Commission adopts seasonal road‑closure ordinance after landowner testimony on Devil’s Gate access

The Box Elder County Commission opened a public hearing to consider the county’s annual seasonal road‑closure ordinance and heard extended testimony from landowners who said repeated gate removal, off‑road vehicle damage and missing regulatory signage are degrading private property and public safety. Russell Lawrence, who introduced the landowner presentation, said the Forest Service controls the east and west approaches and requested that county signage and enforcement be clarified. "They want the seasonal closure," a landowner presenter said, describing Forest Service direction on closures.

Other speakers described road damage and safety concerns: a landowner reported a past estimate of roughly $900,000 to repair a 0.5‑mile stretch, which he said the county would have paid if private property had been damaged by public traffic. "Just to repair the road, 0.5 mile, the bill was $900,000," a presenter said. Speakers asked the county to replace regulatory signs and consider providing gates or keys to landowners so they can maintain and inspect property during winter months.

County staff and commissioners responded that some corridors are under Forest Service jurisdiction while others have county rights of way; commissioners said the county needs written documentation about any historical agreement and would search minutes and records. Chair and commissioners emphasized the legal constraints around regulatory signage: posting a fixed date on a regulatory sign creates an enforceable standard, so staff must ensure wording and timing conform to law.

After public comment and discussion, the commission voted to close the public hearing and then approved seasonal road closure ordinance number 632. The chair announced the motion carried following an affirmative vote.