The Firefly Project, formerly known as the Pole Canyon development developer Nate Shipp was on the Planning Commission agenda on 1/10/2023. Nate Shipp has currently registered over 140 business entities with the state of Utah. Several of Nate’s developments in Eagle Mountain are being considered for amendment or approval in 2023. Since 2003 Nate Shipp, the developer of the Pole Canyon or Firefly Project MDA has contributed a total of $23,000 to members of the City Council and the Mayor to help them with their elections.
The most recent contribution that Nate made was through DAI Managers, LLC, (the applicant of the Amendment) in the amount of $8,000.00 to Mayor Westmoreland for his 2021 re-election campaign. He has also contributed funds to Councilmember Donna Rivera Burnham’s campaign back in 2011. The other standing council members have not received any contributions from Nate or any of his numerous business entities. The new development is supposed to be “a purpose driven mission of creating a community which allows children to maximize their potential while minimizing their use of electronic devices, social media, and gaming.”
City code 1.15.010 discusses requirements for disclosure. “Each public official who is a member of the city council, planning commission or other officially appointed and constituted public body of Eagle Mountain City shall disclose every conflict of interest of which the public official has knowledge prior to consideration of any action in any public meeting or hearing before such public body on a matter in which the official has a conflict of interest. For the purposes of this chapter, an official has a conflict of interest if the official knows or has reason to know that the official or a parent of the official or the official’s spouse, sibling, other member of the same household, agent, principal, client, employer or employee:”
The code then lists specific things that are considered conflicts of interest. It should be noted that technically the code does not specify that receiving contributions from someone who has agenda items is a conflict of interest. State code also states that “a political campaign contribution” is not considered an “economic benefit tantamount to a gift.” Technically according to the code campaign contributions are not considered a conflict of interest. We will leave that ethical discussion to a later date.
Should Council Member Burnham and Mayor Westmoreland both abstain from voting during the Firefly Project vote? (The mayor will only get a vote in the case of a tie, then his vote is the tiebreaker. But the Mayor is the one who controls the agenda for the City Council meetings.)
If you would like to check out who has contributed to what elected official since the start of the city, you can do so by looking at the Cedar Valley Sentinel Contribution Database. We have taken all of the financial disclosure statements from the founding of Eagle Mountain and have created a page that allows you to sort and search based on elected officials or donors. The page also includes all of the business entities that are registered to the larger developers in the area, including Nate Shipp.
The database can be accessed here, I have also included the table in this article. This is not the first time that Mayor Westmore land has accepted money in the form of a campaign contribution from a developer.
Related article – SHOW ME THE MONEY – CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS – WESTMORELAND (2017)
Contribution Database
Campaign Contributions Detail (2001 - Present)
Nate Shipp Business Entities
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.