PROVO - Even while acknowledging that the price is probably about $100,000 high, the Utah count Commission agreed Tuesday to pay nearly $600,000 for an acre and a half of property in the American Fork area.

The land is needed for a signal light and intersection at 2000 West onto the state road, where a new freeway intersection is planned to open in the next two years.

Both Pleasant Grove and American fork will benefit from the improved access and have picked up the tab fort he cost above the $200,000 the county expected to pay for the property.

"I guess if we look at this selfishly, we're not paying any more than we planned," Commissioner David Garner said.

However, the price for the land owned by Jay and Sondra Holmstead caused the commissioners to pause and ask last week to have time to study the appraisal, done by William Christensen at the county's request.

Herbert said he still questions some of the comparables used in the appraisal but is willing to support the motion to accept the price and move the transaction forward.

"I think it's a little bit high, about $100,000 high. Our alternative is to go to court (to condemn the property). We'd lose time, lose money and jeopardize our working agreement with American Fork and Pleasant Grove,' he said. "And we'd probably ultimately spend more."

The property has an old building once used as a drop shed for newspaper carriers. It now houses Holmstead Contruction.

In addition to paying $240,000 of the total price, Utah county will pay Holmstead Contruction $20,000 for relocation.

American Fork as agreed to pay the Holmsteads up to $100,000 while Pleasant Grove will pay up to $310,000.