Barbara Christiansen - NORTH COUNTY STAFF | Posted: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 11:00 pm
American Fork officials are looking into having the American Fork Riding Club become part of the city's recreation department, in an effort to provide stables at a rate club members can afford.
The city had given notice that club members vacate stalls they built on city land to make way for a reservoir for the soon-to-be-built pressurized irrigation system. Members and city officials negotiated to construct new stalls for the club. Several locations had been considered, but the club preferred to remain close to the race track, next to Fox Hollow Golf Course. American Fork offered to buy 20 stalls, which club members would assemble, then lease to members.
Councilman Ricky Storrs said there were benefits to the entire community to have the club continue.
"I kind of look at it a little differently," he said, referring to other council members who wanted to make sure the lease payments were adequate to cover all costs. "We subsidize golfers, the recreation department and the arts council. It is another part of the city -- recreation and riding horses and open space. I have no problem keeping it available to you," he told the club members.
City Attorney Kasey Wright made the suggestion to change the way the city was viewing the club.
"Maybe the city should look at this as a service we want to provide," he said.
Mayor Heber Thompson directed Wright to prepare an agreement with the equestrians coming under the city's recreation department.
Thompson also took the initiative to order the stalls, which take 30-45 days to be delivered. He took a straw poll of the council and then said the city should go ahead so the stalls could be built as soon as possible.
Chris Mitchell, a member of the riding club, said he thought it was a positive direction.
"I felt really good," he said. "I felt like we made some progress."
He said it moved toward one of his goals.
"The main thing we are trying to do is get more involvement from the city and get more youth groups to use the facility," he said.
"I am crossing my fingers," he added.
It was the lease agreement, particularly the amount of monthly rent, that prompted additional concern. While no firm amount had been specified, Councilman Dale Gunther said the city needed to do an analysis of the costs.
"I don't want to overcharge or undercharge," he said. "I am violently opposed to taking some subsidy to the taxpayers."
Charging too much could backfire, said some club members. One potential rate mentioned was $70 a month per stall.
"At $70 a stall there won't be anybody there," Mitchell said.