Secondary Road's Office

Grading Agreements

Another service provided by the Engineer’s office is fence line clearing along the county right of way.  This requires a grading agreement between the county and the property owner that requests the grading to be done.

If a property owner request a grading agreement, the engineering staff will review the location and get a description of where the grading is being requested.  An agreement will be drawn up and the property owner, engineer, and the Board of Supervisors all must sign the agreement.

In the agreement each party’s responsibilities are spelled out.  After a One Call is done to locate utilities, the County will perform the dozer work, clearing the fence, brush, and trees, and reshape the ditches.  If there is a high bank that produces a snow trap in the winter, the county will cut the bank down.  The property owner is responsible for providing a location for the trees, and brush, as the county will not bury any trees.  The owner is also responsible for all the seeding and fencing once the project is completed.

The county has been mandated by the Iowa DNR to obtain a Stormwater Discharge Permit.  This permit states that the county will prevent runoff from leaving the project limits.  The cost of this permit is $150 and the property owner will reimburse the county for the cost of the permit.

This grading program allows the county to reshape road ditches, clear the right of way, and eliminate snow traps.

For more information, contact the Union County Secondary Roads Office.