A few weeks of summer football could lead to a few more years of bumpy roads.

When the City Council debated last week whether to accept a batch of federal stimulus funds for Downtown redevelopment, some members argued the money would be better spent on road repairs in the Eastside Industrial Business Park.

City Manager Vince Capell reminded council members this week of a plan to pay for road repairs. However, another high-profile council decision has made the plan untenable.

“Essentially, when the city decided to partner with MWSU and the county to finance construction of the Kansas City Chiefs training camp at a cost to the city of $2.25 million, doing so took away most of the $2.375 million needed for street improvements to the Eastside Industrial Business Park,” Mr. Capell wrote.

The total project was projected to cost $3.5 million in November. One proposed cost-sharing agreement would have required businesses in the industrial park to pay 25 percent of the bill — $875,000 — while the city paid $2.375 million and Buchanan County covered the final $250,000.

As with the city, economic factors could affect the county’s ability to pay for street repairs in the industrial park.

“The Chiefs funding didn’t affect it, it’s more the downturn in the economy,” said R.T. Turner, Buchanan County presiding commissioner. “It’s just bad timing all the way around.”

Buchanan County earmarked economic development funds for the Chiefs training camp. Money for the industrial park would have come from other sources, Mr. Turner explained.

The industrial park’s roads have not gone wholly without maintenance. City workers have done joint repairs along Leonard Road this year. In 2008, the city replaced nearly one-quarter of a mile of 48th Street Terrace, according to City Public Works Director Bruce Woody.

“I think they have got their fair share of what we’re trying to do,” Mr. Woody said. “The problem is, the amount of work that needs to be done and the amount they would like to see done isn’t feasible with our current revenues.”

Mr. Capell suggested that the city’s next five-year Capital Improvements Program sales tax or general obligation bonds could finance the project. The city’s next round of CIP projects would not begin for another three years, while the public likely would be reluctant to approve general obligation bonds under the current economic slump.

“If we continue to finance our major street upgrades through CIP programs, it just won’t happen fast enough,” Mr. Capell said. “(General obligation) bonds are really the best way to go, but now probably wouldn’t be a good time to take that to voters.”

The businesses in the industrial park employ about 1,500 workers.

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.