Failure to come to mutually agreeable terms regarding the methods of reimbursement for portions of property from State Street to Pleasant Grove Boulevard may hamper Pleasant Grove's efforts to complete a major portion of the new 2000 West project.

In its original concept, the new five-lane road was designed to loop commuter traffic from State Street heading north to the I-15 interchange, connecting to 700 North in Lindon and then completing the connection with Highway 89.

According to Pleasant Grove City Administrator Frank Mills, the major costs for the project are being paid for by federal funds estimated to be $5.2 million dollars, but the city will also need to pay additional funds in order to obtain the right of way on private lands, the major setback of the project.

"In most instances, we were able to work with property owners allowing us to issue credits rather than come up with an outlay of cash," he said.

However, more than three years ago the city approached the Smith family who currently own over 3,900 feet of the property in question. Stan Smith said the city was offering credits of $100,000 per acre, but the family wanted to be paid for their land with cash, not with impact fees.

"We have had several discussions with the land owners of record and after offering an 'X' amount of money per acre, some just wanted more than that," said Pleasant Grove Mayor Michael W. Daniels. "On the Lindon side of this deal, the right of way was obtained for much less and so we went back explaining we were asking for raw land without current access. The Smith's said they would not do it. I am happy to deal with owners of record to get the job done, but many feel it has to be done their way or the highway."

Because the city has not been able to meet the financial conditions set by the Smith family, Smith said they now refuse to work with Pleasant Grove. The only way the road will be constructed is if they decide to sell their land to the Fusion Group, a private developer in the surrounding area, and they, in turn, decide to work with the city, Smith said.

"The Smith Family owns the land, and until they don't, there will be no road," said Smith. "We cannot deal with the city because they cannot deal straight up and pay what the ground is now worth, three times what it was and every day the price goes up. I am a patient person and am in no hurry. The public needs the road, but it is not our responsibility to donate land."

According to Mills, Pleasant Grove currently has agreements with landowners east of the Boulevard and potentially running the risk of losing the federal money if the project is delayed, plans to begin construction on 2000 West connecting where the Lindon portion ends.

"Pleasant Grove is ready to start on the road and are going ahead," said Mills. "We will finish by the middle of October and then begin work on improving the intersection off of State Street this spring."

Mills said now that the city is ready to start breaking ground, the city will contact the owners of record continuing to broker a deal in order to gain the right of way to build the road.

"It just makes sense to have this road go through to State Street," said Mills. "If they still say 'no,' the only other choice is to step in and condemn the property and the owners will receive fair market value for their land based upon current appraisals."

This story appeared in North County on page A1.