HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-38 Brush and Tree Control Road Allowances POLICY
Section Policy No. Page
g<neehill TRANSPORTATON 13-38 1 of 2
COUNTY Policy Title Date: Motion No.
Brush &Tree Control Road Allowances October 13, 2020 389/20
Purpose:
To establish a policy for the removal of trees and brush from County Road Allowances.
Policy Guidelines:
Council recognizes the removal of trees and brush from roadside ditches is vital for the safety of the
traveling public. Trees or brush growing in the road allowance can cause many problems including
reduced sight distance at intersections, reduced visibility of traffic signs and wildlife, serious snow
drifting, reduced drainage, and inhibits dust clouds from dissipation created by traffic.
Policy Procedure:
1. Inspections of County road allowances for brush control will be completed by County staff annually
within determined control areas. Under the Federal Migratory Bird Convention Act, no
disturbance to nests or nesting birds is allowed during breeding and nesting periods (April
through August). If trees/brush are to be taken down during this period a professional biologist
within the realm of wetland sciences needs to be contacted to identify any nesting birds within
the area.
2. Mechanical brushing of County road allowances will be prioritized in the following manner:
a. Arterial, collector and local roads where brush and/or tree species pose a risk to:
i. Traffic safety.
ii. Road maintenance operations/upgrade roads.
••i iii. The integrity of the road surface.
b. Hamlet, country residential or single residential.
c. Dirt Trail Road Allowances and Undeveloped road allowances.
3. The County will mechanically brush from the edge of the road surface to the fenceline where safe to
do so.
4. The County will conduct chemical brush control applications annually within a designated control area.
5. Chemical brush control will be used in specified control areas to manage any brush regrowth, as well
as, areas where mechanical brush control is not necessary.
6. Chemical control areas will be designated at the discretion of County staff and follow up any
mechanical brush control operations.
7. All brush control requests on County road allowances, not determined in the priority list, will be
inspected by County staff and considered for brush control work. Upon completion of inspection,the
request will be prioritized and scheduled for completion accordingly.
POLICY
Section Policy No. Page
TRANSPORTATON 13-38 2 of 2
Policy Title Date: Motion No.
Brush &Tree Control Road Allowances October 13, 2020 389/20
8. The County may control brush on private land for the purpose of maintaining sightlines and visibility at
road intersections.
9. Kneehill County will not engage in any brush control activities on private land until a written
agreement is obtained between the County and the landowner.
y. 4),k-foe, 1
Jerry Wittstock, Mike Haugen,
Reeve CAO
Approved: May 23, 2017 315/17
Approved: October 13, 2020 389/20
Review Date: October 13,2024