Coyote Creek asks county to obtain easements for local access road reconstruction; commissioners to inspect site with landowners

Brad Erickson, land manager for Coyote Creek Mining Company, told commissioners the company is ready to reconstruct a local access road referenced in a 2016 county resolution and corresponding agreement, and asked the county to secure the necessary right‑of‑way easements.

Erickson summarized the history: Coyote Creek petitioned the county in 2015 to temporarily close an undocumented local access road, and the county adopted a 2016 resolution and agreement under which Coyote Creek agreed to reconstruct the road and the county would secure right‑of‑way easements for the reconstructed alignment.

Commissioners and attendees discussed whether the reconstructed route must follow the former alignment or whether a straighter, section‑line route would be preferable. Several landowners and a commissioner urged that the county and mine jointly inspect the ground before finalizing alignment. One commissioner recused himself from the decision because of a land‑owner interest and said he would participate only as a private landowner after stepping down for the public decision.

The commission agreed on next steps: staff (county road superintendent and other relevant staff), the mine and affected landowners will arrange a site visit to mark options on the ground and to discuss easement language. The county’s state’s attorney offered to assist as needed and asked the commission to appoint one commissioner to work with the parties to avoid a quorum issue during site coordination.

Until the parties agree on an alignment and easement language, the county will not proceed with formal easement acquisition. Erickson said Coyote Creek would pause any further construction pending that coordination.