Neighbors in Action, a group which was created a number of years ago to coordinate volunteer efforts in the community, has been returned to the city.

Councilwoman Sherry Kramer has been working to reinstitute it.

Tiffany Scherbel is the chairwoman of the group. They are planning representation from areas of the community, based on the boundaries of the elementary schools.

"We are still looking for more members," she said. "We will follow the elementary school boundaries and are still looking for someone from the Greenwood and Shelley school areas. We also need a secretary. That person is a voting member and can come from anywhere in the city."

The group meets at the library, 64 S. 100 East, the second Saturday of the month, beginning at 9 a.m. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

They plan on selecting goals to help meet residents' concerns and improve the community.

"The number one concern so far seems to be traffic on their streets," Scherbel said. "We are looking at street improvements and traffic calming, especially near schools."

At the group's meeting Saturday they addressed traffic calming ideas, including putting speed tables in front of elementary schools.

Scherbel told of an effort that had been done in the Salt Lake area. Volunteers got training from the police, then used radar guns to record speeds of the vehicles. They would then send a letter to the owner of vehicles which had been exceeding the speed limit, encouraging them to slow down. That was followed by an official police effort to again measure the speeds, this time writing tickets for violators. Scherbel said the program could be used locally.

"I think a program like this could be up and running in a month or two and work well," she said.

She itemized some of the group's other goals.

"The second item seems to be parks and trails, whether it is improvement the amenities in parks or making new ones. We would like to look at improving the quality of life. We want to make sure American Fork stays a great place to live.

"We want to foster city pride and neighborhood camaraderie, improve the streetscape, sidewalks and do neighborhood cleanups."

Neighbors in Action is following the charter passed by the group when it was first active in 1998. There are nine voting members who attend the monthly meetings. Others are welcome to be involved, however.

"Each district representative can create neighborhood councils," Scherbel said. "They can create anything that makes sense to them. They can have groups for specific topics that people are interested in. Anyone who wants to be involved can help out." She also invited the general public to attend any of the meetings.

"They can raise concerns or suggest ideas," she said. Scherbel said she felt the committee filled an important function. "I really feel that the heart and soul of every city are the citizens," she said. "If you want a good city you need to be involved. This Neighbors in Action gives us a great opportunity for the average citizen to make a difference. We can make American Fork the great place that we know it can be."

She said it was important for the general public to be involved.

"I am a strong believer in grass roots politics," she said. "The neighbors are involved and that is what is going to make this city great. American Fork is an amazing place to live. It is a great place to have a family. We want to maintain that wonderful atmosphere."

Community notes

Council approves police contract -- The City Council has approved an extension of a police service contract with the Utah State Developmental Center. The city's police department will provide services to the center, at a cost of $31,500, up from $23,500 in the previous budget year. The level of service will remain the same.

Licenses granted -- On July 8, the City Council voted to approve an alcoholic beverage license to Olive Garden, 538 W. Main; and a class B beer license to Tacos Rodriguez, 74 N.W. State Street.

Historic conservation site plan approved -- The City Council on July 8 approved the site plan for a historic conservation project for the Hunter Property Management office, at 317 E. Main Street. Owner Tom Hunter said he has had the building reroofed, restuccoed and replastered. He said he was optimistic about the results.

"It is really going to turn out quite beautiful," he said. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and he plans on putting a plaque to that effect on the building, he said.