The final adoption of a second Special Assessment Area in downtown Vernal was approved this month by Vernal City Council. The special assessment areas establish a system for downtown property owners to help with maintenance costs of public improvements to the walkways and parking lots and the Special Assessment Area 2 includes the Cobblerock block which is receiving major upgrades to the parking lots. The City received protest letters in the fall from 2 property owners for a total of 13 percent of the assessment area, falling short of the 40 percent required to stop the formation of the special assessment area. They also held the required Board of Equalization hearing which had one attendee in protest but the concerns were able to be resolved. Special Assessment Area 2, also referred to as SAA2, received unanimous approval and adoption by the Vernal City Council on February 7th. At that time, Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion shared that the Cobblerock block project’s paving is scheduled for April and is anticipated to be complete in May.
