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Kane County gives notice to form Vermillion Cliff fire special service district
Summary
The Kane County Commission voted unanimously to publish notice of intent to create the Vermillion Cliff Special Service District to provide fire protection services east of Kanab, with a public hearing set for Feb. 27 and the commission to serve as the interim governing body until elections.
The Kane County Commission voted unanimously Jan. 14 to give notice of intent to create the Vermillion Cliff Special Service District to provide fire-protection services east of Kanab.
The resolution schedules a public hearing on the proposed district for Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the county administrative building. According to the resolution text read at the meeting, the commission will act as the district’s governing body until a five-member administrative control board can be elected at the next authorized municipal or general election.
The resolution allows the district to establish service fees under state law but specifies that no property tax levy will be imposed without approval by the commission and the election process required under the Utah Code cited in the resolution. The county attorney explained the motion as a narrower proposal than an earlier, larger-area plan that drew formal protest, and commissioners said they would continue pursuing broader, countywide options while moving forward with this more limited district now.
Public comment at the meeting included multiple residents and local officials who addressed the commission during the public-comment period and at the time the item was discussed. Former commissioner Mark Havishaw told the panel he supported Resolution R2025-4, saying the district would address long response distances and funding gaps. Resident Kurt Bubbles urged the county to consider a countywide fire district instead. Kanab City Fire Chief Brett Pearson urged commissioners not to focus only on structure protection and stressed the need for equipment for vehicle extrication, saying, “Our biggest life safety risk is honestly a car wreck on 89 North or South.”
Commissioners said the district is an urgent step to ensure fire protection for properties not currently covered by a fire district or municipality and to avoid a $150,000 penalty tied to an existing interlocal arrangement. The motion to give notice of intent passed unanimously.
If approved at the hearing and after required notices, the district would be formed under the process described in the resolution; the commission said it will keep pursuing broader countywide solutions where feasible.
A Feb. 27 public hearing is the next formal step for public testimony and final action.
