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96 South Main Street, Nephi, Utah 84648 - Voice: 435 623-0525 - FAX: 435 623-4735 News for October 16, 2024 |
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By Myrna Trauntvein There are a few hazards affecting Mona residents that come from the Geneva Gravel Pit mainly caused by dust, the strong odor of asphalt and from gravel on the freeway entrance. Mayor Randy Christensen met with county commissioners to find out who first approved a permit for Geneva Rock which operates a gravel pit immediately east of the city and to lodge a complaint because of the dust that often blankets the city. He was accompanied by Jay Christensen, mayor pro temper, who lives near the gravel pit. “The plant was in operation before I came on the commission,” said Clinton Painter, commissioner. “I’m not sure how long ago it was permitted.” Perhaps it was when the freeway was constructed. According to a report logged by Geneva Rock, in the 1990s, in anticipation of future growth in the area, the company acquired the Mona property, which had been used as a gravel pit prior to the sale. “In 2019, the Utah Senate passed a bill which protects gravel pits and mining businesses from local interference,” said Painter. The legislation makes it more difficult for local cities or counties to have a say over where gravel pits or mining business can and cannot operate. A gravel pit that has been in operation for many years, he said, was considered an important resource. “The gravel pit causes problems for the city of Mona,” said R. Christensen. He said that Mona was often covered in a cloud of dust during working hours, there was also the noise coming from the plant and from the big trucks hauling the gravel. Additionally, there was the smell from the hot mix being made at the gravel pit. “I get calls from residents about the gravel spillage on the on-ramp at Mona,” said R. Christensen. “When the trucks are filled, there is gravel on the fenders and it spills off when they turn onto the on-ramp.” “We are going to put a stop sign on the road there,” said Marty Palmer, commission chairman. “We hope that will help.” “They should be using a water truck to keep the dust down,” said Marvin Kenison, commissioner. The gravel pit near the boarder of the county does water their operation, said R. Christensen. That does help. Geneva Rock at the Mona site has now become an asphalt plant and the smell can become strong and offensive to the residents of the community. Painter said that public notice had been given for the addition of the asphalt plant by the state and had been in newspapers and on the public notice website. Kenison said that a meeting was planned with those running Geneva Rock at the Mona site. That meeting was planned for Wednesday night and the commission would relay the concerns the mayor had expressed. “I live closer to the plant,” said J. Christensen. “There is a haze up there and it does need to be watered.” Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) implements state and federal environmental laws and works with individuals, community groups, and businesses to protect the quality of air, land and water, said Painter. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) provides materials, guidance, and hands-on assistance to help miners and operators. A gravel pit is considered a mining operation. “When a project is planned for our growth area, we would appreciate contact from the commission,” said R. Christensen. He said that there were several projects--the solar farm, the substation--that they would have appreciated having input on. Painter said that the commission had insisted on a public meeting in Mona when the solar farm was proposed. That had been held. In addition, the mayors of the various communities had been holding a monthly meeting with the commission but the mayor of Mona had never attended. “I wasn’t the mayor back then,” said R. Christensen. “When Richard Hansen was commissioner, he frequently attended our meetings and that ended when he wasn’t reelected.” Hansen had kept them informed and included, he said. R. Christensen said that the latest development was the substation that, he thought, was much too close to the road on Old Highway 91. “Nephi and Mona have been working on an agreement of where our growth areas should be,” he said. “Nephi’s to the north and ours to the south.” At this point, the boundary had been drawn in the sand, he said. But, if ever Nortonville were to expand, the substation placement would interfere. The Mona council had recently adopted two newly completed master plans--a transportation master plan and a master plan. The latter showed the future plans for Mona, he said. Master planning pertains to the physical development of a city over the long term. “We would like more heads-up from the commission and would like you to ask our opinion when it concerns our growth area,” R. Christensen said. Lastly, he said, Mona would appreciate the commission considering adding another deputy to the budget for the sheriff’s office. Mona, Rocky Ridge, Levan, Eureka and the West Desert communities all depend on the deputies to provide law enforcement. “We know your budget is tight, just like ours is,” R. Christensen said. “But more money needs to be allocated to law enforcement. When you look at your budget, consider adding another officer. Nephi has their own police department but we don’t.” He said that if something happened in Eureka or on the West Desert that demanded the resources of the sheriff’s office, then there was a problem if something occurred in one of the communities on the east side of the county. It would be such a long time for the sheriff’s office to respond that the crisis would either be over or would have escalated. “As a community, we wish we had more input,” said R. Christensen.
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