Dunn County considers milk‑hauler exemptions and a permit program for seasonal weight limits

Dunn County officials discussed seasonal weight restrictions for county roads at the March 12 meeting and directed staff to pursue a short‑term informal approach to milk haulers and a longer-term permit program.

Highway staff told the committee that state law limits exemptions to certain vehicles in seasonal weight‑restricted periods (emergency vehicles, septic, fuel). Deputies recently stopped a milk hauler on a county road; the sheriff’s deputy suggested the county consider issuing permits to regular milk carriers. Committee members noted milk trucks often approach or reach 80,000 pounds and commonly use multiple axles; some counties facing similar issues require permits for recurring heavy haulers.

Committee conversation settled on allowing milk haulers an informal accommodation for the current season — effectively advising enforcement to treat routine milk pickups as an operational necessity — and to draft a formal permit policy for 2026. The proposed permit program would allow single‑trip and seasonal permits; fees would be set administratively. Staff said the county already issues single‑trip permits for overweight moves for $20 and could expand options to multi‑trip or seasonal permits. Committee members stressed the need to draw clear lines between commodities and permit types to avoid opening broad exemption requests from other businesses.

Staff was directed to draft permit options, identify which commodities (for example, milk) could receive commodity-based exemptions, and return to the committee with a policy recommendation and possible fee schedules.

Ending: The committee’s direction leaves current enforcement informal for milk haulers in 2025 while commissioning a formal permit policy for committee review before the 2026 season.