Public Works

The Highway Department of Lake of the Woods County is charged with the responsibility to maintain and reconstruct roads and bridges under its jurisdiction.

There are six classes of roadways in the County: Trunk Highways, County State Aid Highways, County Roads, Unorganized Township Roads, City Streets, and Forest Roads. Roads under county jurisdiction are County State Aid, County and Unorganized Township.

County State Aid Highways are identified by having a number less than 50 and are established as a grid system throughout the county. The Road and Bridge Department receives a portion of the gas tax and vehicle registration tax to help maintain and reconstruct these roads. The county has a total of 197 miles of these "State Aid" roads.

County Roads are identified by having a number greater than 50 and help to feed traffic between townships and to the County State Aid system. Road and Bridge maintains 45 miles of county road and the only funding source is a property tax levy.

Unorganized Township roads also have a number greater than 50 and are typical of roads into platted areas, dead end roads and roads that are not often used. There are 333 miles of unorganized township roads, which are funded for the most part by a property tax levy

In addition to the 575 miles of road under county jurisdiction, the Road and Bridge Department must maintain, repair and replace 120 bridges. Bridges are defined as any structure with a span greater than 10 feet. The county applies for State and Federal grants to help fund bridge replacements. Since 1995, the county receives a portion of the Town Bridge Account, which allows the Highway Department to replace one small township bridge annually.

The Road and Bridge Department is divided into three areas administration, engineering and maintenance. State law requires that the county hire a registered civil engineer to oversee the engineering portion of the County State Aid system. In addition to the County Engineer, the Road and Bridge Department has two employees for administration, three in engineering and nine in maintenance. Temporary employees and contractors are hired as needed to help maintain and construct roads.

The Solid Waste department administers the solid waste plan; licenses commercial haulers; coordinates transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste, supervises the compost facilities and recycling center; maintains records, budgets and MPCA reports.

The parks department is charged with the responsibility to maintain and reconstruct recreational areas and public accesses under its jurisdiction.

Department Forms/Applications

Contact Information