Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and another state body will be asked to conduct an inquiry into the demolition of an Upton Township bridge last week, the Upton Township president said Tuesday.
“I think this was an obvious misrepresentation of people’s wishes,” said William Brown, who chaired a meeting of 27 who gathered to discuss the matter Monday evening. “It’s a gross misappropriation of taxpayer money,” Brown said, adding it was a “foolish, hasty decision.”
Among the areas Koster is expected to review is a state statute requiring the president of the board to execute orders. Missouri Revised Statute 65.310 says, “The township board of directors shall, at their first meeting each year after they have been elected and qualified, appoint one of their number as president of said board, who shall sign all orders and official acts of said board. Brown said he did not sign any paperwork related to the removal of the bridge.
The two board members who made the decision to demolish the Roubidoux Road bridge — Robert Gladden and Virginia Austin — were absent, as was the man hired by them to destroy the structure, Clarence “Rocky” Dailing. A Texas County Sheriff’s Department deputy also observed the meeting.
Brown said he also expects to file a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Some in the area are discussing filing a class-action lawsuit to return the cost of the bridge to taxpayers.