monday, Apr 7 at 9:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...
The guys complaining about all this is all trouble makers and need to get a life. They just want to cause David Splain trouble!!! He's one of the best people on the road distric board!!!
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