By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board (MVTAB) approved a zoning request from Melbourne Perkins et. al. to allow for the continuation of operation at a gravel pit and batch plant in an area south of Overton below the Simplot Silica processing plant.

Byron Stubb of Blue Point Materials explained to MVTAB members that the plant has been in operation for ten years under prior approvals. The current request was merely to renew permits that had recently expired. He said that residential neighbors as well as the Simplot operation were in favor of the approval.

During public comment, Andrea Wahl who is a neighbor of the plant expressed her support. “They have been very respectful to us and we have had no dust problems over the years,” she said. “They have been responsive to making sure that we are comfortable. I think that it is important for them to stay in business in the community. They are a good asset to the community.”

Logandale resident Lindsey Dalley also spoke for the plant. “I have used that facility and done business with them,” he said. “They run a nice operation. It is in the right place and isn’t causing any problems. In this struggling economy, if they went away it would be tough to get concrete around here.”

Houston pointed out that county staff had expressed a problem with a watchman’s quarters being too close to the property line. The request included a waiver of standards for this issue.

Stubb said that an official survey had never been done on the property. The County’s concerns were based on aerial photos. To determine the matter conclusively the company would have to pay for a full survey, he said. Because of the expense, the company preferred to leave the structure where it is and seek a waiver, he said.

MVTAB member Gene Houston said that he didn’t see a problem with this.

“This is not encroaching on anyone,” he said. “The boundary in question is the BLM and they aren’t complaining. This operation can’t be seen from the highway. There are no neighbor problems. I don’t see it as a big issue.”

MVTAB Chairwoman Judy Metz made a motion to approve the request, including the waiver, with a ten year review period. The motion was approved with a unanimous vote.