On the record: how American Fork officials handled votes touching their ties

The American Fork Citizen reported in August that several American Fork officials have business ties that touch city work. The Ledger checked the council minutes and state payment records to see how those ties showed up when the council voted. ^[1]

SIRQ Construction and Fire Station 52

In October 2020 the council chose SIRQ to build Fire Station 52 using the construction manager/general contractor method. Eight contractors submitted qualifications and a review panel picked SIRQ as the "best value." It was not a low-bid award. The vote was unanimous. Ryan Hunter was not yet on the council. ^[2][3]

On Aug. 23, 2022, the council approved SIRQ's guaranteed maximum price of $9,112,335. Hunter, by then a council member, said "he is working for the contractor and wanted to abstain." The minutes record his abstention. The other four members voted yes. ^[4]

Transparent Utah shows the city paid SIRQ $4.88 million in fiscal 2023 and $2.36 million in fiscal 2024. The Ledger found no later SIRQ change order or payment item on a council agenda. Under the contract, staff could manage changes within the approved price. ^[5][2]

Doug Smith Subaru

On Dec. 13, 2022, the council approved a sponsorship and naming-rights agreement with Doug Smith Subaru for the Art Dye dog park. Clark Taylor "stated on the record that Doug Smith Subaru was his client and he had helped put this deal together, but he still planned on voting." He seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The agreement brought money to the city rather than spending it. ^[6]

The Chamber and Steel Days

On June 23, 2026, the council approved an agreement for the American Fork Chamber of Commerce to manage Steel Days for up to three years, with annual review. Mayor Brad Frost had become the Chamber's president and CEO. Staff asked that the mayor pro tem sign the agreement "because of a change in Chamber leadership and the mayor's involvement in negotiations." ^[7]

Valley View Landscaping

Frost's company held a city landscaping contract from 2013 until the city rebid the work this year. Transparent Utah shows payments of about $24,000 to $33,000 a year from fiscal 2015 through 2022, then $53,040 in fiscal 2023, which equals 52 weeks at the $1,020 weekly rate the Citizen found in invoices. The Ledger hasn't found a council action on a rate change or expanded scope. The 2013 minutes are not in the city's online archive. ^[8][1]