County approves Beckstead agricultural protection area for Payson mink farm after contested hearing

The Utah County Commission voted 3–0 to approve the Beckstead (Bexted) Agricultural Protection Area application for three parcels just west of Payson after a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers both for and against the designation. The decision was made subject to formal written findings to be adopted next week.

Peggy Kelsey, a county staff presenter, described the proposal as roughly 40.028 acres in an RA-5 residential‑agricultural zone used for hay and a mink operation. Kelsey told commissioners that Utah County Public Works requested road‑right‑of‑way exclusions on 10000 South and 2350 West; removing those strips would reduce the acreage below the statutory 40‑acre threshold and would require the commission to adopt a variance or exception.

Sergeant Knapp of the sheriff’s office reported on two unannounced site visits and said county staff were granted access to observe mink pens, perimeter fencing and manure management. He told the commission he observed traps placed at the fence line and found no evidence that the mink operation had contaminated the adjacent Spring Creek. “I did not observe anything from the mink farm that would come even close to getting into the waterway,” he said during the hearing.

Applicant Brent Beckstead said the farm is in compliance with county and industry standards, that the operation holds self‑certifications through the fur breeders’ coop, and that the family has invested in equipment to collect and transport manure offsite. Veterinary adviser Jason Lott described the industry certification standards (pen sizes, waste and water control, vaccination and nutrition) and said the Beckstead operation is "a well run operation."

Opponents — many of them long‑time adjacent property owners — urged the commission to deny protection, citing recurring odors, a year‑round fly problem, mink entering yards and poultry losses. Neighbors produced anecdotal counts of mink or dead mink found on private property and said they feared future expansion would remove remedies for nuisance claims. “If you grant that mink farm agriculture protection area status, they effectively have no recourse if it becomes a nuisance in the future,” one neighbor said.

Sterling Brown of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation argued for protecting agriculture generally and said the statute (Title 17, Chapter 41) was designed to preserve working farms amid urban encroachment. County counsel reminded the commission that past court decisions treat ag‑protection decisions as legislative in nature and that facts about present use, viability and improvements are part of the statutory evaluation as well as other policy considerations.

Commissioners discussed the statutory criteria — existing agricultural use, zoning, viability, improvements and anticipated trends — and the practical issue that excluding road right‑of‑ways could trigger an acreage shortfall requiring a variance. The motion that carried directed staff to prepare formal findings reflecting those considerations and to handle right‑of‑way and variance language in the written decision.

The approval was recorded as passing by voice vote, 3–0. Next procedural steps are for the commission to adopt written findings at its next meeting and to finalize whether road‑right‑of‑way exclusions or a variance will be part of that decision.