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Rural Living Guide
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
January 2007
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The rural areas of St. Croix County continue to experience
rapid growth as many people choose to live in a country setting while being
close to the urban amenities of the Twin Cities. The County welcomes
new rural residents. Over half the population of St. Croix County
lives in the country. Living in a rural area, however, differs in many
ways from an urban community. This Rural Living Guide has been
developed to inform those who are considering purchasing a rural property
and those that already have. It is hoped that this information will
help people consider issues that may affect them when living in a rural
area.
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EMERGENCY SERVICES
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Law Enforcement
* The St. Croix County Sheriff's Department is responsible for law
enforcement in areas
outside of the cities and villages within the County.
* Response times tend to be longer than in urban areas and are affected by
travel times, visibility of address signs, inclement weather and road
conditions. Police officers from nearby cities and villages may assist
in certain situations.
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Fire Protection
* The County is served by several local fire departments.
* The level of protection and response time depends on the access to water,
distance of a structure from a fire station, type and number of vehicles,
and number of volunteers and training. These factors affect home
insurance rates.
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Ambulance Service
* There are several public ambulance service areas in the County.
Staffing is varied at each base to serve the needs of that area.
* Service may be affected by distance, weather conditions, and condition of
public and private roads.
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Rural Addresses
* In order for responders to quickly identify the location of an emergency,
St. Croix County utilizes a standardized system for road names and address
numbers.
* Address signs should be kept clear of obstruction and are to be parallel
to the road for visibility in both directions.
* Addresses are assigned by the County Planning & Zoning Department at (715)
386-4671.
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911
* In case of emergency dial 911. St. Croix County has Enhanced 911 (E911),
which displays your address and fire/ambulance district to the dispatch
operator.
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BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT
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Permits
*Permits for construction, filling & grading, septic systems & other land
use activities may be required by County, Town and State in order to assure
compliance with ordinances.
*Contact the County Planning & Zoning Department at (715) 386-4680 and your
Town Building Inspector or Clerk prior to any construction or changing or
adding to a use on a piece of property.
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Zoning and Subdivision
* Zoning regulations determine land uses, lot sizes, as well as setbacks
from roads, property lines, and other features such as bluff lines along the
St. Croix River. Subdivision regulations determine how land may be
divided into smaller lots and new roads.
*Zoning and subdivision regulations promote orderly development, minimize
conflicts between incompatible land uses and protect property values and
resources.
*Most towns in the County have adopted the County Zoning Ordinance.
The Town of Hudson has its own zoning. The Towns of Cady and Forest do not
have general zoning. However, County Shoreland and Floodplain Zoning and the
Sanitary Ordinance apply to all towns within St. Croix County. Contact the
County Planning & Zoning Department at (715) 386-4680.
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Wells and Drinking Water
* Drinking water for rural houses comes from private wells. State
regulations only require that the water be tested for bacteria at the time
of construction. Thereafter it is the responsibility of landowners to
test their water periodically.
* Water testing kits are available at the County Planning & Zoning
Department, Hudson; Land & Water Conservation Department, Baldwin; Public
Health Department, New Richmond; or through private labs. A fee may
apply.
*Groundwater within portions of the Towns of Hudson and Star Prairie has
been contaminated by petroleum solvents. Special well construction
requirements may apply in these areas.
*The most common contaminant in St. Croix County wells is nitrate, which
comes from animal waste, soil fertilizer or failing septic systems.
Contact the Wisconsin DNR at (715) 684-2914 or UW-Extension at (715)
684-3301.
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Septic Systems
* Private onsite wastewater treatment systems (POWTS) are used to treat
wastewater from rural houses. Septic systems are the most common type
of POWTS. Maintenance and care of these systems are the responsibility of
the landowner.
* All POWTS are required to be inspected every three years and most will
need to be pumped at that time.
*Improper use of your septic system, expensive repairs, and contamination of
your well water.
*For more information see "Care and Maintenance of Septic Systems,"
University of Wisconsin-Extension publication B3583. Or contact the County
Planning & Zoning Department at (715) 386-4680.
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Roads and Driveway Access
* Most rural roads are under public ownership. Maintenance of public
roads is the responsibility of the Town, County or State. It is the
responsibility of the owners along a private road/joint driveway to maintain
and plow snow.
* A driveway permit is required for access to public roads and highways.
Standards for driveway and mailbox locations vary depending on jurisdiction.
For town roads contact your Town Board; for county roads, contact the St.
Croix County Highway Department at (715) 796-2227; for state highways
contact WisDOT at (800) 991-5285.
* Adequate space for emergency vehicle access is critical to your safety.
Every driveway should have 12 feet of horizontal clearance and 13.5 feet of
vertical clearance.
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Private Property Restrictions
* There are private arrangements in addition to government regulations that
may affect what you may do with your property.
* Easements may require you to allow construction and maintenance of roads,
utilities, storm water facilities, etc. across your land.
* Many rural housing developments have home owners associations with deed
restrictions and covenants that restrict outbuildings, outdoor storage, and
building design.
* These restrictions may be recorded with the property deed, or with the
plat. Check these issues carefully. Contact the County Register
of Deeds at (715) 386-4652.
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GOVERNMENT SERVICES
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Town Government
* All unincorporated areas are governed under "town" government. In
many other states, including Minnesota, this unit of government is called a
"township." "Towns" are not the same as small cities or villages,
although they may have the same name.
* Services offered by town government vary. Town governments are rural
in nature and do not provide a full range of services. Historically, a
town government's primary responsibilities have been road maintenance and
snow plowing. Some more populated towns have, however, added more
services for their residents.
* Town government in Wisconsin has an element of direct participatory
democracy through the Annual Meeting each April at which residents vote on
policy and budget issues.
* Information on individual town governments is available at:
www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/localgovernment.htm
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Snow Plowing
* Snow plowing takes longer to complete in a rural area. Your road may
not be plowed before you have to leave in the morning. Major roads
such as state highways and county roads get first priority.
* If you live on a private road or joint driveway, snow plowing is your
responsibility. Talk to your neighbor before it snows.
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Garbage and Recycling
* Garbage collection and recycling programs vary from town to town.
Contact your Town Clerk for details.
* Special collections for hazardous waste, appliances, electronics and tires
are held periodically each year.
* For more information see the "Your Wasteline" newsletter at
www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Departments/Recycling/ or contact the County
Recycling Specialist at (715) 386-4675.
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Schools
* There are nine public school districts in St. Croix County.
* The boundaries of the districts are extremely irregular. School
district maps may be found at
www.co.saint-croix.wi.us; choose Land Information Online.
* Each district has its own policies regarding bus service.
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ANIMALS & WILDLIFE
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Horses, Pets and Stray Animals
* The number of horses allowed is regulated. Contact the County Planning &
Zoning Department at (715) 386-4680.
* Just like in the cities, dogs must be licensed and have their rabies
vaccinations. Animals may need to be under control at all times. Bears
or other animals may injure or kill a pet if you do not keep your pet safe.
* For information about dog licensing and control of stray animals contact
your Town Clerk.
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Driving
* Enjoy "grilled venison?" You may get some if you don't pay extra attention
when driving. Each year thousands of deer are killed and injured by
motor vehicles. Extra caution is needed when driving, especially at
night. Seasonally, deer activity increases from early October through
November. During the mating season bucks chase through all hours of the day
and night.
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Living with Wildlife
* Living in a rural area requires a lot of consideration of wildlife.
Deer, although beautiful, can ravage a garden or expensive plants.
Carefully consider which plants you will use in your landscaping or garden.
It's not the deer's fault that your expensive rose bushes taste so good.
* Bears and other wildlife are attracted to garbage and bird feeders as a
food supply. Secure your garbage to prevent problems.
* Wood and deer ticks are parasites that suck blood from people and animals.
The deer tick spreads Lyme Disease. Symptoms can vary in degree and may
include a bull's-eye bite and fatigue. It is usually treated with
antibiotics but can also linger. Awareness is key and tick checks
should be done daily on people and pets.
* To attract wildlife and improve habitat contact the Wisconsin DNR at (715)
684-2914.
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AGRICULTURE
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Farm Operation
* Agriculture is an important part of the St. Croix County economy.
Farm operations have both legal rights and regulations.
* Farmers often work around the clock, and farm operations commonly include
dust, noise, odors and farm chemicals. These typical farm activities
may affect adjoining property owners.
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Manure
* Manure is an inevitable and valuable by-product of livestock production.
Unfortunately the odor does not smell like money to some people.
* Most farmers have a nutrient management plan for their farm which is based
on soil tests and the crops grown in order to grow crops efficiently and
minimize run off.
* St. Croix County has a manure management ordinance which spells out
procedures to deal with problems arising from poor manure management.
Contact the County Land and Water Conservation Department at (715) 684-2874.
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Fences
* State law (Chapter 90 of State Statutes) states that if livestock is
present on one property, a fence must be maintained on the property line by
BOTH property owners. Other accommodations can be made
if both parties agree. See the "Country Acres" publication from University
of Wisconsin Extension for more information.
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Slow Moving Vehicles
* Farm vehicles are allowed on all roads and may back up traffic.
Please watch for, and be patient with, slow moving vehicles. Most
drivers of slow moving vehicles will wave you through when it is safe to
pass.
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FIRE DANGER
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Housing in Wooded Areas
* Living in the woods is very rewarding. However, those trees are also
threats to your home. When building or purchasing an existing home,
maintain a buffer between your home and the forest to reduce the fire danger
to your home. Contact the Wisconsin DNR at (715) 684-2914 or visit
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/fire/index.htm
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Outdoor Burning
* Wildfires happen most often during the months of April and May. A
primary cause of these fires is debris burning.
* Permits are needed for all outdoor debris burning whenever the ground is
not snow covered. Burning permits may be obtained from the Town; then
inform emergency dispatch at (715) 386-4701. No permit is needed when
the sole purpose is for cooking and warming.
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Burn Barrels
* The DNR strongly discourages the use of burn barrels.
* The only items that may be burned are leaves, plant clippings and clean
untreated wood.
* Burning materials such as tires, plastic and rubber is prohibited because
they generate toxic air emissions and hazardous ash residue. For more
information see
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/air/hot/barrels.htm
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RECREATION
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County Parks
* St. Croix County has a park system. For more information contact the
Parks Department at (715) 684-2874, extension 4 or see:
www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Departments/CountyPark/default/htm.
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Trespass
* You are criminally trespassing on private land unless you get permission
from the owner. Land does not have to be posted with signs unless it
is adjacent to public land (includes private forest lands open to public
hunting/use). Respect private property and ask before you use.
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Hunting and Fishing
* Hunting and fishing are rural traditions. Wisconsin has hunter harassment
laws that make it a crime to interfere with legal hunting. Respect
those who partake in these activities or join a local sportsman club to
learn how to participate yourself. Contact the Wisconsin DNR at (715)
684-2914 for public hunting lands.
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ATV Use
* Within St. Croix County ATV use is allowed only on your private property.
* There are no designated public ATV trails within the County. Be
considerate and respect your neighbors.
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Snowmobile Use
* St. Croix County has a system of public snowmobile trails. For more
information contact the County Parks Department at (715) 684-2874, extension
4, or see:
www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/Departments/CountyPark/snowmobile.htm
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RESOURCES
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For more information on Rural Living, contact the County UW-Extension
Office, see the following University of Wisconsin-Extension Publications, or
visit: www.uwex.edu/ces. |
* Country Acres: A Guide to Buying and Managing Rural Property (G3309)
* Care & Maintenance of Residential Septic Systems (B3583)
* Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Noxious Insects, Plants, and
Wildlife (G3564)
* Plants Not Favored by Deer (A3727)
* Landscape Plants that Attract Birds (G1609)
* Prairie Primer (G3736)
* Wildlife Management (G3097)
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CONCLUSION
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This information is by no means all inclusive. There may be issues
that you may encounter that we have overlooked. Look for the
unexpected and surprises when purchasing rural property.
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University of Wisconsin-Extension
St. Croix County Extension Office
1960 8th Avenue, Suite 140
Baldwin, WI 54002
Phone: 715-684-3301, ext. 5
Fax: 715-684-2666
Acknowledgement:
Adapted from Rural Living Guide by Mike Kornmann, Burnett County
UW-Extension |
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