Question 1

Installing a new or altering a Driveway or Approach

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

Installing a new or altering a Mailbox support

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

Dust Coating the Township road

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Mowing ditches by the township

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Tarring of Township road

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Minnesota Paid Leave (MNPL) Policy

Accepted Answer

Minnesota Paid Leave (MNPL) Policy

Last Updated: December 11, 2025, Board Meeting

As Acoma Township does not provide any benefits such as vacation or sick leave, this policy was written so as to conform to the requirements of Minnesota Paid Leave.

PURPOSE
This establishes Acoma Township’s policy regarding leave under the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MNPL) program, effective January 1, 2026. The policy ensures coordination among MNPL, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Minnesota Parental Leave Act (MPLA), and other Township leave programs.

ELIGIBILITY
Employees who meet the eligibility requirements established by the State of Minnesota under
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 268B (the Minnesota Paid Leave Law) are eligible for MNPL. MNPL
provides partial wage replacement benefits and job-protected leave for qualifying medical or
family events.

CONCURRENT LEAVE DESIGNATION
• When an employee’s leave qualifies under MNPL and FMLA, and/or the Minnesota
Parental Leave Act, the Township will designate the leaves to run concurrently.
• The same period of absence will count toward the employee’s MNPL entitlement, FMLA
entitlement, and MPLA entitlement, as applicable.
• If a leave does not qualify under the FMLA or under the MPLA but qualifies under MNPL,
MNPL leave may be granted independently.

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION
The Acoma Clerk and Treasurer will coordinate MNPL designations, FMLA compliance, and payroll integration with the State of Minnesota’s MNPL system.

INTERMITTENT OR REDUCED-SCHEDULE LEAVE
Employees may use MNPL on an intermittent or reduced schedule basis, consistent with state
and federal regulations and subject to coordination with the operational needs.
Intermittent or reduced-schedule leave under FMLA, MNPL, may be used in increments
as small as thirty (30) minutes, consistent with the townships payroll system.

NOTICE AND CERTIFICATION
When an employee’s need for MNPL is foreseeable, the employee must provide the Township at least 30 days' advance notice. If 30 days’ advance notice is not practicable because of a lack of knowledge of approximately when leave will be required to begin, a change in circumstances, or a medical emergency, notice must be given to the Township as soon as practicable. Employees requesting leave taken intermittently shall provide the Township a schedule of needed workdays off as soon as practicable and must make reasonable efforts to schedule the intermittent leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the County.

COORDINATION WITH OTHER LEAVE PROGRAMS
1. Sick Leave – Does not apply as the Township does not offer.
2. Vacation Leave – Does not apply as the Township does not offer.
3. Health and Life Insurance – Does not apply as the Township does not offer.
4. Maternity/Paternity Leave – Does not apply BUT unpaid Maternity/Paternity Leave of Absence will run concurrently with MNPL and FMLA. Employees eligible for MNPL may receive partial wage replacement through the state program.
5. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – FMLA will always run concurrently with MNPL when eligibility for both programs is met. FMLA notice and certification procedures continue to apply.

RETURN TO WORK AND REINSTATEMENT
Employees returning from MNPL will be reinstated to their same or equivalent position in
accordance with MNPL and FMLA job-protection provisions.

POLICIES

These policies were reviewed and updated on 11/13/2025.

Installing a new or altering a Driveway or Approach

Installing a new or altering a Mailbox support

Dust Coating the Township road

Mowing ditches by the township

Tarring of Township road

Minnesota Paid Leave (MNPL) Policy