Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

It is my understanding that the County has a weed spray program. Can you tell me where they spray and when?

Stevens County accomplishes vegetation management throughout the County. In addition to spraying weeds the County mows and cuts roadside brush. Roadside spraying occurs at various locations along most County roads within the County’s right-of-way. The County has set up a Weed Spray hot line, in effect during spraying season, which identifies locations where spraying will occur the next day. The automated voice system number is 685-0661. If you are interested in knowing which chemicals are used, you would need to contact the Public Works Administration office, at 684-4548, as chemicals vary from year to year.

What do I need to do if I do not want the right-of-way in front of my property sprayed?

Contact the Stevens County Weed Board @ 684-7590 or stop by their office @ 230 Williams Lake Road. They will provide forms for you to sign that require you to take on the responsibility of maintaining weeds within the right-of-way. The Weed Board will issue you "Owner Will Maintain" signs, which are acceptable signs to avoid County application of herbicides.

I live on a gravel road and would like the County to pave my road. Will the County pave my road?

In general, Stevens County does not have resources available to respond to these requests. The cost to improve and pave a gravel road to correct standards can range between $150,000 to $500,000 per mile. All funds for these types of projects are generally derived locally, meaning no grant funds are available. Grant funds are used on those high-volume County roads that can compete with other jurisdiction's project submittals. Stevens County has a small program in-place to address converting 2-5 miles of gravel to paved roads every year, but it is currently suspended due to lack of funds. Roads that qualify for this program compete against other County roads, with the highest priority funded first. For more information please contact the Public Works Administration office at @ 684-4548.

I live on a gravel road and I believe that it needs more gravel. Why don’t you put more gravel on my gravel road?

Stevens County does accomplish re-gravelling on an as-needed basis. However, the cost to maintain gravel roads is high. While the County does try to maintain a road by grading and adding gravel periodically it doesn’t take long for the road to return back to its prior condition. Gravel roads with the highest traffic volumes are generally maintained with a higher level of effort than ones with lower traffic volumes.

I live on a gravel road and I am curious as to what the general grading schedule is?

Generally all gravel roads get graded twice per year at a minimum, usually in the spring and fall. However the schedule for grading is moisture dependent, and there is no set schedule. Grading cannot be accomplished without appreciable moisture. Subsequently, grading does not occur during the normally dry summer months when ‘washboarding’ is a concern.

I live along a County road and was wondering if the County would apply dust oil to it?

The County does not have the resources to dust oil roads. However, we do have a no-fee permit system that allows landowners to hire a licensed firm to apply approved dust oil on their roads. There are some guidelines that need to be followed, which are explained during the dust oil permit process. Please contact the Public Works Administration office at 684-4548 for more details.

I live on a County road and I am curious as to what the snowplowing schedule is?

Stevens County has a winter maintenance policy describing winter maintenance procedures and parameters for our snow plowing. Briefly, certain roads, such as high traffic roads and school bus routes, are considered higher priority than others. These roads are plowed and sanded before other low usage roads. Generally it takes 2-3 days to complete plowing and sanding the roads after a snowstorm.

I live along a County road and every time the snowplow comes by a snow berm is left across my approach. Why doesn’t the driver take the time to stop and clean out the approach?

Stevens County maintains approximately 1350 miles of County road during winter operations. In order for our plow trucks to cover this area and remove snow from the road surfaces they must be able to maintain a sufficient operating speed (about 35-mph). This allows the plows to reach their routes and to effectively throw snow over the shoulder of the road, keeping the road width reasonable and allowing further snow storage. Along the 1350 miles of roadway are literally thousands of driveways. There simply would not be enough time to come back and clear each driveway and winter maintenance costs would roughly double.

I live along a County road and the snowplow truck just knocked over my mailbox. Whose responsibility is it to fix it?

Downed mailboxes are common when the snow is wet and heavy. While equipment is maintaining the necessary speed it takes to get the snow off of the road, the snow is discharged at a relatively high speed. If, after a careful investigation, it has been determined that our equipment physically hit the mailbox, the County will replace it. However if snow thrown by the plow causes the mailbox to be knocked over, Stevens County is unable to repair or replace the mailbox. It will be the property owner’s responsibility to re-establish their mailbox in this unfortunate circumstance.

I live along a County road where people constantly travel along the road at a high rate of speed. Can you put up more signs along the road to get the drivers’ attention?

Based upon a review of engineering literature, attempting to control speed through sign placement is ineffective. Further, the Public Works Department is responsible for placing signs only. We can not enforce the speed limits. In most areas more signs have been installed than are required. We recommend that private citizens contact the Stevens County Sheriff at 684-2555 and request an emphasis patrol to help deter speeding.

I live along a County road and I would like to feel safer about my children playing outside. Can the County put up "Children at Play" signs so drivers will slow down when they drive through the area?

Because County roads are designed and built for motorized traffic, we encourage parents to discourage children from playing on County roads. In our opinion, constructing signs only serve to give parents a false sense of security and decreases their awareness.

I am in the process of moving to a County road and building a home. How do I get an address for my new location?

The first thing to do is contact the Information Services Department, 684-7505, 215 S. Oak St., and fill out an application for an address. If this is new construction you are also required to fill out an approach permit from the Public Works Department, 684-4548, located at E. 185 Hawthorne St.

I live along a County road and desire to cut trees that are located within the County right-of-way easement. What do I need to do?

Falling trees along a County road can be an extreme hazard to the traveling public due to their proximity to the traveling public. We request that you contact the Public Works Administration office @ 684-4548 and obtain an application to work in County right-of-way easement. This form spells out guidelines that allow you the ability to work in the right-of-way. This permit in no way gives you permission to cut trees that are not within your own land boundaries.

I live along a County road and desire to plant flowers or trees within the County right of way. Can I do this?

Generally we strongly discourage landowners to do this due to safety concerns of property owner liability and increased maintenance costs. Further, our regular maintenance work will likely destroy the flowers or trees that are planted.

I live along a County road and some maintenance crews just cut the saplings I recently planted in the County right of way. Can they do this?

By law Stevens County has a responsibility to maintain the County right-of-way. This involves trimming shrubs and trees that limit sight distance and constitute an obstruction in the roadway clear zone. The County will not replace trees that are damaged in the County right-of-way due to normal maintenance procedures.

I live along a County road and would like to put a fence up along the County road. Where should I place it?

Due to the County’s maintenance procedures all landowners are required to put fences outside of the County’s right-of-way, which is generally 30 feet from the road centerline.

I live along a County road and would like to know what the right of way is along the section of the road I live by. How do I find out?

You will need to contact the Public Works Administration office at 684-4548 and give the exact location of your property (legal description). We will then research that particular area and attempt to provide the information you are requesting.

I live along a County road and there is a dead deer in the road in front of my property. Will the County pick it up?

Stevens County does not have available resources to dedicate crewmembers to pick up dead animals from the road. However, if it is lying within the traveled portion of road, someone will be sent out to place it over the edge as a safety precaution. Please call the Public Works Administration office at 684-4548 immediately if a dead animal is a safety hazard to the traveling public.