Kanarraville (Utah)

Entity: 570
Entity Type: Municipality

Abstract

Kanarra was named for the Piute Indian chief, Canarrah or Quanarrah, who lived in the area at the time of settlement. At incorporation in 1934, the name was changed from Kanarra to Kanarraville. The first white settlers relocated in Kanarra from Fort Harmony, when heavy rains washed out the fort in 1862. Several Toquerville families also relocated there, and the community was further fortified in the late 1860s by the arrival of Long Valley settlers fleeing Indian problems. The community has maintained a population of between 200 to 300, and has been supported by ranching, coal mining and farming.

Biography/History Notes

Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation, managing public services and promoting community development. Kanarraville adopted ordinances defining these functions when the town became incorporated in 1934. In keeping with the town's still current goal of maintaining a rural agricultural community, Kanarraville has maintained a small population. Kanarraville city government maintains municipal water, a community park, a fire department, and a cemetery. Kanarraville contracts with Enoch for trash removal and depends on Cedar City for police protection. The city also contracts with commercial companies for electricity, natural gas, irrigation water, and services such as telephone and cable television. Kanaraville's general plan calls for the maintenance of the community's rural and natural environment. Kanarraville residents plan to depend on Cedar City for commercial and industrial needs.

A town board president (or mayor) and four trustees provide leadership for Enoch government. The town board president, who is elected by general municipal election, is the chief executive officer. He presides over town board meetings and supervises all other town officers. He signs all ordinances and official contracts on behalf of the town. The town board functions as a legislative governing body for the community, and is responsible for all aspects of community management, such as appointing officials and setting their salaries, levying taxes, establishing a budget, maintaining public services and utilities, and regulating activity within the community.

The town board appoints a number of town officers and defines their responsibilities. Some officers appointed by the Kanarraville town board include: a town clerk to record ordinances and all other official documents; a town treasurer to receive all moneys belonging to the town; a town marshal to attend board meetings and preserve peace and order in the community (position discontinued in 1982); a town attorney to offer legal advice; a pound keeper to be in charge of animal control; a justice of the peace to hold exclusive original jurisdiction in cases arising under Kanarraville ordinances; a sexton to take charge of the cemetery; a board of health to supervise matters relating to sanitation; and a fire chief who has general supervision of the fire department (created in 1986). The Kanarraville town board established a planning and zoning commission in 1998.

Hierarchy

Kanarraville (Utah)

Functions

Public administration