The City of Kenai adopted a resolution to authorize the purchase of real property for the public purpose of including the property in the Bluff Erosion Restoration Project.
The property is located in the Original Townsite of Kenai along the Kenai River Bluff, and approximately .06 acres. The total purchase price for the area is $1,200 plus estimated closing costs of $1,200. The funds for the purchase are available through a legislative grant.
Kenai City Manager, Paul Ostrander explains the property purchase;
“This is parcel that we would like to acquire that is necessary for completion of the Bluff Stabilization Project. We’ve be acquiring properties now for about seven years in support of this. This is the last property that we need approval from council to purchase. There’s several others that we are going to be pursuing easements on, but this that last one for purchase. Actually, Mr. Bloom has taken the lead on this one, this particular parcel and has been working with the land owners for almost a year now and we’ve finally got to the point where that the four mutual parties that are owners of this have agreed to sell it $1,200.00”
The Lower Kenai River has eroded the Kenai River Bluff through the Original Town Site of Kenai at an estimated rate of three feet per year.
It was identified by the Department of Army, Corps of Engineers that this needed to be included in the project to stabilize the erosion of the bluff at the mouth of the Kenai River. It is necessary for the construction of erosion-control structures or to provide permanent access to support the bluff stabilization project.