BELTON, Mo. - A neighborhood is looking for answers over who is going to fix their roads.
Taxes are supposed to cover improvements to roads and other public property. However, Cass County officials and other refuse to use tax dollars to maintain their road.
For decades, many homeowners have lived on Ash Street in Belton. What once drew them to the scenic, quiet part of the country is now driving them away. Ash Street has turned into the pits with the roads turned into potholes.
"They're craters," homeowner Tom Moran said.
People actually drive off the road and on to the lawn down here to get away from the potholes," Moran said. In some cases, some of that swerving has led to accidents for residents on Ash Street.
"You just have to be so careful, so cautious when you come down this street, it's ridiculous," said Barbara Linnell, who has lived on the road for 20 years.
Residents say they can't get anyone to fix the potholes. Cass County officials said it's not their problem.
"It's not my issue, by state statute the Mount Pleasant Road District organized to take care of their road and maintenance," said Cass County Commissioner Gary Mallory.
Ash Street homeowners pay more than $50 a year to help maintain their road, but the money actually goes to repair others in the Mount Pleasant Township.
Mount Pleasant Township says the developer, Everett "Buzz" Dulaney, is the one who should be responsible. They say Delaney never brought the road up to their standards. "The answer is for the subdivision roads to be rebuilt to Mount Pleasant's specs and then they would maintain them," said Mallory. That includes the roads must be rebuilt with dirt, gravel, asphalt and drainage. However Dulaney points the finger back full circle at the homeowners.
When he bought the subdivision in the early 1990's, he created a neighbors covenant that asked homeowners to created an association, but one was never formed. "Someone has got to step up and take responsibility," said a frustrated Moran.
Dulaney did not want to talk on camera, but tells Call for Action he will pay a portion of the the cost to bring the roads up to par, if the homeowners chip in too. Dulaney says he expects repairs will cost over $100,000. Dulaney says he'll pay his fair share, but hasn't had time to decide what that amount might be. Dulaney encourages the homeowners to form a home's association. He said he'd attend a meeting, but cautions that he has a majority vote in that neighborhood. He owns about 60 of the 100 lots -- many of which are undeveloped but still give Dulaney a vote.
"It makes me feel like taxation without representation," Moran said.
Whenever you buy a home, make sure you find out if there are documents governing that neighborhood and read them.
