Wright City officials are frustrated with the slow progress in solving the Stuermann Road dilemma. They laid blame on an another party that had told the city it was working to find a solution, but has failed to complete the task. As to who legally owns Stuermann Road and who is responsible for the maintenance remains undetermined. Mayor David Heiliger, at the Oct. 28 board of aldermen meeting, said at least one title search conducted by the undisclosed party came up empty. His statement was in response to an inquiry from builder Larry Terbrock during an update on the road debate. Terbrock also asked the city to consider allowing building permits to be issued so construction could begin again in the two subdivisions that Stuermann Road leads to. In February, aldermen voted to stop issuing building permits over concerns that heavy construction equipment would lead to further deterioration of the road, at the request of residents and the county. Wright City aldermen have been hesitant to reverse their decision until a solution is reached.The lack of good news was a change from a May meeting where city officials were encouraged by the discussion held that evening. At that meeting, a lawyer representing First State Bank, the lienholder for the property owned by Budget Homes, spoke of wanting to see progress made on the issue.“There have been promises to us and they have not been filled either,” Heiliger said. “I promise you we are working on this. We appreciate you being patient. I can tell you, and look you in the eye, we are trying to do something.” Stuermann Road serves as the lone entrance from Highway H into the Falcon Crest and Timber Trails 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 wider portion closer to the subdivisions’ entrances. There are approximately 250 lots in the two subdivisions combined. The road’s condition has angered property owners and builders, who reapproached the city in January asking for a help after one side of the roadway became nearly impassable on one side due to buckling pavement.City officials have long contended that it does not own Stuermann Road and that the county does, though that stance has been met with opposition from county officials and residents. Ken McLaughlin, a former county commissioner whose property is adjacent to Stuermann Road, said the county maintained the road for at least 20 years since he’s lived there. He said maintenance stopped when the city agreed to a quitclaim deed to transfer ownership in 2006. A public hearing was held at which time the 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. “The city has dropped the ball,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a county road. I don’t care how much research you do. It’s a county road until you take it over, which you are supposed to do by a previous administration.” County officials have previously stated they would make minor improvements to Stuermann Road, but a signed agreement transferring ownership must be finalized before any work begins. Another matter that figures into the discussion is the road possibly relocating to the south on top of a hill crest to provide better sight visibility for motorists, a request previously initiated by MoDOT. A Neighborhood Improvement tax has been proposed to pay for the new road, as city officials are leary of spending funds on the existing road that eventually may be abandoned. The tax would be assessed to each of the lots in both subdivisions should the city elect to go that route. “Someone has told us they were looking into it, they were going to give us an answer,” Alderman Jim Schuchmann said. “We feel 100 percent of your pain, but we’re also feeling pain in this. At this point, we are reaching the point where you are at tonight, it’s time to shake things up.” PR Development, the company which originally developed the property, indicated it was going to maintain and relocate the road but did not follow through on that plan. Since that time, the company was believed to have filed for bankruptcy and is no longer around. However, Rich Nordon, one of three builders in the two subdivisions, claimed that the company is still active and is working as an LLC.