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.