Month: September 2024

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds lake property owners to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts, and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when removing equipment for seasonal storage.

Several zebra mussel confirmations in recent years were initially reported by property owners and lake service providers removing docks, boats and boat lifts.

“This is a good time of year for people to check for invasive species when taking equipment out of the water because animals like zebra mussels attach to surfaces like docks, lifts, and boat hulls that have been in the water over the summer,” DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Kelly Pennington said.

Whether pulling equipment directly onto shore for the winter or transporting it on the road to a storage location, it is important for equipment owners to take steps to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Remember to:

• Keep docks and boat lifts out of the water for at least 21 days before putting them into another body of water. This is state law.
• Look on the posts, wheels, and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons, and rafts that might have been submerged in water for an extended period.
• If hiring a lake service provider to install or remove boats, docks, lifts, or other water-related equipment, check that they are on the permitted lake service provider business list (webapps15.dnr.state.mn.us/ais_business_training/
  lake_service_provider_permits/public_website_list). These businesses have attended training on Minnesota’s aquatic invasive species laws, and many have experience identifying and removing invasive species.
• Equipment owners may need a no-cost transportation permit (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais_transport.html) to transport equipment from an access or shoreline property if it cannot be completely cleaned of aquatic plants or prohibited invasive species before transport.
• People should contact an area DNR aquatic invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html) if they think they have discovered an invasive species that has not already been confirmed in their lake.

The post MN Department of Natural Resources asks owners to inspect equipment for for invasive species first appeared on KROX.

Thursday afternoon, we checked in with Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad to see how things are going on the construction of the new All-Inclusive Playground. “All of the equipment has been installed; it’s ready to go,” said Trostad. The next steps are the concrete border around the outside, and once that’s poured, then the poured-in-place rubber.”

The poured-in-place rubber, as it has been explained, is a 2-inch thick, porous material that water can flow through.  With no standing water and a flat surface clear of wood chips, this surface is handicap accessible.  Once the poured-in-place is installed, there are just a few items to finish up, says Trostad. “When that’s done, a little bit of landscaping and some fencing, and then our committee is looking to do kind of a Grand Opening Ceremony for that.”

There is no official date of completion right now, but Principal Trostad is anxious to get the kids out and using the new Playground. “It should be coming here within, I think, about three weeks at the longest, hopefully. It should be ready for the kids to get out and play and for the community to come and use it,” said Trostad.

Principal Trostad is very thankful to all the donors for this project and hopes that people will continue to donate. “We greatly thank all the people who have donated so far, and anybody who is still interested in donating can drop a check off at KROX or at Highland School. Then there is also the Facebook page, where they can just click on the QR Code, and it will bring them right online, and they can make a donation with a credit card.”

There is still a lot of money to be raised for the playground, and Principal Trostad is planning to get the kids at Highland involved. “We are going to get the kids involved with a little coin drive throughout the course of the year,” said Trostad.

Trostad added that if anyone has coins, they would like to donate, they will take that, too. “We have an awesome old coin counter. We can sort and count it, so if anyone in the community wants to drop off any coins, feel free to drop them off. It’s always amazing how much is in those little buckets; you really don’t realize.”

Again, you can make donations by check at both KROX and Highland School. You can also donate by credit card on Facebook, and if you want to start saving up your spare change, it would be appreciated as well.

The post Grand Opening Celebration is in the future for Highland Elementary Schools All-Inclusive Playground. first appeared on KROX.

With upcoming November elections, the Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds campaigners that state law prohibits the placement of political or advertising signs on highway right-of-way.

These areas include driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches, sight corners at intersections, and boulevards in urban areas. It also includes displaying flags or other signs on bridges over traffic.

In addition, state law says that signs may not be placed on private land without the consent of the landowner.

Violation of Minnesota Statute 160.27 is a misdemeanor. Civil penalties may also apply if the placement of such material contributes to a motor vehicle crash, creates injury to a person, or causes damage to a motor vehicle that runs off the road.

The Minnesota Outdoor Advertising Control Act, Minnesota Statute 173.15, also prohibits placing advertising materials on public utility poles, trees and shrubs, and painting or drawing on rocks or natural features.

MnDOT workers are required to take down political or advertising signs located on the state highway right-of-way. County, city, and township employees administer the laws on their roads. You can retrieve signs by contacting your local MnDOT office.

We also have additional information about signs on highway right of way online.

The post Department of Transportation Issues Reminder for Placement of Political Signs first appeared on KROX.

Motorists traveling on Minnesota roads this fall should be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. 

Crash data shows there were 446 crashes involving farm equipment in Minnesota from 2021 through 2023, resulting in eight deaths and 171 injuries.

“With the fall harvest season underway, Minnesota farmers need our public roads to access their fields and transport crops,” said Brian Sorenson, state traffic engineer. “We can keep everyone safe by putting away our phones and other distractions while driving and scanning for slow-moving farm vehicles while traveling rural roads throughout the state.”

Farm equipment is large and heavy, making it hard for operators to accelerate, slow down and stop. The equipment also makes wide turns and sometimes crosses over the center line. In addition, farm vehicles can create large blind spots, making it difficult for operators to see approaching vehicles. 

Motorists should:
Slow down and use caution when approaching farm equipment
Watch for debris dropped by farm equipment 
Drive with headlights on at all times
Be patient and wait for a safe place to pass

Farm equipment operators should:
Use lights and flashers to make equipment more visible
Use slow-moving vehicle emblems on equipment traveling less than 30 mph
Consider using a follow vehicle when moving equipment, especially at night

The post MnDOT Reminds Motorists to be Cautious During Harvest Season first appeared on KROX.