Residents voice concern as Council adopts pressurized irrigation rates; shareholder issues remain

The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-06-28R on June 23 to set pressurized irrigation (PI) utility fees effective Jan. 1, 2027, following a public hearing in which water shareholders and HOA representatives raised mapping and metering concerns. Robert Nelson, vice president of the Temple Ridge Estates Homeowners Association, said the online dashboard does not accurately reflect the association's meters and asked for clarification about how multiple meters, lot sizes and public right-of-way treatment would be handled. He estimated the association's irrigation costs could rise by roughly 27% in the first year and up to 89% by 2030 under the proposed schedule.

Other residents urged the City to retain longstanding shareholder protections and requested that the City finalize shareholder agreements before the new rates take effect; Royce Shelley thanked staff for advance notice and the online dashboard and asked that the longstanding arrangement allowing shareholders who assign 50% of their water shares to the city to avoid a base rate remain unchanged. Council Member John recused himself from the discussion and vote because he serves as President of the American Fork Irrigation Company; the resolution passed with one abstention recorded. Council and staff said they would continue working with the Irrigation Company to update shareholder agreements and resolve mapping and meter discrepancies.