American Fork council members castigated the American Fork horse riding club this week for failing to show up at a council meeting to discuss the fate of the club.

Councilman Shirl LeBaron said the club's absence should have been interpreted as lack of interest. He asked Mayor Heber Thompson to issue an order requiring that horses no longer be allowed on the city's horse racetrack, located near Fox Hollow Golf Course.

LeBaron's request came after Thompson said city attorneys had determined the race track "is an accident waiting to happen and we are fortunate to have escaped so far."

Golfing and horses are simply incompatible, Thompson said.

Kent Wells, director of the Fox Hollow golf course, said a child "could be hit" by a horse at the track, which is next to the golf course's new club house, which is used as a wedding reception center. Getting rid of the racetrack, which club members admit has not been used in several years, would allow the driving range at the golf course to expand, which could help push the golf course to profitability, he said.

"We need to come to a conclusion," Wells said.

On Tuesday, council members said they asked the riding club two weeks ago to weigh in on final options. At that time, club members said they wanted the city to pay for new stalls to replace those the city is demolishing to make way for the irrigation pond. The club also wanted to retain use of the racetrack.

Thompson said he told the club that while the city wanted to help the organization and honor its decades of tradition, the city would probably never spend more than $50,000 on a club that has only 15 American Fork members. All options, including building a new racetrack, building a horse trail in the city, and paying for upgrades at the county equestrian center, would cost more than $100,000.

In the end, council members told staff to alert the club that in two weeks the council would vote on the fate of the club's relationship with the city, whether the club shows up or not.

Not everyone took the news sitting down. One member of the public told council members that she was offended by LeBaron's statement that the club was proving its disinterest because no representative had been able to attend the meeting. The club had been housed on the property with city permission for much longer than the golf course had existed, she said, noting the racetrack was built in 1948.

She asked the city to do more to support those who enjoy riding horses.

Councilmen Dale Gunther and Rick Storrs said the city needed a long-term plan for supporting equestrians.