Board of Adjustment
The Stearns County Board of Adjustment is a seven-member body that is appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. It consists of one member of the Stearns County Planning Commission (which rotates annually from each district), one at large member from any area of the County and one member from each of the five commissioner districts. At least one member shall be from the unincorporated area of the County. The Board is a quasi-judicial body and is the hearing authority for variances from the standards of County ordinances and for appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination of any administrative official regarding County ordinances.
Each watershed district works to prevent and control water-related problems. Each district monitors the water quality within ditches, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the projects the districts handle are the administration of ditch and drainage laws and the approval of culvert size. They also help protect the wetlands and manage draining systems.
Portions of ten counties in Central Minnesota make up the Crow River Watershed. From the perspective of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, the Crow River is one of its major tributaries. The effects of rapid urban growth, new and expanding wastewater facilities and erosion from agricultural lands have been common concerns of many citizens, local, state and regional governments in Central Minnesota.
The Crow River Organization of Water (CROW) was formed in 1999 as a result of heightened interest in the Crow River. A Joint Powers Agreement has been signed between all ten of the Counties with land in the Crow River Watershed. The CROW Joint Powers Board is made up of one representative from each of the County Boards who signed the agreement. The Counties involved in the CROW Joint Powers include Carver, Hennepin, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Sibley, Stearns and Wright.
The mission of the Dairy Advisory Committee is to recommend and advise local and state government on policies that will enhance and benefit the agricultural industry and specifically the dairy industry. They also support educational activities for their members and for dairy producers throughout Stearns County. Efforts include input on land use planning, recommendations to the legislature on cost share for environmental regulation, and dairy tours highlighting low cost facility upgrades. The Committee is comprised of dairy producers and dairy allied industry professionals from throughout Stearns County.
The Delinquent Refuse Account Appeals Panel is vested with the responsibility for hearing and deciding appeals relating to delinquent refuse (garbage) account certifications. The panel consists of five members appointed by the County Board who serve a term of three years each. Members include one representative from the Environmental Services Department, the Tri-County Solid Waste Management Commission, the County Board and two citizen members – one representing business and one representing the citizens of the County.
Position available; apply for an appointment
The County Extension Committee is made up of two County Commissioners, six county residents (one from each district and one at-large) and the County Auditor-Treasurer. The Committee serves in both an advisory and an advocacy role to the Stearns County Extension staff. The regional extension director, the county extension educators and program coordinators, and the nutrition education assistant attend the meetings and provide updates to the extension committee members.
The Feedlot Review Committee acts in an advisory and review capacity for the Planning Commission on all proposed feedlot conditional use permits and other feedlot-related issues. The nine-member Committee is established by ordinance, is appointed by the Stearns County Board of Commissioners, and meets when feedlot conditional use permit applications are received or other feedlot issues need to be addressed. Members represent government agencies, residents, producers, lending, townships and cities. Non-agency members are appointed for three-year terms by the Commissioners.
Each watershed district works to prevent and control water-related problems. Each district monitors the water quality within ditches, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the projects the districts handle are the administration of ditch and drainage laws and the approval of culvert size. They also help protect the wetlands and manage draining systems.
Each watershed district works to prevent and control water-related problems. Each district monitors the water quality within ditches, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the projects the districts handle are the administration of ditch and drainage laws and the approval of culvert size. They also help protect the wetlands and manage draining systems.
A general notice for noxious weed control or eradication must be published on or before May 15 of each year. An inspector or county-designated employee may find it necessary to secure more prompt or definite control or eradication of noxious weeds than is accomplished by the published general notice. In this case, the inspector will serve individual notices in writing to the owner and occupier of the land or to the person responsible for the maintenance of public land. The notice gives specific instructions on when and how named noxious weeds are to be controlled or eradicated.
A recipient of a notice may appeal, in writing, the order for control or eradication of noxious weeds. The Appeal Committee receives the appeal, inspects the land specified in the notice, and either agrees with, disagrees with, or revises the order. The Appeal Committee’s decision may be appealed in district court.
Each watershed district works to prevent and control water-related problems. Each district monitors the water quality within ditches, rivers, streams, creeks and lakes. Some of the projects the districts handle are the administration of ditch and drainage laws and the approval of culvert size. They also help protect the wetlands and manage draining systems.
The Shoreland Review Panel is a five member panel established by County Ordinance for the purpose of reviewing, authorizing or denying shoreland alteration applications of a larger scale via a Major Shoreland Alteration permit. These permits regulate with the alteration of the natural topography in shoreland areas of the County. The Panel is comprised of representatives from the following:
A. Township Officer nominated by the Stearns County Township Officers Association
B. Soil and Water Conservation District
C. Stearns County Planning Commission
D. At large citizen member
E. Watershed District technical staff person
The Wetland Appeals Panel is a three-member panel consisting of two members of the County Board of Commissioners and one member appointed by the County Board. The purpose of the panel is to hear and decide on appeals of decisions made by the Wetland Rules Committee.
The Wetland Rules Committee is a three-member committee that consists of representatives from the Stearns County Environmental Services Department, the Stearns County Public Works Department and the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Committee is responsible for making decisions on issues regulated by the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act, such as approving or denying wetland replacement plans and approving or denying wetland banking plans.