Letter to The Editor
November 3, 2021
Dear Editor,
Twenty years ago, I came here, bought some land, and built a home. The property was/is located on a public road that the road district (Mineral) maintained. My mailing address was on FR 1200. Actually, it was HC 64 then. Later, it changed to FR 1200. Then, later, it changed to FR 1201, and, now, it is Private Road 1201.
The county designated the public road to be a private road, and the road maintenance to be my obligation. (I have been taking care of it now for years.) I was not consulted, nor did I have any say in the designation change.
The purchase of equipment, fuel and time falls entirely on me. By my own calculation, that cost is now over $100,000, counting three tractors, nine rear blades, fuel (diesel), regular tread on maintenance, tires, etc.
Now, I am getting on to 79 years old, and my health has been better.
Two days ago, I stopped by the county commissioners’ meeting to ask for some assistance on the road maintenance. The answer was “no way.” If they helped one resident of a private road, they would have to help them all, they said.
I’m not the one who changed the designation from public road to private, nor was I consulted. If I had not entirely taken on the responsibility, I would not have had any access to my home.
However, even though it’s private, the road has to be open to public traffic, especially first responders.
Two years ago, I fractured my wrist getting in wood. I passed out in the woods for several hours, and I knew I was unable to call 911. The next day, I drove myself to the ER.
It is just not right that the county can make a resident of a road responsible for the maintenance of a road and for keeping it up to public road standards with no help.
I could use some gravel and the use of a dozer for a few hours. If my health deteriorates to the point that I can no longer operate the tractor, I will just have to abandon my home and property. This was the commissioners’ suggestion!
This year, I am getting in my winter firewood with my other wrist healing from a fracture, along with poor health.
With the price of diesel fuel increasing, the cost of road maintenance increases. There are other land owners who own property here on the mountain, but I get no help, period, only cynicism!
Thank you
Ivan C. Kirkpatrick,
Cassville
Dear Editor,
Twenty years ago, I came here, bought some land, and built a home. The property was/is located on a public road that the road district (Mineral) maintained. My mailing address was on FR 1200. Actually, it was HC 64 then. Later, it changed to FR 1200. Then, later, it changed to FR 1201, and, now, it is Private Road 1201.
The county designated the public road to be a private road, and the road maintenance to be my obligation. (I have been taking care of it now for years.) I was not consulted, nor did I have any say in the designation change.
The purchase of equipment, fuel and time falls entirely on me. By my own calculation, that cost is now over $100,000, counting three tractors, nine rear blades, fuel (diesel), regular tread on maintenance, tires, etc.
Now, I am getting on to 79 years old, and my health has been better.
Two days ago, I stopped by the county commissioners’ meeting to ask for some assistance on the road maintenance. The answer was “no way.” If they helped one resident of a private road, they would have to help them all, they said.
I’m not the one who changed the designation from public road to private, nor was I consulted. If I had not entirely taken on the responsibility, I would not have had any access to my home.
However, even though it’s private, the road has to be open to public traffic, especially first responders.
Two years ago, I fractured my wrist getting in wood. I passed out in the woods for several hours, and I knew I was unable to call 911. The next day, I drove myself to the ER.
It is just not right that the county can make a resident of a road responsible for the maintenance of a road and for keeping it up to public road standards with no help.
I could use some gravel and the use of a dozer for a few hours. If my health deteriorates to the point that I can no longer operate the tractor, I will just have to abandon my home and property. This was the commissioners’ suggestion!
This year, I am getting in my winter firewood with my other wrist healing from a fracture, along with poor health.
With the price of diesel fuel increasing, the cost of road maintenance increases. There are other land owners who own property here on the mountain, but I get no help, period, only cynicism!
Thank you
Ivan C. Kirkpatrick,
Cassville