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Kane County opens 60-day protest period for annexation into Churchwells special service district
Summary
At a July 22 public hearing, the Kane County Commission gave notice of intent (Resolution R2025-18) to annex territory into the Churchwells Special Service District; commissioners and local officials discussed timing, an updated memorandum of understanding and gaps in firefighting reimbursement.
KANE COUNTY, Utah — The Kane County Commission on July 22 opened a 60-day protest period after holding a public hearing on Resolution R2025-18, a notice of intent to annex specified territory into the Churchwells Special Service District.
The hearing, held at 6 p.m. at 76 North Main Street, did not conclude with a final adoption of the resolution. County officials said the annexation would trigger a special assessment to fund district services, but no funds would be collected in 2025; collections would begin in fiscal 2026 if the annexation proceeds.
The notice starts a formal protest period during which written objections may be submitted, a county official said during the hearing. The commission asked staff to work with Churchwells and Bigwater officials to coordinate memoranda of understanding (MOUs) so there would be no lapse in coverage while the annexation process continues.
Jeanette (chair of the Churchwells Special Service District), who participated remotely, said the assessment rate for the new territory would match the current Churchwells rate. “The same percentage. It’s 001.5%. And it’s the same thing we collect from our Churchwells residence and it would be the same thing that we’d be collecting from the additional properties,” Jeanette said.
Mayor David Schmucker of Bigwater said the annexation would be beneficial for area residents. “This will be a good fit for all the residents out in our area, so that we can help them with fire,” Schmucker said.
Discussion at the hearing focused on two operational issues: whether existing MOUs between the county and local fire/EMS providers would need to be adjusted, and how fire response costs are reimbursed. County and Churchwells representatives said they expect to renew or update MOUs this fall to avoid gaps in coverage for newly annexed territory.
Churchwells and county officials noted a recent vehicle rollover on State Route 89 where both EMS and fire crews responded and the patient was airlifted. Officials said the ambulance service received reimbursement from the receiving hospital but that firefighting responses typically are not reimbursed in the same way. “We would like some how how do we get paid back for going out there and doing that,” an official from Churchwells said, asking county staff to consider reimbursement or contract adjustments for fire response.
County staff also said they will review whether contracts with nearby municipalities or service providers (including any arrangements with Bigwater) should include explicit fees to cover fire responses in the annexed area.
The commission did not take final action on Resolution R2025-18 at the hearing; the item serves as notice to begin the statutory protest period and to prompt follow-up work between county staff and district officials. The meeting ended with a voice vote to adjourn at 6:12 p.m.
Written protests must be filed in accordance with the notice; county staff said they will provide instructions and coordinate the MOU updates with Churchwells and Bigwater.
For residents: the annexation would affect properties in eastern Kane County along U.S. 89 and could change which entity bills and receives special service district assessments if the annexation is finalized.
