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Show Bassett reports Economy hurts crl'y tfuradls, romd Improvement sought A boom town syndrome last year in Vernal City followed by a depressed economy this year has posed problems with law enforcement, roads and over building, said Kenneth Bassett, Vernal City manager. In a "state of the city" address to the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, Bassett said that last summer there was a remarkable increase in residential building boosted by the construction' of several condominium projects which have gone bankrupt leaving a ghost town. This creates problems with vandalism, law enforcement and hurts other rental units. Some of the problem is caused by people peo-ple coming into the area, hearing about the boom, and becoming locked to the area because now they can't afford to relocate, Bassett said. Bassett illustrated the magnitude of the slow down in business in the Vernal area using the city's projected decline in sales tax of $350,000. Last year local sales tax generated was $1.75 million. This year it is at $1.25 million. "Business is coming to a standstill, but still we have requests for residential housing," Bassett said. "Some developers are cock-eyed optimists, that will not face reality that the past year we've seen a slow down." Some have in- vested money and it will be difficult for them to pull out. This past winter the roads in Vernal City Ci-ty have suffered more than any other year because of the cold and traffic. The Vernal City has approved the expenditure expen-diture of $350,000 in road improvements Continued on page 4 Economy ... Continued from page 1 by June 30, but Bassett said that would only put a dent in the number of roads that need improvement. "Every road in the city is suffering," Bassett said. One of the reasons for the poor roads is the low cost of the asphalt at the county-operated asphalt pit. Because asphalt is plentiful, little care is taken in using it. Bassettt said he is not a firm believer in the native asphalt applied cold, but a hot mix asphalt or not native mix could do a better job. "It is embarrassing when visitors come to the city or a motorist files a complaint com-plaint against the city because their car fell into a pot hole," Bassett said. One of the benefits of the defeat of the $4 million bond election last November for improving the road "was it forced the council to prioritize the streets that need to be improved." In the past the city has had money to improve the streets, but didn't know which one to start with so the money was used to only patch the pot holes. Bassett said he plans to prosent to the city council a program to increase the city ci-ty mill levy for road improvement. At 1.8 mills, Vernal City's property tax is the lowest in the state, except for Naples City which has no property taxes. "A one mill increase would be a start to improving the roads," Bassett said. With the lowest mill levy in the state, it is difficult to approach the Community Communi-ty Impact Board for help because they ask, "what have you done for yourself?" "With a low mill levy, that doesn't look like much." Currently Vernal City is negotiating with White River Shale for impact mitigation to relieve some of the burden to the city. "It's nice to think they (White River) will relieve the impact, but it is much more difficult than one would like." Vernal City and other areas are receiving receiv-ing a lot of attention because of the growth they're supposed to receive. "It will be interesting this summer, when developers become more optimistic, if development will continue at the same pace as last year." |