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Show Bountiful jogging trail work gets go-ahead By PAUL CHALLIS News Editor BOUNTIFUL The CitV CouncU recently voted 3-2 to continue con-tinue work on a jogging trail oh Bountiful Boulevard that was started in 1991. Councilwoman Renee Coon and Councilman John Cushing voted against the plan. Cushing said it was a nice idea but wasn't practical and Coon said that because of nearby near-by traffic joggers wouldn't use it Councilwoman Barbara Holt, Councilmen Harold Shafter and Leslie Foy voted in favor of the jogging trail. According to City Engineer Jack Balling the project is about half completed along Bountiful Boulevard and had been approved by the council a few months ago. Since that time several residents living liv-ing near the proposed trail have complained about it and told the city they didn't want it The jogging trail is on the west side of Bountiful Boulevard and besides the trail 50 percent of the lighting for it has also been installed. Balling said that, because utility transformers must be moved and the added expense to the project would be increased, he decided to bring the matter back to the council for further consideration. The 11 -foot path has been constructed con-structed between the curb and gutter in some locations and the roadway. Most of the finished part of the path is on the south side of Bountiful Boulevard. Residents ' complaints include the fear of joggers using their front yards, the conflict of bikers and jogging and walkers and increased traffic on the street. The council also discussed concrete con-crete versus asphalt The original plan called for concrete and the idea of asphalt had been introduced as a better surface that wouldn't sink as cement does sometimes. The council coun-cil had mixed reactions and decided to stay with the concrete as initially agreed on. City Attorney Layne Forbes told the council Bountiful was not legally bound to provide a jogging path next to the street and only could be liable if the design was proven improper. He also said the city would be responsible for maintenance but doubted liability was really a valid concern of the council. One of the property owners concerned con-cerned about the project is the LDS church, which has plans of building a temple near Bountiful Boulevard. The church has an agreement with Bountiful that a biking trail will not be installed near the temple property. proper-ty. The majority of the council wanted to stick with the original plan and Foy's motion stated to stay with the original plan for the jogging jogg-ing trail with concrete. |