American Fork is looking for more than a short-term approach to expanding its cemetery.

Sexton Ray Garrett reviewed some of the alternatives with members of the City Council last week. He said the city needs to do more than expand the cemetery into the baseball field north of the fitness center. The 3-acre baseball field would not supply enough ground to be a long-term solution for expansion.

"The north field is only a Band-Aid," he said. "We need to be aggressive and do something permanent."

Garrett is thinking larger -- much larger.

Calling land acquisition the cemetery's main goal, Garrett is looking at a 68-acre parcel near the Utah State Developmental Center. The state owns the land, and city officials anticipate acquiring the property to be a lengthy process. It is too early to know how much the property may cost.

"This land is our first choice, and what we believe to be the best long-term solution for a second cemetery for American Fork city," Garrett wrote in a memo to the council. "We estimate this piece of land would satisfy American Fork's cemetery needs for 173.4 years, at the projected rate of selling 400 lots per year."

Mayor Heber Thompson said he had sent a letter to the state expressing interest in purchasing the land and said he was working with state Reps. John Dougall, R-American Fork, and Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, to help facilitate the purchase.

Councilman Rick Storrs said a former mayor could also be of assistance with negotiations.

"Malcolm Beck would be a great help," he said. "He was a big ally when we were working with the golf course."

Some suggested putting an additional cemetery on the undeveloped land on the south side of the freeway. Garrett said an analysis shows the water table is too high in that area to permit traditional burials.

Another reason to choose the 68-acre state parcel is because it would provide room to store some materials, including topsoil, Garrett said.

He told the council it was important to have soil near the cemetery.

"When we dig a grave we fill up a truck twice," Garrett said. "We have to dig out two loads, bring one back, then put topsoil on it. If we are 15 minutes away, per grave we would be one hour extra. Our average day of funerals we have three a day. I am looking at the crews and being efficient."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.