Roadside Spraying Along Stearns County Highways Beginning in May

(KNSI) — The Stearns County Highway Department will begin spraying roadsides along county highways next month.

The spraying is part of the county’s vegetation management program to get rid of unwanted brush and noxious weeds, as they will be cut and/or treated with herbicide. Officials want to get rid of it to promote grass cover along the roads and because brush and weeds can obstruct signs, reduce visibility and give drivers less time to react should a creature hiding in the bushes come darting out in front of them. The county says brush presents maintenance problems by retaining water along the roadbed, obstructing ditches, and damaging equipment.

During spraying, crews will try to avoid sensitive areas adjacent to the right of way, like tree plantations, ornamental plantings, crops, gardens, front yards, lakes and streams.

Landowners with property abutting county roads have a right to use alternative methods.

A spraying exemption form can be filled out and returned to:

Stearns County Highway Department
PO Box 246
St. Cloud, MN 56387-0246

Find the form by clicking here.

Do not spray signs can be posted to the backslope at the beginning and ending areas they don’t want to be treated. Signs must be posted by May 15th. Brush and weeds must be removed by June 15th and maintained. If they are not removed, the area will be treated as part of the management program.

Questions can be directed to the Stearns County Highway Department at 320-255-6180.

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