A judge has ruled that Texas County’s roads are under the jurisdiction of 17 townships and not county government.
The Oct. 15 decision was made by Associate Circuit Judge Ronald D. White, who ruled against George Sholtz of Upton, who filed a November 2017 lawsuit seeking restitution for farm equipment lost in an accident in Cass Township. His son-in-law, Justin Dixon, was killed in the accident.
“The court concludes that Texas County, Mo., had no responsibility for maintaining Hamilton Creek Road and therefore as a matter of law cannot be liable for damages resulting from a failure to properly maintain the road,” White ruled.
According to the document, costs are assessed to Sholtz.
In Texas County, funds earmarked for roads are sent to the county from the state through a program called CART. Those funds are distributed to the 17 townships based on the number of miles within their borders.