POLICIES

If installing a new driveway or approach to a township road or altering an existing one in any way then the driveway or approach that connects to the township road must be a minimum of 30 feet wide and may not taper to less than 24 feet wide for the first 50 feet. It shall have a minimum of a 12-inch culvert installed at the lowest part of the ditch. There must be a minimum of 12 inches of gravel on the driveway for the first 50 feet. These conditions are to ensure safe entrance and exit to your property.

Mailbox posts that are being installed, moved or altered in any way on an Acoma Township road way must meet the Minnesota Statue 169.072. The McLeod County mailbox installation and support policy is very similar, if your driveway is on a county road. Acoma Township will furnish the posts at no charge to an Acoma Resident whether you live on a township road or a county road. The resident receiving the mailbox post must install it within 30 days of receiving it. The Acoma Township policy is to have the mailbox post installed within 50 feet of the center line of the driveway and 3 feet off of the roadway. The bottom of the mailbox must be at a minimum height of 42 inches from the surface of the road and not more than 48 inches from the surface of the road to the bottom of the mailbox. As to which side of the road it is to be installed may be determined by the U.S. Post Office. If the U.S. Post Office does not declare which side of the road then the Acoma Township Policy is to have the mailbox installed on the same side of the road as your driveway. These are swing – away mailbox posts which are safer if a vehicle was to come in contact with it. It also allows road graders and snow removal equipment to maneuver underneath the mailbox when doing their work.

Acoma Township allows a resident to dust coat on the Acoma Township road in the front of their residence. The total cost of the dust coating is the resident’s responsibility. If a resident applies dust coating, you should contact Acoma Township to inform them that you did dust coating and Acoma Township will add you to the township map of the dust coated area so the grader operator is informed. Acoma Township considers it a privilege to allow dust coating. Keep in mind that the road graded operator or any Acoma Township Supervisor may, at any time, deem it necessary to grade the road to maintain it and go through some or all of the dust coated area. The road grader operator, the Acoma Township Supervisors and Acoma Township are NOT responsible to replace or pay for any part of the dust coating that was graded through to maintain the road. If the resident wants the road that was graded dust coated again the total cost is the responsibility of the resident. Dust coating is a privilege that is allowed and the right to maintain the road stays with Acoma Township. You should contact the Acoma Clerk and be added to the Acoma email list to receive emails as to when the roads are ready for dust coating.

Acoma Township has reviewed Minnesota State Statue 160.232 and has set the following policy. This means that the first eight feet away from the road surface or shoulder may be mowed by Acoma Township at any time. To provide enhanced roadside habitat for nesting birds and other small wildlife, the township will not mow the rest of the ditch until after July 31. After July 31, the entire right-of-way may be mowed for safety reasons or to control noxious weeds or brush and will try to keep it at a height of not less than 12 inches. A right-of-way may be mowed as necessary to maintain sight distance for safety. A right-of-way may be mowed, burned, or tilled by the township to prepare the right-of-way for the establishment of permanent vegetative cover or for prairie vegetation management. Acoma Township encourages residents to utilize low maintenance, native vegetation that reduces the need to mow, provides wildlife habitat, and maintains public safety. The township does not concede to any request to not mow a roadway ditch.

Acoma does not tar township roads. If you want the road tarred, you must contact Acoma Township and we will provide the procedure you are to follow to see if the majority of the residents want the road tarred. If a vote of the majority of the residents are in favor of tarring the road, all residents along the road being tarred are responsible for the total cost plus the cost to maintain the road, whether they voted in favor or not. The cost to install the tar and maintain it is based on lots and not the lot size or whether they have a home on them or not. As the rules and process may change from time to time the most current procedure will be provided at the time of the tarring request.