Wright City Mayor David Heiliger has set an April 1 deadline to receive proposals for fixing Stuermann Road. The much-debated issue has angered property owners who have expressed disappointment that the only road that leads into the Falcon Crest and Timber Trails subdivisions continues to deteriorate. During last Thursday’s board of aldermen meeting, Heiliger stated that he is asking the board, city staff and the city attorney to provide proposals to resolve the matter. Reading from a prepared script, he said the much-talked about issue has been one of the most important issues he has faced since being elected. “If we try to handle these situations as individuals, it can seem overwhelming, but if we share together in the solution, as a community, I believe we will find solutions to problems that seem overwhelming,” Heiliger read. Stuermann Road serves as the lone entrance from Highway H into the two subdivisions in the southwest part of the city. The road is only about 12 feet wide for the first three-tenths of a mile and is not aligned with the remainder of a wide portion closer to the subdivisions’ entrances. There are approximately 250 lots in the two subdivisions combined. Heiliger further said that once a proposal has been provided that he considers “reasonable and fair” it will be made available for public review and comment. That could come as early as the city’s first board of aldermen meeting following his deadline. That meeting is scheduled for April 14. In Heiliger’s statement, he said certain promises were made to the city, including as recently as a few weeks ago, but were unfilled. “I know these guys don’t like it, but we’ve been diligently working on it,” Heiliger told The Record. His announcement followed comments made at last week’s meeting by two residents who live off Stuermann Road. John Worley said the road’s buckling pavement and rough condition played a part in $3,500 worth of damage to his wife’s car. He also wanted to hear more communication from the city in regard to a resolution being reached. “That road now, it’s really super impassable for most vehicles,” Worley said. Matt Kaatman also commented that any progress is occurring too slowly and wanted to see some type of short-term plan be made. “ I share (Worley’s) frustrations and I feel like we keep hearing talk about something happening and the updates don’t come very often,” he said. Through the years, the condition of Stuermann Road has worsened as the city and county have both taken the stance the other entity has ownership rights. A title search conducted late last year to determine ownership came up empty. Many believe Stuermann Road was a county road until the time a quitclaim deed was prepared in 2006. A public hearing was held at which time the county commission voted to deed the road over to the city. Several city officials were in attendance. The quitclaim deed was prepared, but was voted down by Wright City aldermen at that time. In February 2010, aldermen, at the request of the residents and the county, voted to stop issuing building permits over concerns that heavy construction equipment would lead to further deterioration of the road. County commissioners previously stated they would make minor improvements to Stuermann Road, but a signed agreement transferring ownership must be finalized before any work begins. PR Development, the company which developed the property, indicated it was going to maintain and relocate the road to the south on top of a hill crest, but did not follow through on that plan, Since then, the company filed for bankruptcy. The city also failed to collect escrow money that could have been used on the road after the company failed to complete the work as promised.