Buffer Law Deadline for Compliance is Nov. 1

The deadline for farmers to comply with the Minnesota Buffer Law is Nov. 1, 2017. The law requires farmers to install a 50-foot vegetative buffer on all public waters, or file for a waiver that extends the deadline. By Nov. 1, 2018, farmers must have a 16.5-foot buffer on all public ditches.

Prior to the deadline, farmers are encouraged to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office to discuss options for compliance and implementation under Minnesota’s buffer law. Local officials will be available to help farmers identify where a buffer is needed, alternative practices to buffers and options for assistance on implementation. If farmers live in a county that elected to forego using its SWCD for enforcement of the rule, it is recommended they contact the Board of Water and Soil Resources’ (BWSR) central office at (651) 296-3767.

Farmers seeking a timeline extension to buffer implementation must either file for a “Parcel Specific Compliance Plan” or a “Technical or Financial Assistance” waiver with their local SWCD office by Nov. 1.

With the compliance plan waiver, farmers must describe specific buffers and alternatives practices proposed for each parcel of their land that will be implemented prior to the July 1, 2018 extension deadline. Farmers who apply for the technical or financial assistance waiver will have until Nov. 1, 2018 or when the financial or technical assistance is received to become compliant.

Alternative practices approved by BWSR can be used instead of the prescribed vegetative buffer. To help farmers find the best strategy to comply with the Minnesota Buffer Law, the Decision Support Tool, funded by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) and designed by the University of Minnesota, is available at every SWCD office at no cost to the farmer. Farmers may also access the tool online from home at bwsr.state.mn.us/buffers or mncorn.org.

Farmers using the tool must answer basic questions about the characteristics of their land, including soil type, slope and existing management practices. From there, the tool provides farmers with site-specific alternative practices, which would be used in addition to required minimum buffers of five feet on public ditches and 16.5 feet on public waters. Approved alternative practices like using cover crops, conservation tillage, contour strip-cropping and more would take the place of the buffer law’s minimum 16.5-foot buffer on public ditches and 50-foot buffer on public waters.

Farmers will be asked to file the alternative practices they are implementing with their local SWCD, and will be required to perpetually use those alternative practices in order to remain compliant with the buffer law. These alternative practices are specific to the buffer law and do not replace public ditch laws enacted in counties.

Political campaign signs not permitted on state highway rights of way

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Placement of campaign signs and other unauthorized objects in state highway rights of way is not allowed under state law, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. In addition, campaign signs may not be placed on private property outside of the right of way limits without landowner consent.

Highway rights of way include the driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches and sight corners at intersections.

MnDOT crews will remove any unlawfully placed signs and impound them at one of its local maintenance truck stations.

Violation of the law (Minn. Stat. 160.27) is a misdemeanor. Civil penalties also may apply if the placement of such material contributes to a motor vehicle crash and injures a person or damages a motor vehicle that runs off the road.

In addition, the Minnesota Outdoor Advertising Control Act (Minn. Stat. 173.15) prohibits placing advertising materials on public utility poles, trees and shrubs, and painting or drawing on rocks or natural features.

Political campaign signs are treated in the same way as any other signs wrongly placed on state highway property by businesses, churches, private citizens or charitable groups.

For information regarding the proper placement of campaign signs or where to find signs that have been removed, contact the local MnDOT office at 218-846-3600. See also www.mndot.gov/govrel/rw_signs.html.

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.

New work zone safety laws begin Aug. 1

ST PAUL, Minn. — Motorists who speed through a work zone will be fined $300 beginning Friday, Aug. 1, thanks to a new law passed during the 2014 state legislative session.

“Many work zones are in place across the state, and many workers are in those work zones improving our state’s transportation system,” said Charlie Zelle, Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner. “This law is important because it provides added protection in areas that can be vulnerable to careless drivers.”

Motorists who do not obey work zone flaggers’ traffic directions also can be charged a $300 fine.

“Safety in the work zone is one of our top priorities,” added Sue Groth, state traffic engineer. “We hope this new increased fine will draw the attention of motorists to slow down when driving past workers.”

To bring additional attention to work zone safety, the Towards Zero Deaths effort, a multi-agency partnership that uses education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response to promote safe and smart driving behavior, launched a statewide “Orange Cones, No Phones” safety campaign earlier this summer.

The Minnesota TZD partners include the departments of Health, Transportation and Public Safety. Since its launch 10 years ago, the TZD effort has helped decrease roadway fatalities by nearly half, from 655 in 2003 to 387 in 2013.

In addition to the new work zone law, other 2014 legislation requires MnDOT to study all two-lane highways during the next five years, and where appropriate, consider raising the speed limit from 55 mph to 60 mph.

"We will only increase the speed limit if it is deemed safe and reasonable,” said Groth. “Two-lane state highways are already the most dangerous roads in the state, and we want to make sure any decision we make considers all factors that affect safety.”

                                     

A report of MnDOT’s findings and recommendations is due to the Legislature every January during the five-year review period.

Speed limits that aren’t established through the Minnesota Statute are set by the MnDOT Commissioner based upon an engineering and traffic investigation. For more information about how speed limits are set visit www.mndot.gov/speed/index.html.

Minnesota Fireworks Laws

As a reminder to everyone as we prepare for the various July 4^th celebrations, explosive and aerial fireworks are illegal in Minnesota.  I have attached a basic information sheet to assist with understanding what is legal and what isn’t in Minnesota.

Every year the Moorhead police department receives and responds to countless fireworks complaints.  Collection and enforcement is exercised annually with large quantities of illegal fireworks destroyed.  We ask that you respect your neighbors and these laws and stay safe.