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Roelker Road

Over the past couple months, there has been  discussion within our community about the state of Roelker Road and the opening of the District’s new high school. Unfortunately, these discussions have led to misinformation being communicated about the District, including what it agreed to do to help with Roelker Road, the cost of that work, and why that work has not been completed yet. To help the community better understand what has occurred and where things currently stand, the District would like to provide the following information:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the City initially grant a Conditional Use Permit with specific requirements, and why is it now requesting additional work beyond what was originally agreed upon?

We are not entirely sure, but for specific details, please refer to the Conditional Use Permit and the MOU in the link below. For the MOU specifically, the highlighted items are those in the MOU that the District never agreed to complete and which were not originally required of the District prior to the City presenting the MOU on November 22, 2024.

Conditional Use Permit & CUP Approval
Memorandum of Understanding

 

If the District’s responsibility was only for a turn/slip lane and a crosswalk, why was the City requiring additional repairs to Roelker Road?

Roelker Road was already in need of repairs prior to the District beginning work on the new high school. City staff have recognized this on multiple occasions, including in statements made regarding the City’s 2024 bond issue. The District’s responsibility, as outlined in our discussions, pertains specifically to the turn/slip lane and the crosswalk to ensure safe access to the school. However, the City determined that additional repairs to Roelker Road were necessary, and attempted to require the District to make these repairs, even though there were multiple causes for the condition of Roelker Road both before and during the District’s construction activities.

 

Who determined that Roelker Road was improperly constructed, and why wasn’t this issue addressed before the high school project began?

The District cannot speak for the City regarding the reasons why this wasn’t addressed earlier. Almost as soon as construction began in earnest, Wright Construction made the City aware of the poor condition of Roelker Road. In a Board of Aldermen meeting on April 27, 2023, a City employee stated that the road was improperly constructed.
April 27, 2023 BOA Meeting Agenda

 

Why did the City allow utility pedestals to be installed in the turn/slip lane’s footprint after plans were approved, and who is responsible for relocating them?

The District does not have any information regarding why the utility pedestals were allowed to be installed. This was a point of disagreement between the City and the District. The District’s consultants stated that the original plans and drawings correctly located all utility pedestals in the area, and that both of the pedestals located in the footprint of the turn/slip lane were installed after the District’s plans were approved. The District’s contractor notified the City of the issue with the pedestals on December 5, 2024, shortly after the issue was discovered. However, per a 2/24/2025 Facebook post by Michelle Heiliger your Wright City Mayor, "The pedestals on the West side of the road will be moved by the provider at no cost.  These pedestals were listed on the original drawings incorrectly.  They will be moved to allow for the widening of the road." At this point the provider has agreed to move the pedestals at its own cost.

 

What was the reasoning behind the estimated $300,000-$350,000 cost initially discussed, and how did the final bid come in at only $40,000?

The initial estimate of $300,000-$350,000 provided at the District’s Board meeting on July 21, 2022, was a rough estimate of potential costs related to work on Roelker Road. At that time, the new high school project had not yet gone out to bid, so an exact cost was not known - it was simply an estimate. When the project was formally bid out, Wright Construction - after reviewing the specific scope of work required by the District’s permits - provided a line item for the Roelker Road work at a cost of $40,000. This lower cost likely reflects a more precise assessment of actual construction needs, as well as market pricing and competitive bid factors.
July 21, 2022 BOE Meeting

 

What were the financial implications for the District if it was forced to comply with the City’s demands in the MOU?

 The financial impact would have been significant. The additional requirements-including an extra turn/slip lane, repairs to Roelker Road, and a lighted crosswalk (which is different from and significantly more expensive than a painted crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon) - would have cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars beyond what the District originally planned and budgeted for on this project.

Since these items were not part of the original permit conditions, the District did not allocate funds for them in the high school construction budget. Complying with the City’s demands would have diverted resources from other important educational needs, facility improvements, and future projects. Additionally, if the District was required to cover costs that should be the responsibility of the City, it would set a precedent for future financial burdens of the District.

 

Where do things currently stand between the District and the City regarding Roelker Road?
From the beginning, the District was prepared to complete what was originally required and agreed to in the Conditional Use Permit before the new high school opened. The pedestals, and the City’s insistence on the District agreeing to the MOU, were the only things preventing this from happening. The District attempted to resolve these issues with the City, but was later told that the City decided it would handle all the work (including the turn/slip lane and crosswalk) as part of its larger Roelker Road project. The City then informed the District’s contractor that the City wanted the District to complete the turn/slip lane, but the City would still complete the crosswalk as part of its larger Roelker Road project and would arrange for the utility pedestals to be moved. That is where things currently stand, and the District is prepared to complete the turn/slip lane at the north entrance as soon as the utility pedestals are relocated out of the footprint of the turn/slip lane.

Timeline of Events

  • July 14, 2022: The City granted the District a “Conditional Use Permit” for the new high school, on the condition that the District construct a turn/slip lane on Roelker Road at the north entrance to the new high school at Horseshoe Court, along with a striped crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon. Neither the Conditional Use Permit nor any other permit required the District to make any other repairs to Roelker Road.

  • July 21, 2022: At the District’s Board meeting, an estimate of around $300,000-$350,000 was provided for the District’s work on Roelker Road and other related work near Roelker Road. This was only an estimate and was not an amount pledged to the City from the District. It was also before the District ever put the new high school project out to bid.

  • November 10, 2022: The District received bids for the new high school project, which included the agreed-upon work to be completed on Roelker Road. Wright Construction was the winning bidder, and they included a line item for the Roelker Road work, at a cost of $40,000 to the District.

  • April 27, 2023: Almost as soon as construction began in earnest, Wright Construction made the City aware of the poor condition of Roelker Road. In a Board of Aldermen meeting, a City employee stated that the road was improperly constructed.

  • October 20, 2024: The District has fully paid the City for the costs of third-party inspections services associated with the District’s building permit.

  • November 22, 2024: As Wright Construction was preparing to complete the Roelker Road work, the City presented the District with an MOU that required the District to complete many items that the District never agreed to and which were not requirements of the District’s permits – including constructing an additional turn/slip lane, making repairs to Roelker Road, and installing a lighted crosswalk that would cost tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars.

  • December 5, 2024: Wright Construction informed the City that the City had allowed two utility pedestals to be installed in the footprint of the western half of the turn/slip lane after the District’s plans were approved and construction on the project had already begun. These pedestals are not the District’s responsibility to relocate, and the work cannot be completed until these pedestals are relocated by the City or the utility provider(s).

  • December 9, 2024: After Wright Construction completed the eastern half of the turn/slip lane, the City stated that the work on Roelker Road must stop until the District signed the proposed MOU, including its costly components.

  • December 13, 2024: The District contacted the City in attempt to discuss the issue with all involved parties. The City did not respond to the invite.

  • December 18, 2024: The District contacted the City in attempt to discuss the issue with all involved parties. The City did not respond to the invite.

  • December 19, 2024: The City Inspector informed Wright Construction and two District administrators that he was instructed not to issue an occupancy permit for the new high school due to the proposed MOU not being signed.

  • December 20, 2024: The City issued a temporary occupancy permit for the new high school.

  • February 6-10, 2025: The District reached out to the City to arrange a meeting to discuss the issue. Conversations took place about coordinating a time when both the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Education could meet with a quorum or negotiations continue through the attorneys with certain ground rules.

  • February 10, 2025: The District was notified that the City will be moving forward with their plan as quickly as possible and without the District’s involvement, and saw no need for further negotiations or a meeting.

  • February 21, 2025: The City contacted the District requesting the District complete the originally agreed upon construction of a turn/slip lane on Roelker Road at the north entrance to the new high school at Horseshoe Court, along with a striped crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon.

  • February 28, 2025: The City notified the District that, in an effort to increase efficiencies for both entities, the City wanted the District to complete the turn/slip lane at the north entrance to the high school in accordance with the plans submitted for the Conditional Use Permit. However, there would be no need to stripe the crosswalk with Roelker Road in its current condition and the City’s planned improvements, so the City would do the crosswalk striping and installation as part of its work on Roelker Road.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email moreinformation@wrightcity.k12.mo.us