Council adopts irrigation-share discount policy, agrees to honor in-progress deals

The American Fork City Council on March 24 adopted a resolution setting new rules for shareholder discounts and long-term rental agreements tied to American Fork Irrigation Company shares, but the council inserted a provision to honor negotiations already under way.

Resident Mark Roildens urged the council to pause the policy until all irrigation shareholders are notified and consulted, saying, “The city has not been treating minority shareholders fairly.” Roildens told the council the proposed changes could devalue family irrigation stock and asked for more outreach to affected shareholders.

City staff responded that existing agreements and any negotiations initiated before March 24, 2026, would be honored. “Any agreements that are in place or any that have been in process … we will honor all of those agreements,” a staff member told the council, describing the policy’s grandfathering language. Council members emphasized the city will not retroactively extract water shares from existing properties.

Council member Hunter moved to adopt the resolution addressing shareholder discount and long-term rental agreements for American Fork Irrigation Company shares; the motion was seconded and carried on recorded ayes.

The resolution includes a written caveat that negotiations started before 03/24/2026 will be finalized if agreed to by the parties. The council directed staff to continue outreach to shareholders and to ensure any agreements already in negotiation are completed according to the new policy’s terms.

Next steps: staff will circulate details to affected parties and follow up on implementation; the council recorded the adoption and closed the item.