Five Mile Prairie residents say area needs better roads before more homes

City and county officials got an earful Wednesday night from Five Mile Prairie residents concerned about an influx of homes without a similar influx of road improvements.

About 100 people attended a forum sponsored by City Council President Joe Shogan at the Five Mile Grange, a reminder of the community’s agricultural past, which is increasingly surrounded by suburban homes.

City and county representatives answered questions on policing, fire services, sewers, water, parks, storm water drainage and the issues causing the most concerns – bicyclist and pedestrian safety and roads.

“Do I need to have an accident and need to sue for somebody to understand what is happening up here?” asked Five Mile neighborhood resident Tessa Swoboda.

Government representatives responded that they are trying to do the best they can under the law with their limited resources. County and city elected officials added that they are starting to work more closely to speed improvements and win grant money for road funding.

“I heard very loudly and very clearly to do something about transportation issues,” said County Commissioner Todd Mielke, who spoke at the end of the three-hour forum.

Residents expressed frustrations that developers are not paying their fair share for infrastructure problems caused by the booming population.

Officials said developers might be asked to share more of the burden in coming months in the form of development taxes or impact fees.

City engineer Tom Arnold said the city is considering increasing impact fees that developers pay on each new home. County officials said they are looking at a similar kind of development tax to pay for infrastructure.

Developers recently agreed to pay half the $1 million construction cost for an extension of Barnes Road from the Indian Trail Neighborhood to Strong Road on Five Mile Prairie. The city and county will split the remaining amount.

Arnold told the audience that the city’s top road improvement goal is to widen Five Mile Road to three lanes from Austin to Lincoln roads. The project would cost $6.6 million, and officials are uncertain when the project will be funded.

“What we’re asking for is for the plats to be put on hold until Five Mile Road is fixed,” said resident Dennis Horlacher. The Five Mile area is “going to be developed. That’s great. Let’s just do it so we don’t have the same problems we have now.”