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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, May 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 9, 2004 A gravel truck going up the road through Prescott Park passes a cyclist on Wednesday. The city is negotiating a contract for use of the road with Burl Brim Excavation, which is running a gravel mining operation on the southeast slope of Roxy Ann Peak. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Gravel pit draws gripes But city officials say problems with rock mine on Roxy Ann Peak are all in the past By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune With a pending city agreement for access to a bustling gravel mining operation on the slopes of Roxy Ann Peak, a neighboring property owner wants more restrictions and guarantees of enforcement. Larry Butts, who owns 12 acres near the gravel pit on Roxy Ann Road in east Medford, says there’s a history of violations going unpunished, and he’s worried the new arrangement will mean more of the same. "I just want an agreement that will be enforced," Butts said. The Gardner Way resident said the gravel mine next to Prescott Park has been mined since the 1930s. Since 1985, the city has had agreements with gravel pit operators who must use the park’s Roxy Ann Road to access the site where aggregate is dug up for use in construction. That section of the road is normally off-limits and is blocked by a locked gate near the park’s perimeter. Advertisement The gravel pit is on the southeast edge of the park, and over the years several neighbors have had issues with gravel trucks driving through the 1,740-acre rustic park that includes Roxy Ann Peak. Butts said he has reported problems with dust, noise and speeding by the gravel truck companies. But city officials say the problems are all in the past. The property is owned by Wes Norton, though developers Randy Jones and Mike Mahar have a purchase option with a loan against the land, according to Jones. Burl Brim Excavation Inc. of Ashland is running the gravel pit, and that company is negotiating the road-use contract with the city. "It’s a much better road agreement than they’ve ever had," said Jones. Because he and Mahar are developing the land at the lower end of Roxy Ann Road, Jones said they’d like to buy the rock pit and ultimately close it down so there aren’t daily gravel truck trips through their new subdivision. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Archer said while there’s been a history of violations in the past, the present operator, Brim, is conscientious and cooperative. "It’s a park first and we have to be cautious about that," said Archer. He said the draft agreement includes an enforcement clause. "The city can take action if they violate the agreement by saying ‘You can’t have use of the road,’ " he said. The park is used most on evenings, weekends and holidays, so the city is proposing the gravel pit operate between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, with no use on holidays, Archer said. City Attorney Ron Doyle said the law requires that the city provide access to the parcel. "The road that goes up into Prescott Park is the only access to the gravel pit," he said, but "the city can reasonably regulate the use of the road." Archer said there’s a payoff — the city charges Brim $10,000 per year to use the road, which is paid in road maintenance instead of cash. Butts, the Gardner Way property owner, said Prescott Park is becoming more popular, so he would like to see more restrictions, like fewer daily truck trips. Hikers and cyclists are up there all hours of the day, he said. Archer said the Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to review a draft version of the agreement with Brim on April 20. The City Council will probably consider it in May. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times