Ernie John leads the irrigation company. His handling of related council votes has been uneven.

Council member Ernie John is president of the American Fork Irrigation Company, which supplies water shares the city uses and deals with the city on rates and shareholder agreements. He also chairs the American Fork Metropolitan Water District. ^[1][2]

Council minutes from the past year show him handling irrigation company items in different ways. ^[2][3][4][5]

When he stepped aside

Dec. 9, 2025: on a resolution about discounts and long-term rental agreements for irrigation company shares, John disclosed that he is the company's chairman. The item was tabled 4-0 with John abstaining. ^[3]

June 23, 2026: John "disclosed a conflict of interest due to his position as President of the American Fork Irrigation Company" and "recused himself from discussion and voting" on the city's pressurized irrigation rates. They passed 4-0. ^[4]

When he voted

The same night, John voted for the city's general fee schedule. The motion included changing an irrigation mapping fee, which had come up in the debate over shareholder agreements, from a $50 annual charge to a $75 charge when a change is requested. It passed 5-0. ^[4]

Sept. 8, 2026: on an agreement to bank 71.92 acre-feet of water shares with the city for Layne Downs, John "noted his connection with the American Fork Irrigation Company" and then voted yes. It passed 5-0. ^[5]

What the law says

Utah's municipal ethics law requires disclosure but generally lets an officer vote afterward, so voting after a disclosure is not itself a violation. ^[6]

John did not answer the American Fork Citizen's questions this summer about when he recuses on irrigation company and water district matters. The Ledger found no council item involving the water district in the minutes reviewed. ^[1]