3 candidates are running for two available seats. Staci and Ryan are both incumbents, with Deb as the challenger.
Staci Carroll
Staci Carroll is finishing her second term on the city council and is running for re-election. She’s served for eight years and said her focus has been on infrastructure, public safety, and making sure the city communicates better with residents.
Key Accomplishments
Staci said she’s proud of driving action—not just talking about it. She gave several examples:
- Served six years as the council-appointed member of the Steel Days Committee. During that time, the city transitioned management and funding of the event to the Chamber of Commerce, saving time and money.
- Represented the city in conversations about the school district split. When it became clear that a public vote was the best option, she helped facilitate that.
- Championed better communication with residents, including hiring a city communication officer, door-to-door outreach for construction impacts, and more meaningful digital engagement.
- During the 2022 budget hearings, she advocated for a lower tax increase after listening to residents.
Infrastructure and Roads
Staci said she is embarrassed while driving on trashed roads. The city is no longer falling behind on keeping up with road maintenance. Her priorities include road maintenance, rebuilding, and connectivity. She’s working with the legislature on a transportation utility fee and helping plan a county-wide road network. She also wants to ensure the city has land for future municipal buildings.
Upgrading water lines is a high priority.
Public Safety
She supports wage increases and equipment upgrades to retain police and fire personnel.
Growth and Housing
Staci said the city is under pressure from the state to add more density but wants credit for what’s already been done. She supports following the general plan and said people often want land use changed to high density or industrial, even when it doesn’t match the plan. These requests are being denied.
She supports a mix of housing types, including smaller lots and owner-occupied condos and apartments. She also supports allowing owner-occupied accessory dwelling units.
Technology
Staci supports automation where it improves efficiency, like remote-controlled water meters. Cybersecurity is handled by an outside contractor.
Main Street
She said walkability and wider sidewalks are important, but parking is tight and the road is managed by UDOT.
Council Participation
She said she’s missed only one or two council meetings due to work trips and emphasized that meetings are recorded and available for review.
Citizen Awareness
Staci wants residents to better understand the certified tax rate, restricted funds, and how state regulations affect city decisions. She noted that developers pay for new infrastructure. She said she’s grateful for feedback, even when the final decision goes a different way.
Quality of Life
She praised the city’s parks and library. She highlighted the need for sidewalks and greenspace, especially on the south side, and said the city does a good job with amenities like the rec center and PARC-funded programs.
Closing Statement
Staci said she listens to others, doesn’t assume she has all the information, and takes a stand when needed. She wants to continue the momentum and adapt as new issues arise.
Ryan Hunter
Ryan Hunter is running for re-election to the city council. He said he’s primarily running again to finish projects already underway, especially infrastructure and fiber.
Fiber
Ryan has been involved in the city’s effort to bring fiber to every home. He said construction costs have “absolutely blown up” since the project began. About $9 million has been committed or earmarked so far. The city is in a memorandum of understanding with Centracom and Strata, and will own about 25% of the system. He said this ownership gives residents a voice and helps keep costs down. Multiple ISPs are still part of the plan.
Some residents don’t have a first option for internet access, and many don’t have a second. Ryan said even kindergartners have daily internet requirements. The city’s secondary water meters now use fiber-speed lines to report hourly data, which helps detect leaks and abnormal usage. Residents will soon be able to subscribe to their own water meter data. A new system is also coming to replace AF Notify, which he said will be more engaging.
Roads
Ryan said several road projects need to be completed before 200 South is redone—so residents have alternate ways to access the area. He emphasized that 200 South is in failing condition, but it shouldn’t be tackled until other routes are in place.
Projects he highlighted include:
- Automall Drive frontage road continuation, which is nearly complete. He emphasized upgrading utilities while finishing roads.
- 1st West / Harbor Road, also nearly done.
- Lakeshore Drive south of the TOD needs to reach 1500 South to create new access. While not yet designed, it will be a two-lane road with gravel shoulders, connecting to and from the freeway.
- Creation of a second frontage road from the On the Run gas station on Pioneer Crossing to parallel the on-ramp of southbound I-15 could access the new roundabout on 200 south directly and avoid congestion on 300 west and State Street.
- Once those access points are in, he wants the south half of 200 South built first and said the 200 South area needs full east-west connectivity, prior to full north side of the cross section being completed.
He also said that road funding comes from vehicle taxes, not cyclists, but said safe bike travel depends on safe roads. He supports a significant bike lane on the south side.
Public Safety
Ryan said the Lakeshore area needs better coverage. The city has purchased 30 acres partially through a bond for a future park and fire station. The fire station is likely 3–4 years out: it takes three years to get a fire engine and two years to design and build the station. For now, the city has acquired a home to use temporarily.
The new station will house at least 16 personnel and equipment. He said response times will improve with first responders closer to the area. The 1100 South TOD area now generates more calls than Cedar Hills, with a 70% increase in fire calls over five years. He didn’t have the Police call data. Station 52 is subsidized by the contract in place with Cedar Hills.
Other Topics
- Rec Center: Ryan said there’s a push for a new rec center, but “we would love to have it—we don’t need it, yet.” He noted that 45% of attendees aren’t from American Fork.
- Arts Venue: He said the city may want to own an arts venue in the future.
Deb Anderson
Deb Anderson is a candidate for American Fork City Council in the 2025 election. I reached out to her multiple times to request an interview, but she did not respond.
She participated in the city council debate, where she shared some background and priorities.
Background
Deb said she loves American Fork and its citizens, describing it as a place where people serve each other. She emphasized modesty, integrity, and bringing a fresh set of ears and eyes to the council. Deb does not have a rigid platform.
She has worked at the city’s recreation center for seven years and said she’s been attending council meetings regularly for the past five months, although she admitted not knowing much about many of the issues during the debate.
Priorities
Her top priorities include:
- Public Safety
- Infrastructure
- Roads
- Fiber
- South side development
She said the city has reached its capacity for high-density housing and would like to see that slow down. She supports planning and listening to landowners and the planning commission.
Main Street
Deb said Main Street should be more interesting and pleasant, with shorter walking distances and better tree coverage to entice people to visit.
Recreation Center
She supports building a new recreation center but said it should be up to the citizens to decide.
Infrastructure
She said infrastructure is needed south of the train station but acknowledged she has a limited view of the issue.
ICE Enforcement
Deb said the city council doesn’t play a role in immigration enforcement and emphasized following the law and respecting people.
Growth and Housing
She said she’s not sure how to solve affordable housing but wants her kids to be able to live nearby. She doesn’t support high-density development and prefers a slower pace of growth.
Quality of Life
Deb praised the city’s parks and recreation programs and said the biggest challenge is infrastructure. She shared a story of a resident who said it’s too frustrating to leave home due to traffic.
Transparency
She said some sessions need to be private but emphasized following Utah state statutes for public access.
Closing Statement
Deb said she’s heard concerns from many residents, especially those on the south side of the city.