Ryan Hunter attended SIRQ's Fire Station 52 bid meeting, then voted on station items as a council member except the price
Hunter's disclosure form lists SIRQ Construction as his employer and under owner/officer. He seconded the station land purchase and moved its plat, and abstained on SIRQ's $9.1 million price. The city paid SIRQ $7.2 million in fiscal 2023 and 2024.
Continuing story: Auditing American Fork
Before the council
On July 22, 2020, the city held a pre-proposal meeting for contractors interested in building Fire Station 52. The city's attendee list includes "SIRQ Construction – Ryan Hunter, Mark Buhler." [1]
On Oct. 13, 2020, the City Council approved the construction manager/general contractor contract for Station 52 unanimously, with Barnes, Carroll, Christiansen, Shelton and Taylor voting yes. Later minutes identify it as the "CMGC Contract with SIRQ Construction for Fire Station 52." [2][5]
On April 29, 2021, the council appointed Hunter to a vacant seat. The minutes say he told the council he "had served on the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission, and had worked on the new fire station bond," and that he "chaired the bond for the Fire Association." [3]
Votes on the station
Sept. 28, 2021: Taylor moved to approve the purchase of property at 975 East Harvey Boulevard and Hunter seconded. City Administrator David Bunker said it was "funded 100% from bond proceeds." It passed with Barnes, Hunter, Shelton and Taylor voting yes. The property became the Fire Station 52 site. [4][6]
May 10, 2022: "Council Member Hunter moved to approve the final plat of American Fork Fire Station No. 52, located in the area of 975 East Harvey Boulevard." It passed unanimously; Taylor was absent. [6]
Aug. 23, 2022: The council approved an amended contract with SIRQ for Station 52 with a guaranteed maximum price of $9,112,335. The minutes record Hunter's abstention; he said "he is working for the contractor and wanted to abstain." [5]
Payments
Transparent Utah, the state's public spending site, shows American Fork paid SIRQ Construction $4,876,697.21 in fiscal 2023 and $2,361,045.08 in fiscal 2024. [7]
The next big building
On Dec. 9, 2025, on a resolution authorizing lease revenue bonds for a new public works facility, Hunter "referenced the Fire Station 52 project, noting that it was awarded to his employer prior to his service on the Council and clarified that he would abstain from participation if a similar situation arose." He said that "CMGC contracts can provide added value" and seconded the resolution, which passed 5-0. [8]
On Jan. 13, 2026, Hunter moved the resolution setting the bonds at up to $40 million. It passed 5-0. [9]
His disclosure
Hunter's January 2026 conflict-of-interest form lists SIRQ Construction as his employer, with the title Business Development, and lists SIRQ under owner/officer, income of $5,000 or more, and stock of $5,000 or more. [10]
Utah's municipal ethics law requires an officer to disclose a business interest in matters before the city. It does not bar the officer from voting after disclosing. [11]
Sources
- American Fork City · Attendees at Fire Station 52 pre-proposal contractors meeting, July 22, 2020
- American Fork City Council · Oct. 13, 2020 minutes (Utah Public Notice)
- American Fork City Council · April 29, 2021 minutes
- American Fork City Council · Sept. 28, 2021 minutes
- American Fork City Council · Aug. 23, 2022 minutes
- American Fork City Council · May 10, 2022 minutes
- Transparent Utah · Vendor payments, SIRQ Construction
- American Fork City Council · Dec. 9, 2025 minutes
- American Fork City Council · Jan. 13, 2026 minutes
- American Fork City · Ryan Hunter conflict of interest disclosure, January 2026
- Utah Code 10-3-1306 · Municipal Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act, disclosure of interests
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.