The City of Kenai will continue negotiations for the purchase of properties to facilitate construction of a south beach access on the Kenai River.
City Manager Rick Koch said the council provided direction to he and the city attorney in a Wednesday night executive session.
Koch: “Regarding negotiations that are involved in with ARK Properties that they own over on the south beach, that we’re interested in acquiring to be able to build an access road outside of the wetland.”
The City had applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to build the road across the wetlands, but asked for a 60-day pause to explore these new alternatives.
Koch said constructing over the wetlands is not the best alternative for the city so they are exploring other options.
The executive session was held due to the fiscal impacts the negotiations could have on Kenai’s budget.
Once a route is decided on the road could be built by next June.
The city has been exploring a new south beach access for several years to combat issues between dipnet fishery users and south beach property owners.
