Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Irrigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts irrigation-share agreement language after public concerns about value and notice
Summary
The council adopted a resolution addressing American Fork Irrigation Company shareholder discount and long-term rental agreements and included language to honor negotiations started before March 24, 2026. Public commenters urged a pause and fuller notification of shareholders.
The American Fork City Council on March 24 adopted Resolution No. 2026-03-11R addressing shareholder discount agreements and long-term rental agreements for American Fork Irrigation Company shares, adding a clause to honor negotiations initiated prior to March 24, 2026. Legal counsel Heather Schriever read the protective language into the record: “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.”
During the public comment period, resident Mark Roylance asked the council to pause the proposed policy and said irrigation shares carry substantial physical water: “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. That equaled approximately six cents per 1,000 gallons while the city’s secondary water would be over $2 per 1,000 gallons.” Roylance argued notification and input from all shareholders should precede policy changes. Shellie Struthers thanked staff and council for clarifying the city’s process for applying shares to family members’ accounts and expressed appreciation that ongoing negotiations could continue.
Council discussion acknowledged both the public comments and the need for clear language. Council Member Ryan Hunter requested—and the motion included—a caveat to protect parties already engaged in negotiations, a provision staff and council said they would honor. The motion passed with Council Members Staci Carroll, Tim Holley, Ryan Hunter and Clark Taylor voting yes; Council Member Ernie John was absent.
The resolution will govern how shareholder discounts and long-term rental agreements are processed; staff and the American Fork Irrigation Company will implement the agreements and finalize pending negotiations consistent with the adopted language.
