John Walden and Eagle Mountain Properties purchased land in a bankruptcy sale, purchasing the land for the water rights.
Eagle Mountain was incorporated in December 1996 with a population of approximately 250 residents.
The first mayor was Debbie Hooge, followed by Rob Bateman, Paul Bond, and then Kelvin Bailey. Hooge, an elected mayor, resigned due to perceived conflict of interest, and Bateman was appointed. Bond was elected and served his full two-year term. Bailey then ran against Greg Kehl, a city councilman, and won by about 70 votes.
Bailey and the small city of Eagle Mountain gained some national attention in March of 2003 when Bailey reportedly claimed to have been kidnapped and forced to drive to Barstow, California. FBI personnel were briefly involved in the case. Bailey reportedly confessed that he has invented the kidnapping story due to his "struggling with the stresses of his responsibilities as mayor and with his job as a construction consultant. He admitted making up the story to appease his wife until he could return home and explain his disappearance."(http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C575037613%2C00.html) Bailey pled not guilty to misdemeanor charges of filing false police reports. He has since resigned and the council appointed Bailey friend and supporter David Lifferth to finish Bailey's term, which ends at the end of this year. Lifferth is also a candidate for a seat on the council this election.
The current city council:
- Linn Strouse
- Vinnie Liddiard
- David Blackburn
- Janiece Sloan (Appointed, not elected)
- Brian Olsen (Appointed, not elected)
