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Commissioners press mining contractor for insurance and traffic controls after road damage; Georgetown Lake gets pilot speed signs
Summary
Granite County commissioners directed staff to seek proof of insurance and traffic-control plans from a mining contractor after unauthorized excavation damaged a county right-of-way and residents raised safety concerns; a pilot installation of two solar speed signs on Georgetown Lake Road was approved with resident input.
Granite County commissioners on July 7 directed staff to seek proof of insurance and a traffic-control plan from a mining contractor after unauthorized excavation within the county road right-of-way near Four Corners damaged the roadway and impeded large-vehicle access. Commissioner Adler said the county is investigating the disturbance as a possible encroachment-permit violation or criminal mischief and will document the damage to determine corrective action. "We will further document the damage and determine appropriate corrective action," Adler said.
Residents at the meeting, including Frank Prince, told commissioners the excavation had significantly increased hauling distances and costs for local users and asked for enforcement. Prince said the damage had "significantly increased hauling distances and costs" and requested enforcement action. The contractor’s representative, Gary Martin, acknowledged the resident complaint, said the driver had been redirected, and described safety steps the company was implementing, including installing VHF radios in haul trucks, trimming vegetation to improve visibility, and adding two-way mirrors. Martin offered to help fund convex mirrors and perform road maintenance with county approval and later provided proof of insurance to the county.
Separately, the commission and Sheriff Rico Barkell discussed siting two previously purchased solar speed signs on Georgetown Lake Road. Local residents including Vladimir Babich, Laura Flanigan and Tom Butler advocated placing signs near a crosswalk and a blind curve. Sheriff Barkell supported using resident input to identify the most effective locations. Commissioners said they would repaint the crosswalk and use the initial installation as a pilot to evaluate whether additional signs are needed around the lake.
The commission directed staff to prepare correspondence requesting the contractor's insurance documentation, a traffic-control plan, and previously requested materials and to place further consideration of haul-truck operations on next week's agenda.
