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Ernie John leads the irrigation company. His handling of related council votes has been uneven.
He recused himself on irrigation rates and on irrigation share agreements, but voted on a fee change touching shareholders the same night and on a water-share banking agreement after noting his tie.
American Fork's $40 million public works complex: an essentially tied architect pick, and a builder still to choose
Staff recommended WPA Architecture for $589,900 although its average score was 0.1 point behind another firm. The contractor will be chosen next, and two council members work for a construction firm.
American Fork's impact fees haven't changed since 2017. Collections have fallen 90%.
The one-time fees on new construction were last set in 2017. A proposed update would raise the single-family maximum to about $16,700, while restricted balances fell from $38 million to $17 million in two years.
American Fork agency kept collecting Egg Farm tax money after its report said the cap was nearly reached
The redevelopment agency's 2026 report says the business-park area had $213,198 left under a $9.26 million cap after 2022, then shows $3.28 million collected over the next three tax years. About two-thirds came from Alpine School District taxes.
American Fork's auditors reported state-law noncompliance six years running. The details aren't public.
From fiscal 2016 through 2021, each audit said it found instances of noncompliance with Utah's audit guide and put them in a separate letter to management that isn't in the published reports.
American Fork's debt is set to pass $110 million, about double 2022
A $40 million bond for a new public works complex and $30 million in redevelopment bonds push the city's long-term debt to a projected $112.5 million by mid-2027.
American Fork's fitness center subsidy has nearly tripled since 2015, and fiber materials sit waiting on a deal
The general fund now covers about $1.2 million a year of fitness center costs, plus about $200,000 a year for broadband, while $5.4 million in fiber materials await a final partnership agreement.
American Fork's oldest redevelopment areas built up $4.5 million that the agency hasn't spent
North Valley and East Main collected tax increment through 2025 and recorded no spending for three years. This year's budget would spend it on improvements it doesn't describe.
On the record: how American Fork officials handled votes touching their ties
Minutes show Ryan Hunter abstained on the $9.1 million SIRQ fire station price, Clark Taylor disclosed a client and voted, and the mayor stepped back from the Chamber's Steel Days deal.
Auditing American Fork: what we're examining and why
The Ledger is reading American Fork's budgets, audits, redevelopment reports and disclosures. Here is what the records show so far, and what we still want answered.
Patriot Station tax money hasn't covered its $30 million bond payments
Tax increment from American Fork's FrontRunner-area redevelopment zone has come in at about half the forecast, leaving a $4.5 million gap that sales tax covers.
American Fork Citizen: officials' disclosures leave open questions on contracts and ties
The local paper found a city landscaping contract held by the mayor's company went 13 years without a rebid, and that two council members list ties to the firm that built the newest fire station.
Half of this year's state school board races are already settled
Four of eight Utah State Board of Education seats are uncontested, guaranteeing at least three Democrats on the 15-member board in January.
Moore and Crosby clash over tariffs, Iran war and solar in 2nd District debate
With a recent poll showing a five-point gap, the Democratic challenger cast the Republican incumbent as content with the status quo while Moore touted his legislative record.
Brigham City Council wants operating costs before deciding on $10 million rec center
The council has not yet decided whether to spend $500,000 on design and engineering for the proposed indoor recreation building.
How Utah got a new congressional map, explained
A 2018 ballot initiative, a court fight that began in 2022 and a failed repeal drive produced the map Utah votes under on Nov. 3, including a Salt Lake County district that leans Democratic.
Judge sends No Kings volunteer to trial for manslaughter in bystander's death
Matthew Alder, 43, is accused of firing the shot that killed Arthur "Afa" Ah Loo at the 2025 Salt Lake City protest while aiming at a man carrying a rifle.
House Republicans tout data center rules as lawmakers weigh more limits
A Utah House post outlines laws on electricity costs, water reporting and tax incentives, and Speaker Mike Schultz says lawmakers 'do not want a state full of data centers.'
Amendments A and B ask Utah voters to rewrite constitution on public notice, tax initiatives
One measure would drop the newspaper publication rule for proposed amendments, while the other would require 60% voter approval for citizen initiatives that raise taxes.
Schultz says full repeal of 'preliminary municipality' law is on the table
The House speaker expects lawmakers to revisit SB258 in January after an uproar in Wasatch County, and Gov. Cox says he is open to changes.
UTA says it can't go fare-free as riders push back on $3 base fare
Public comments on the proposed increase repeatedly called for free transit, but the agency says fares still cover about 6% of its revenue and state law requires them.
Curtis among six senators calling Trump's Russian diesel move illegal
The bipartisan group says the administration skipped a required consultation with Congress before lifting sanctions on Russian diesel imports.
Logan drafts limits on size, water and power for data centers
Draft rules would confine data centers to industrial park zones, keep them 1,000 feet from homes and cap their water use at 10 million gallons a year.
Utah clerks from both parties defend vote-by-mail as ballots go out
Davis County's clerk detailed the chain-of-custody, signature checks and offline equipment that guard ballots, while clerks warned that national rhetoric is confusing voters.
Kennedy's three challengers in new 4th District lay out positions; incumbent skips survey
The Democrat, Libertarian and unaffiliated candidates answered questions on corruption, affordability and water, while Republican Rep. Mike Kennedy did not respond.
Utah orders AI training and human oversight for state agencies
An October 6 executive order directs covered agencies to train employees, document public-facing AI uses and safeguard automated decisions.
American Fork council takes up FrontRunner, road deals and property sales
The agenda also called for notices of intent to sell two city-owned properties and contracts for crack sealing and an irrigation pond repair.
Federal disaster aid approved for Beaver, Piute counties after fire and floods
A joint assessment found at least $47 million in possibly eligible damage from the Cottonwood Fire and the flooding and mudslides that followed.
Utah updates public-fund depository list for the fourth quarter
The October 1 list updates institutional eligibility and limits for uninsured public deposits, with changes public treasurers need to check.
FTC, Utah and Nevada sue Lens.com over alleged hidden fees
The FTC and the Utah and Nevada attorneys general sued Lens.com on October 2 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Their complaint alleges that advertised contact-lens prices omit substantial mandatory checkout fees and that AutoRefill charges, cancellation instructions and cancellation deadlines were not clearly disclosed.
Curtis backs proposed protections for AI whistleblowers
Utah Senator John Curtis announced his support for the bipartisan AI Whistleblower Protection Act. His office says the proposal would protect covered disclosures involving federal-law violations, national security or public safety, prohibit retaliation and prevent nondisclosure agreements from blocking protected reports.