The Environmental Services Department is responsible for administering plans and ordinances relating to planning and zoning, solid waste management, comprehensive local water planning and feedlot management. In addition to these local controls, the Environmental Services Department is also responsible for permitting and enforcement programs of the State’s individual septic treatment system program and the feedlot program. The department’s overall mission in administering these programs is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare.

Planning and Zoning

    The purpose of planning and zoning is to provide for orderly land use development that minimizes conflicts and reduces impacts to local resources. The Comprehensive Plan, revised in 2002, lays out policies that will guide future land use decisions. The County Planning Commission is responsible for adopting the Comprehensive Plan and for reviewing conditional use permits, subdivisions, ordinance amendments and zoning classification amendment proposals. They recommend actions to the County Board for final approval. The Land and Related Resources Management Ordinance is the tool used to reach the goals established in that plan. This ordinance lays out which activities can occur in certain areas or zoning districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map. Big Stone County is laid out into the following zones: A-1 Agricultural District; A-2 Agricultural District; OS Open Space District; UD Urban District (Residential); C-1 Commercial; I-1 Industrial; and the Shoreland Management Zone.

Amendments to the Land and Related Resources Management Ordinance were recorded in 2005 and 2007 to address tree plantings and additions on existing residential structures.

There currently seems to be a movement toward renewable energy sources in our area, therefore the County Board chose to take a proactive approach by adopting the Big Stone County Wind Power Management Ordinance on Dec. 6, 2006 which outlines our objectives for wind developers.

Solid Waste

The Solid Waste Management Plan required by the State, plans management strategies and budget needs to insure proper management.  One tool used for management is the county’s Solid Waste Management Ordinance which regulates residential and commercial garbage disposal, recycling and household hazardous waste.   In 2003, the County Board re-instated an annual solid waste assessment of $35 per parcel having over $1000 of building value.  This fund enables the county to provide free recycling services as well as special collections for problem materials such as Household Hazardous Waste, used oil and filters, fluorescent bulbs, appliances and electronics.           

    Solid waste collection rates and haulers vary depending on the municipality you reside in. Rural residents can choose one of three options for their solid waste;

1)       haul trash to the solid waste transfer station operated by Waste Management of Central Minnesota and located on Hwy 75 North in Ortonville, MN

2)       contract individually with a licensed trash hauler for pick up, or

3)       dispose of household generated waste (other than recyclables and hazardous waste) on-site.

(this option is not recommended for pollution reasons)

    Recycling in Big Stone County is also handled by Waste Management of Central Minnesota. They are contracted by the county to collect and process recyclables.  In October, 2008, they switched over to a “single-stream” recycling program which means that sorting is no longer necessary since it is mechanically sorted at the Material Recovery Facility in the Twin Cities.  Waste Management provides 96 gallon roll-out totes to curbside residents in all the municipalities except Barry and pick up every other week as indicated by the gold weeks on the 2009 Curbside Collection Schedule.  Totes are also provided at a drop-off site in each of the municipalities for rural county residents who don’t have access to curbside service.  The County also contracts with Waste Management for commercial recycling services.  Any business interested in utilizing this service should contact the regional representative from Waste Management at 763-780-6418.  Click here to see a list of Acceptable Items, residential and commercial recycling route schedules and a list of Drop Site locations in each municipality.

    Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is managed through special collections here in the county or residents can dispose of HHW at the regional facility located in Willmar. Collection sites vary from year to year and are advertised in local papers. Used oil and oil filters can be disposed of free of charge at the County Highway Garage in Ortonville Monday – Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Highway Garage is located at 437 Minnesota St. across from the athletic fields. Fluorescent bulbs are also collected anytime during office hours in the Environmental Office however, a nominal fee based on state contract prices is charged for handling and disposal.  For answers to other questions relating to your solid waste management needs please call our office at 839-6376.

Water Planning

    Big Stone County adopted its first Comprehensive Local Water Plan in 1991. An update was completed according to State requirements in 1995 and most recently in 2003. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) provides an annual Natural Resource Block Grant that allocates funds for administering the local water plan and to implement projects and programs that improve water quality.   The grant is further subdivided into five categories that more specifically target water quality issues:  1)  Feedlots, 2)  Shoreland, 3)  Sub-surface sewage treatment systems, 4)  Water Planning and the 5)  the Wetland Conservation Act. Water Planning receives the largest portion of the grant at $2068; $10,000 is allocated to the administration of the Wetland Conservation Act, $3065 for shoreland management, $10,000 for Sub-surface sewer treatment enforcement and administration, and $7999 for the administration of the feedlot program.  A local water plan committee consisting of farmers, citizens, state and local agencies and county commissioners, among others approves projects and expenditures within the Water Plan budget.  Projects vary with some of the on-going projects being well-sealing cost share, support of the Ortonville fourth grade class wetland restoration project, and rural drinking water well testing for coliform and nitrates conducted by the Ortonville High School students. For more information on the local water planning program or to become involved please call our office.   Click here to view the Big Stone County Water Plan.

Feedlot Management

    Big Stone County has been delegated by the State to permit feedlot activities since 1995. In 1996, the county adopted it's first feedlot ordinance to deal with certain aspects that are beyond the scope of the state rules (setbacks, conditional use requirements and allowable animal units per quarter). On October 23, 2000 the state rules were revised and then in 2003, Big Stone County also updated their local ordinance.  Click here to view the BSC Animal Feedlot Ordinance, 2003.  One of Minnesota's most substantial changes requires that all feedlot owners or operators register sites over 50 animal units with a delegated county or with the state. The registration deadline was January 1, 2002. Click here for the feedlot registration form which has an animal unit conversion chart on the last page. Operators over 1000 animal units are also required to apply for a NPDES permit. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) permits feedlots over 1000 animal units. Go to www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlots.html for other facts and information regarding feedlot regulations or to review the newly revised rule.  There is no fee for registering and the operator will be walked through all the necessary permit applications.  Please call our office with specific questions in regard to your operation.

Floodplain Management

    Some areas in shoreland zones also fall under regulations of the Floodplain Management Ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance is to minimize the potential for loss of life and property in flood prone areas by limiting placement of residences and structures in those areas. New structures or additions built must be at least one foot above the regulatory floodplain elevation. By enforcing floodplain regulations, county residents are able to participate in the Federal Flood Insurance Program.  Because Big Stone Lake exceeded the 100 yr. flood elevation in both 1997 and 2001, FEMA re-evaluated Big Stone County floodplains and published new floodplain maps in April, 2006.

Fee Structure and Permits Required

    In accordance with Big Stone County Ordinances, permits are required outside the corporate limits of municipalities for:

1. All new construction;
2. All structures moved and all structures replaced;
3. all individual on-site sewage treatment systems; and
4. Excavations in excess of fifty cubic yards or ten cubic yards in shoreland areas;

The fee schedule is:

All permits are also available at the Environmental Office at 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN  56278.  Copies of Big Stone County Ordinances are available for public inspection at the Environmental Office or can be purchased for a fee of $10.00 each, or $.25/page, whichever is greater.