Cook County plans to adopt buffer ordinance

In late October, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton thanked many of the state’s farmers and county governments for their efforts to comply with a new water-quality law. The Minnesota law requires land owners to plant stretches of vegetation along public waterways to help improve water quality and prevent erosion.

November marked the first major deadline for the law, and the statewide compliance rate already stands at 95 percent.

Meanwhile, Cook County is adopting its own version of a buffer ordinance, which includes enforcement of the law. There is a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 8 to discuss the Cook County Buffer Ordinance.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Cook County Land Services Director Tim Nelson about the buffer ordinance and the public hearing.