If you own a dirt road in Central Minnesota you may have to pay to help keep the dust down. The Stearns County Highway Department has proposed a change to dust control practices on gravel roads.

 

County Engineer Jodi Teich says the proposed change to the policy would see property owners split the cost of dust control 50/50 with the department. The cost of the measure is $.60 per linear foot with 53 miles of gravels roads in the Stearns County highway system.

 

The current policy has the department patrol dust near all homes and businesses that are less than 300 feet from the edge of a gravel road.

 

The department notes that splitting the cost allows the dust suppressant to be applied in much more needed areas and save gravel as it becomes more scarce and expensive.