County approves expansion of Maverick Rock LLC mining use amid residents' traffic, dust and water concerns

The Utah County Commission on April 19 approved an expansion of a vested mining use for Maverick Rock LLC on the Okelberry property, allowing the company to proceed with applications and permitting for additional mining operations.

The decision follows a public hearing in which neighbors and the mayor of Goshen, Utah, raised concerns about heavy truck traffic on narrow roads, dust control, stormwater runoff and the proximity of the proposed operation to Goshen’s water sources.

Why the vote matters: Under state law and county ordinance, an existing vested mining use can be expanded if the applicant shows the new area is contiguous, part of the same mineral trend or a geological offshoot. County legal staff told commissioners the applicant submitted geological reports and a memorandum of lease showing control of the property; absent “clear and convincing” evidence of imminent public danger, the county must allow the expansion and then attach conditions to address health and safety.

Residents urged the commission to require strict mitigation. “There’s a dangerous corner…when they’re going around, even if you have somebody come down the dump road, if they’re not paying attention and somebody’s coming around the other corner … you’re gonna have a conglomeration of traffic there,” said Edna Okelberry, who identified herself as a property owner near the proposed site. Monty Miller, a Goshen resident and former mining worker, described heavy-truck damage he has seen on similar routes and urged avoiding neighborhood streets.

Applicant statements and oversight: John Ogden, who identified himself as a representative of the operator, told commissioners the company provided two geological reports — one from the Utah Geological Survey and an independent report — showing the same mineral underneath the proposed parcel. He said the operation will comply with state and county air and water standards and the operator intends “to be good neighbors.” Ogden added the company holds a fugitive-dust permit and follows stormwater protection (SWPPP) requirements.

Staff and legal context: County staff said the developer must also secure a business license that will require compliance with county conditions including dust mitigation, an approved haul/travel route, roads analysis, stormwater pollution prevention, and air and water quality protections. County counsel explained that if the operator fails to comply with conditions the business license can be revoked, which would stop operations.

What the county approved: By voice vote the commission approved the expansion, enabling the applicant to pursue the necessary state permits (air, water and other regulatory approvals) and to work with county public-works staff on a required travel-route and road-maintenance analysis. Commissioners and staff said the county’s role is to approve the expansion of vested mining use and to attach enforceable conditions; state agencies retain technical oversight for air and water quality.

Community concerns and next steps: Mayor Stephen Staley of Goshen said his principal worry is protecting the town’s water sources, which he said lie close to the proposed pit. Commissioners acknowledged the county has limited enforcement reach over traffic moving violations and said traffic enforcement is a sheriff’s responsibility, while route compliance and road repairs fall to the jurisdictions that control the affected roads. Commissioners asked the applicant to submit a traffic plan for county engineer approval and said they will follow up with a list of questions to the applicant and staff as business-license and permitting requirements are processed.

The commission’s approval does not begin immediate mining; it authorizes the land-use expansion under county law and requires the applicant to obtain and demonstrate compliance with the other permits and conditions before full operations proceed.