Ex-mayor sealed water deal for Meadows

AMERICAN FORK — Because a trio of visionary mayors worried about having enough water for the future, the thriving Meadows development in American Fork exists today.

Former Mayor Malcolm Beck started the process by trying to buy three wells; Kent Evans put down the deposit that secured the water; and B. Kay Hutchings' administration purchased the water at a fraction of the price it would now cost — $400 an acre foot as opposed to $12,000-$15,000 a share.

That purchase supplies 4,200 acre feet of water.

Beck and Evans had been pursuing the purchase, but it wasn't until 1990 that the American Fork Irrigation Company agreed to the transaction, Hutchings said.

Hutchings served between 1990-93.

"He (Farrell Larson, brother of then City Councilman Jerry Larson) was able to convince the irrigation company to sell it. The city paid $450,000 for the water," he said.

At the time, the price was just $400 a share, or acre foot. Today a share of water can run as high as $15,000.

"That's a little higher than average, but I've heard of developers paying that much," said Mike Shumway, secretary-treasurer for the irrigation company.

Shumway processes stock certificates when water shares are bought and sold and often hears what shares are going for, he said.

"Had he not secured that water when he did, there wouldn't have been water for growth," said historian Betty G. Spencer.

An added plus: At more than 200 feet, the wells are so deep that the water doesn't have to be chlorinated, Hutchings said.

With the city planning a pressurized irrigation system, it's going to need everything available, said long-time water board member Kent Searle. Searle was off the board by the time Hutchings was elected but agreed the city needed to acquire the water to facilitate growth.

Hutchings was involved in other water development projects during his administration that changed the face of American Fork and more than doubled its population. Officials then were able to get a no-interest loan of $500,000 from the state, which allowed them to construct a 12-inch water line in the Hillcrest area, north and west of 1100 North.

"Growth took off sooner than expected," Hutchings said.