American Fork residents discuss road bond

AMERICAN FORK — A group of residents held a meeting for their neighbors last week about what they see as problems with a proposed bond issue to expand several city streets.

If it passes, Bond 1 would widen a small portion of 50 South, provide for future expansion of 900 West and extend 1120 North from 600 West to 900 West. It is one of five bonds residents will consider in the Nov. 4 election.

The group contends that the $4.3 million bond will pit some parts of the city against others because the plan contains enough good ideas to get people in certain areas to vote for it despite downsides.

"We have tried to present facts and let the people discern for themselves if this bond is really a good idea or a bad one," Sara Poulsen said of the meeting she helped organize last week.

The majority of the meeting was spent discussing the problems with extending 1120 North through a wetlands area to provide access to the freeway as well as ease travel for shoppers heading to the city. If the bond is passed, the road, which sits on the north edge of the city, would become a major connector for Highland, Alpine and Cedar Hills residents.

More than half of the bond money would go to 1120 North,a fact which left the nearly 40 residents at the meeting less than enthused about boosting their property taxes so their neighbors to the north could enjoy a shortcut to shopping.

"These are communities living up to the north of us saying, 'We don't want to give up our lifestyle. We want you to build our roads, and we want you to pay for it so that we can drive on it,"' American Fork resident Ryan Nazer said. "It is an absolute travesty, and it is amazing that anyone in American Fork would even remotely consider shouldering the burden."

Another concern with extending the road is the likelihood of increased traffic in front of American Fork Junior High School. The group presented numbers collected from the city that estimate the road could see 8,000 to 12,000 cars a day passing through the school zone and residential area, which only sees about 3,000 right now.

"The road is already a problem and they are slating to have 8,000 to 12,000 cars come down it," Kathryn Meiners said during her presentation at the meeting.

Those in attendance were asked to help pass out fliers in neighborhoods and to donate to make signs whichthat could be put up throughout the city.

American Fork has information about all of the bonds on its city Web site and will be holding a town meeting about the bonds Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

The group of residents who are against Bond 1 have posted contact information and frequently asked questions about it at www.afroads.blogspot.com.

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