Adopt-a-Highway Permit

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The Stearns County Public Works Department reserves the right to refuse, cancel, or revise this agreement if in its sole judgment the nature of the group or its sign is political, controversial or in questionable taste, or if the group is not meeting the terms and conditions of this agreement. By submitting this request, the group acknowledges the hazardous nature of the work and agrees to comply with the terms and conditions herewith to the satisfaction of the Stearns County Public Works Department.


Except for the negligent acts of the county, its agents and employees, the volunteers or their agents shall assume all liability for, and shall hold harmless the county, its agents and employees, from any and all claims for damages, actions or causes of action arising out of the work to be done herein.


Any and all volunteers of the group or other persons while engaged in the performance of any work or service performed under this agreement shall not be considered employees of the county, and any and all claims that may or might arise under the Worker's Compensation Act of Minnesota on behalf of said employees or other persons while so engaged, and any and all claims made by any third party of the group's volunteers or other persons while so engaged on any of the workor services to be rendered shall in no way be the obligation or responsibility of the county.
Limit of 2 lines with a maximum of 18 characters on each line.
* Required
Adopt-a-Highway Terms and Conditions

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1. The group agrees to pick up litter on a segment of county highway selected in consultation with the Stearns County Highway Department. Recommended length is a minimum of two miles.


2. The group/group representative shall review the safety training video and materials before first pick up to alert participants to the hazards and precautions of working on a highway right-of-way.


3. The group representative agrees to return the permit within 10 days from the initial permit issuance date. Upon not returning the permit within 10 working days, the program coordinator serves the right to allow another group to reserve the segment on a first-come, first-served basis.


4. If the group is not meeting the terms and conditions of this agreement, another group will be allowed to adopt the segment.


5. The group agrees to contact the program coordinator after the two (2) year agreement to indicate whether the group agrees to pick up litter for an additional two (2) years.


6. The group shall pick up litter during daylight hours only. Pick up may not be allowed at certain times on or near holidays, such as July 4th.


7. The group shall provide adequate supervision to participants eighteen years of age or younger. Unless specifically permitted, children eleven or younger shall not participate.


8. The group shall be limited to (20) participants or less for each pick up.


9. Work shall be limited to the area between the outer shoulders and the right-of-way boundary. Participants shall not pick up litter in the median unless specifically permitted by Stearns County. Work may not be done on the roadway itself.


10. The group shall arrange litter pickup date(s) in advance with the County program coordinator 320-225-6180 or the county area supervisors. The group shall obtain their supplies during regular business hours.


11. Disposal of Litter Alternatives: 1) The group shall deliver trash bags to the nearest outlying County shop(s); If the pickup is performed after normal business hours, the group may place the trash bags at the outlying shop(s)fenced-in entryway. 2) The group shall place filled trash bags on the inslope and not on the shoulder for our collection, or close to the ditch bottom. Stearns County will arrange to pick up the bags. Groups are encouraged to recycle appropriate materials for their own benefit. 3) The group is allowed to arrange for an alternative disposal.



The Stearns County Highway Department agrees to:


1. Provide high visibility vests, trash bags and safety training material.


2. Arrange to remove filled trash bags from the adopted highway only if the group can not arrange for alternative disposal.


3. Arrange to remove large, heavy or hazardous material from the adopted highway.


4. Erect a highway sign or otherwise recognize the group's clean-up efforts. Highway signs shall be erected only for groups that agree to adopt a highway for a minimum of two years. The name on the sign shall be limited to two lines of eighteen characters per line (includes spaces). Stearns County reserves the right to approve and/or edit names or acronyms.


County Area Supervisors Telephone Numbers


Albany Shop - Larry Trisko - 320-845-2684
Belgrade Shop - Jim Bayer - 320-254-8298
Richmond Shop - Jim Bayer- 320-597-2845
Sauk Centre Shop - Larry Trisko - 320-352-2493
Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator - Chris Scepaniak - 320-255-6180

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Questions about this form?  Contact the Public Works Department by email or phone, 320-255-6180.