Let well enough alone

The city’s demand to divert a portion of the gravel tax can be compared to why we have the electoral college. Why should those of us that live outside of the Maryville city limits in Nodaway County on gravel roads that in some cases are marginal at best be at the mercy of the city of Maryville? The township does the absolute best with what they are given to maintain our gravel roads. Taking resources and funds away from the township will diminish the ability to maintain our gravel roads.

We live adjacent to the new KCP&L substation south of Maryville. KCP&L assured us that when their project was done that they would address the road issues in our area. They haven’t followed up on their promise. Now we are threatened by the city’s actions to reduce needed resources to maintain our roads.

The city’s threat to sue the townships for the funds is disingenuous in that the cost to do so would be approximately the same that would be achieved if the city were to win the lawsuit. It is in the city’s and the township’s best interest to call this one a draw and find a way to move forward without wasting further time and resources haggling over it.

— J. R. Calkins

Maryville, Missouri