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Residents urge pause on irrigation-share policy; council vows to honor pending agreements
Summary
Public commenters and council members pressed for clarity on irrigation-share discount agreements; council adopted a resolution that affirms negotiations initiated before March 24, 2026, will be honored and finalized if all parties agree.
Public comments and council discussion on March 24 centered on proposed changes to how American Fork recognizes irrigation-share discounts and long-term rental agreements.
During the public comment period, resident Mark Roylance said the math favors longstanding shareholders. "One irrigation share equals 2-acre feet of water, which is 651,702 gallons which is supposed to be delivered to the shareholder for a $40 annual assessment," Roylance told the council, adding that that equaled "approximately six cents per 1,000 gallons" compared with what he described as the city’s secondary water rate of more than $2 per 1,000 gallons. He urged the council to pause the proposed policy until all water holders are notified and can give input.
Council members discussed how to balance the city’s obligations with state metering requirements and fairness to shareholders. Legal Counsel Heather Schriever read a reservation into the public record clarifying the council’s intent: "that any party that has initiated contract negotiations with either the city or the irrigation company before March 24, 2026, those negotiations would be honored, completed, and finalized if agreed to by all parties." Council Member Ryan Hunter moved to adopt Resolution No. 2026-03-11R incorporating that language; Council Member Staci Carroll seconded and the resolution was adopted unanimously by the members present.
City Administrator David Bunker added that the city’s position is to honor agreements already in process and noted that "the water stays with the land," underscoring the council’s effort to preserve prior commitments while implementing updated policy language.
What happens next: the resolution sets policy direction and preserves in-process negotiations for finalization if parties agree. The council did not set a separate timeline for further public outreach or additional amendments to the irrigation-share policy during the meeting.
