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The Brown County Engineer's Office

 wants to inform residents about its responsibilities regarding snow and ice control, and what property owners can expect during winter weather.

Mailboxes and Fences:

The County will repair or replace mailboxes and fences only if they were properly installed and located, and damaged by direct contact with County snow removal equipment. Damage caused by the force of plowed snow, without direct contact, is the homeowner's responsibility.

Snow Removal and Driveways:

Plowed snow often creates windrows at the end of driveways; clearing these is the homeowner's responsibility. It is illegal to plow or blow snow from driveways onto or across County roads.
Snow Trucks and Safety:
    • Drivers should stay at least 50 feet behind snow trucks and keep vehicles and other property out of the right-of-way to avoid damage. Residents must remove parked vehicles from County roads to facilitate snow removal.
    • Drivers must yield to oncoming snow trucks. The road shoulder is often too soft to support the weight of a loaded salt truck, preventing them from moving over. On narrow roads, please pull into a driveway and allow the snow truck to pass.

 

Mailbox Maintenance and Damage:

The Brown County Engineer's Highway Maintenance Department strives to protect mailboxes, but damage can occur during heavy snow. Residents are encouraged to inspect and reinforce or replace deteriorated mailboxes and posts before winter.
The County will repair or replace mailboxes only if they are struck by County snowplow equipment. Damage caused by snow discharge is the homeowner's responsibility. Each complaint is investigated to determine if direct contact occurred. If a replacement is necessary, a standard rural mailbox and support will be used. The County will not replace non-standard, custom-lettered, custom-designed, or oversized mailboxes.
If no impact signs are present, the homeowner will be informed of possible causes, such as poor construction, lack of maintenance (e.g., rotten posts), or other damage sources. All other property damage will be handled on a case-by-case basis and should be reported and documented immediately.