Commission adopts Ordinance 604 to allow seasonal closures on mountain passes after public hearing

Following a public hearing with multiple landowners and recreation users, the Box Elder County Commission voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 604 authorizing seasonal temporary road closures for mountain passes and other weather-sensitive routes. The closures will apply to named roads including Rocky Dugway, Willard Peak Road, Long Divide, Short Divide, Manaway, and Dairy Valley Road; Rocky Dugway retains a specified closure period in the ordinance while other passes will be closed as weather conditions require.

Road Department lead Darren McFarland explained the county's seasonal closure practice and said closures are primarily safety and maintenance decisions: "All of the closures and openings are weather related, and they can change depending on what weather is," he said. Landowners testified that earlier access, signage, landowner keys, and gate location changes could reduce damage and allow landowners to prevent abuse of forest service lands; recreational users argued historic public use and urged continued access when conditions permit.

Commissioners and the county attorney explained the legal and practical constraints: some roads remain in dispute over public dedication and may require court action to resolve; in other cases the county maintains a road that is not formally deeded to the county, creating ambiguity about obligations and access. "In order for it to be a county road, it has to be dedicated to the county," the county attorney said, noting legal precedent requires case-by-case resolution.

After closing the hearing the commission moved to adopt the ordinance. The chair also invited landowners to leave contact information to continue working with county road crews on signage, gate placement, and access protocols while emphasizing the county lacks resources to keep high-mountain gravel passes open year-round without added funding.