Tuesday, August 4, 2009

A fight over money is causing trouble in a Sedgwick County Township southwest of Wichita and may be headed to court.

The battle involves a township trustee who is refusing to release funds used to maintain roads in Ohio Township near Clearwater.

Township resident Eva Jones said rough dirt roads get worse every time it rains. Roads haven't been maintained for weeks because of the feud.

A packed house gathered for the monthly meeting Tuesday night setting the stage for a battle that began a few months ago when newly elected trustee Christine Watson transferred $135,000 from the township account to another bank.

When the clerk and treasurer tried to transfer it back Watson hired an attorney and stopped it. Watson says she wanted the money protected. For now the money is in the hands of Sedgwick County and the legal system.

The trustee has hired an attorney. The township has hired an attorney. While the money sits in Sedgwick County it can't be used. In the meantime, all of the road equipment sits idle because it isn't being insured.

Ohio Township has a population of about 1100 residents. It is one of the twenty-seven townships in Sedgwick County.