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Supervisors adopt rewritten dust‑control policy for granular secondary roads
Summary
The board unanimously approved a rewritten dust‑control policy that makes resident‑paid applications using preapproved contractors the standard, adds a $20 application fee per contractor job, and clarifies materials and responsibilities.
Woodbury County supervisors approved a rewritten dust‑control policy that changes how dust‑suppressant applications are delivered on granular secondary roads.
Secondary Roads Director Laura Severs told the board the new policy standardizes resident requests: property owners seeking dust control must hire a county‑preapproved contractor, pay the contractor directly and ensure dust‑control markers remain visible so motor‑grader operators will avoid disturbing treated sections. The policy also requires contractors to be preapproved annually, carry insurance, submit a right‑of‑way permit, and avoid work overnight or on certain holidays.
Why it matters: County leaders said the previous policy sometimes allowed the county to pay for applications in limited circumstances; the rewrite removes selective county funding due to budget limits and replaces it with a uniform resident‑paid model. Severs told the board the department has spent more than $500,000 on dust control over the last five years and that the county can no longer absorb that cost.
Key provisions: Acceptable materials are lignin sulfonate, calcium chloride or magnesium chloride; application dates will be determined by the contractor; the county will prepare and re‑blade road surfaces as needed and will remove markers at year‑end. The policy imposes a $20 fee per application for the county to cover extra work required by secondary roads staff.
Board discussion and outreach: Board members asked staff to notify residents currently receiving free dust control and to consider conditions such as conditional‑use permits for businesses that generate high dust (for example, during construction). Supervisors approved the policy unanimously and noted that the change aims to treat residents equally while acknowledging budget constraints.
Ending: The policy takes effect after the board’s approval; staff said they will provide guidance to residents and coordinate preapproval requirements for contractors.
