The painted rock that gives the Painted Rock Mine its name.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.

The decision on whether to ban truck traffic at the top of Johnson Lane has been postponed until November 7 to give the county and Knox Excavating’s attorneys an opportunity to negotiate.

Residents voted in favor of an ordinance to prevent trucks from using Johnson Lane east of Nye Drive.

The ban was triggered by the approval of the Painted Rock Mine on Washoe Trust Land.

Local resident Jim Jackson urged commissioners to approve the ordinance to establish a strong position in negotiations.

“I think an attempt at renegotiation would be a good idea,” he said. “I suggest you pass the regulation so it’s on the books. I think you should stand firm.”

However, Jim Robinson, co-owner of Knox, said trucks from other major companies, including Starbucks and UPS, constantly use Johnson Lane.

“The state has an active mining lease behind Skyline Ranch,” he said. “NDOT can haul material out of that pit at any time.”

He said the regulation exempted the state but not his company and was discriminatory.

Co-owner Jon Maxwell called the ordinance a “literal attack on my livelihood and my business.”

Instead of passing the ordinance as it stands, county commissioners voted 5-0 to negotiate with Knox.

Knox’s attorney, Garrett Gordon, said the company would agree not to begin operations during negotiations.

The Painted Rock Mine was first proposed in 2020 and discussed as part of the federal permitting process. In July, the Bureau of Indian Affairs concluded in the environmental impact assessment that no significant impacts were expected.