Harbor gets elbow room

AMERICAN FORK — As usage of the American Fork Boat Harbor has increased in recent years, the harbor has slowly swollen beyond its borders and reached into private property around it.

But American Fork officials say that will no longer be a problem soon — they are in the process of purchasing five acres adjacent to the city-owned harbor, a move that city leaders say will provide much-needed parking and recreation space.

"I think it was a good acquisition and it will serve the city well," Councilman Shirl LeBaron said.

American Fork, whose boat harbor is at 6135 N. 6000 West, will pay $400,000 for the property, with payments distributed over seven years at 0 percent interest. The deal has been signed by both parties and is expected to close Tuesday.

The city will make a down payment of $25,000 next month, then make annual payments of about $54,000 in December of each year until the debt is paid.

A tax increase won't be necessary to cover the payments. Money will come from the city's general fund.

Mayor Ted Barratt said the property owners, Ray and Peggy Bishop, were willing to negotiate such favorable terms because they have a great love for the area.

"They have worked at the harbor as harbor masters and they knew that the city could really use this property," Barratt said.

Negotiations had been under way for a few months, but when word got out that other parties were looking at the land, the city moved to close the deal.

"We were told that if we didn't acquire this property, someone else would," said Howard Denney, public works director.

Now, Denney said, the city has all the available land in the area and can comfortably use it to increase the number of available recreational opportunities.

Barratt said the area will primarily be used for parking in the foreseeable future — cost is $2 per vehicle to enter — but could be improved to include restrooms, showers and additional dock space at some point down the road.

Any improvements would not likely be made until after the contract is completed, Barratt said, but he expects the land to be beneficial to the city in the meantime.

The additional space will eliminate the need for people to park on the street, he said, and thereby reduce traffic.

"I believe this will make a huge difference to the boat harbor and American Fork city," he said.

---

E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com