ST. PAUL – Rep. Steve Green, R-Fosston, is encouraging area residents to attend an upcoming meeting in Crookston, hosted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation early next month, to discuss state ditch-mowing policies.
Last year, MnDOT indicated it planned to change its statewide permitting standards for mowing and baling in ditches along Minnesota’s state roadways. Significant concerns arose over the proposed changes and the Legislature successfully led to enactment a bill placing a moratorium on new mowing rules along state highways – excluding county and township roads – until May of 2018.
Green said the moratorium was established to ensure the public and key stakeholders had ample opportunity to provide input regarding the changes to permitting standards prior to their enforcement.
“People say they were blindsided by proposed changes to ditch-mowing practices,” Green said. “It came across as one of those instances when out-of-touch bureaucrats start tinkering with something they are better off leaving alone. It is just more government overreach. The moratorium gives people a chance to voice their mind to MnDOT and I hope a good number of people will do that by attending this meeting.”
The meeting will take place 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at the University of Minnesota Crookston’s Bede Ballroom (2900 University Ave., Crookston). Six other meetings also have been scheduled throughout the state. Green encourages anyone with questions to contact his office for more information at (651) 296-9918.
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