Komatsu representatives who are the applicant on a proposed land-use permit for the Gladstone lead carbonate mill asked San Juan County commissioners to extend a continued public hearing so they could meet with the local historical society and inspect the mill site.

Bill Stuckey, identified in the meeting as Komatsu’s director of global environmental, said his team arranged a meeting with Beverly Rich at the local historical society and planned a site visit if weather permitted. "We've scheduled a meeting with her in the historical society next Wednesday," Stuckey said, and asked the commission for more time to incorporate feedback.

Commissioners agreed to continue the hearing and set a new date of Dec. 15, 2025, citing holiday scheduling and the applicant’s need to consult with the historical society. Commissioner 2 made the motion to extend to Dec. 15; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Why it matters: the permit concerns an industrial site with historical and community interest. The extension gives the applicant and the historical society time to pursue local engagement before the county resumes formal deliberation.

What comes next: the applicant will meet with the historical society and report back at the Dec. 15 hearing; the commission’s staff will keep the hearing open until that meeting and include the new materials in the record.

Source: San Juan County Board of Commissioners meeting transcript, Nov. 8, 2025.