[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6463808,"mediaKeyId","5784958-261428f1df3ec71af1736eea24fa29d9","parentId",5784958,"title","Douglas County OKs maintenance agreement with Knox Excavating for portion of China Springs Road amid resident dust concerns","audioSeconds",1068,"startMs",2316000,"endMs",3384000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784958-261428f1df3ec71af1736eea24fa29d9&start=2316&end=3384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784958-261428f1df3ec71af1736eea24fa29d9/thumbnail_2316000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463808/Douglas-County/Nevada/Douglas-County-OKs-maintenance-agreement-with-Knox-Excavating-for-portion-of-China-Springs-Road-amid-resident-dust-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463808-ad58cb3d354b55de1ee406720c5e1cf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759811&Signature=lhhpDC6bcJGodLFQyNS97E98Gk4E70yRg9fAU7wMpZyp7rsDx8WpIF-A-mz4cfcEDto~gtfRXGbb9PkcciVKDNMUrm3jYT7sl9tZ4YEKlyH0GjD55iEzLwXhvIhFyOCar3Voy~NfPHGPvSnvStSh4OGnzvmOrMJIFSYuHnmmQ5qWOIgNEaScD3KSH8rJTLUqh8uKln7P-FOjyyNtJO6463jHxPWj4IH8eI7JElzKUbUoZKXE5A5BMdNv6xIMiqjFq73v92-AVgzE1e4Peij2k5f~6DUh8L6VDViYqNqXGXnGPxlQxayrDIMTuWgYarph~nJy4YKPfcCemQueTW9aeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, NV","date","2025-09-19T05:58:09Z","article","The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved a road maintenance and use agreement with Knox Excavating on Tuesday that assigns maintenance and improvement responsibilities for about 0.57 miles of China Springs Road from U.S. 395 to the entrance of the China Springs mine and authorizes the county manager to sign the contract.

The agreement, presented by Wendy Lang, assistant county manager, covers installation of stormwater and drainage improvements tied to flood damage in 2023 and road safety elements including aprons and paving at drive approaches. Lang said material costs for flood repairs were available through federal emergency management aid but that installation costs were not covered, and that Knox will install the materials and perform the listed improvements under the agreement.

The board approved the agreement on a unanimous voice vote after public comment. Commissioner Gardner moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Rice seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Residents at the meeting urged the board to enforce mitigations the mine and its contractors committed to in an environmental assessment (EA). Charles Heffernan, of Johnson Lane, walked commissioners through the EA and its appendices, saying the document repeatedly states that hauled material would go into “customer provided covered trucks suitable for public streets” and that appendices A and J and the EA’s response-to-comments (Appendix N) likewise identify covered trucks and other dust-control measures as required mitigations. Heffernan said those commitments appear in multiple places in the publicly available document and asked the county to hold contractors to them.

“‘They committed to that in this document,’” Heffernan said, referencing the EA language that calls for covered trucks and other controls.

At public comment, resident Jim Jackson also urged stronger enforcement, expressing skepticism that the company or independent haulers would follow through unless the county built enforcement into agreements. “They need to be a better neighbor,” Jackson said.

John Maxwell, who identified himself as a Knox Excavating representative, disputed claims that the company has been noncompliant. Maxwell said Knox’s trucks have been tested by the state and that the company has not been fined or ordered to stop operations. He described on-site dust-control measures including a spray bar and said trucks carry GPS and cameras. “We have not been shut down or fined,” Maxwell said. “We’re doing everything we can to mitigate everybody’s concerns.”

Commissioners heard questions about safety where China Springs Road connects to U.S. 395 and Lang said the agreement includes requirements for egress and ingress controls to protect residents and travelers.

The board recorded the action as approval of a road maintenance and use agreement between Douglas County and Knox Excavating, authorizing the county manager to execute the agreement.

The county did not provide on the record a detailed enforcement schedule or a specific compliance-monitoring plan at the meeting beyond the terms summarized in the agreement and the EA references highlighted by public commenters. Commissioners and staff said they would review submitted materials and follow up as needed.

Notes: The agreement item summary notes that the roadway segment crosses multiple parcels and easements from federal agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management; staff said those easements factor into the county’s maintenance obligations and the terms negotiated with Knox Excavating.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners | September 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved a road maintenance and use agreement with Knox Excavating covering about 0.57 miles of China Springs Road from U.S. 395 to the China Springs mine entrance and authorized the county manager to sign the contract.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nevada","taxId",56916,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6463803,"Douglas County approves special-use permit amendment with U.S. Forest Service to support Kale Drive Complete Streets connection",241,2075000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784958-261428f1df3ec71af1736eea24fa29d9&start=2075&end=2316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784958-261428f1df3ec71af1736eea24fa29d9/thumbnail_2075000.jpg","/articles/6463803/Douglas-County/Nevada/Douglas-County-approves-special-use-permit-amendment-with-US-Forest-Service-to-support-Kale-Drive-Complete-Streets-connection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463803-57c7c3dd627c34d9598d46cfb24a0062/orig.mp4?Expires=1770759811&Signature=GMc~vIvUz5O68Y1qGqcQA4QD19f1ekYQvdhpGtCz9QlcPvs2xMJKnu6OVuWwz0hnj-ENAk8PcWzp6UwEFpDN6TbC05MR3x6-x9aBlOq~3Xzodda5TXcZd~B4qSsEAjst7TNagi59zCwpdSnr9YKAEsqUPq5-WzlMhZGG88sBY4ZlKSepauJ76wJUbi05q5LT-UatbU-YtQvu8l1PM0KfTUnnAOqevoS114RW0fBAr28N6gH7uv6M-wSzLTVptf3kU~G7-BlXdqUUP9WIsVnrW7eYwwT1aZSgc9vSEa40uhBXw03nYOyjeNeFHp-YNEMEfhXSNY-J2wd-08a-circXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved an amendment to a special-use permit with the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday to consolidate authorizations for existing bike paths, restrooms, parking and supporting improvements and to allow new construction associated with the Kale Drive Complete Streets project.

Wendy Lang, assistant county manager, told the board the amendment bundles previously issued special-use permits (TOI10602 and TOI10609) into a single document and clarifies permitted activities for the State Line to State Line bikeway and a new connection the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District is leading.

Lang said the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District is seeking funding through the Nevada State Parks Trail Grant and anticipates installing the Kale Drive connection in 2026. She described the project as supporting the county’s strategic goals to protect access to federal lands and Lake Tahoe, improve safety and mobility, and promote sustainable tourism.

Commissioners voiced support for the project’s safety benefits. Commissioner Gardner noted the project would help keep four lanes of Highway 50 open in the Tahoe Basin for emergency use by moving bicycle and pedestrian traffic off the roadway.

There was no public comment on the item. Commissioner Rice moved to approve the amendment; Commissioner Tarkanian seconded. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Lang told commissioners the amendment applies only to paths and supporting amenities and does not transfer maintenance responsibility for roadways; she said the county is not accepting maintenance obligations for Highway 50 through this action.

The board recorded the action as approval of an amendment to a special-use permit with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to operate and maintain multi-use paths, restrooms, parking areas and associated features and to permit construction related to the Kale Drive Complete Streets project.

","The Board approved an amendment to a special-use permit with the U.S. Forest Service to allow operation and maintenance of multi-use paths and related features tied to the Kale Drive Complete Streets project; Nevada Tahoe Conservation District expects to seek grant funding and install a connection in 2026.","actionData","errors"]

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Douglas County OKs maintenance agreement with Knox Excavating for portion of China Springs Road amid resident dust concerns

Douglas County approves special-use permit amendment with U.S. Forest Service to support Kale Drive Complete Streets connection