Off-highway vehicle safety enforcement grants (2009 - 2010)

Program Purpose: The 2009 Minnesota Legislature provided $485,000 to the Department of Natural Resources to fund the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Safety Enforcement Grant Program during the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. Funding is to be used by counties to assist the state in OHV enforcement activities, including training local staff, holding ATV safety classes, and field enforcement activity.

Who May Apply: All counties throughout Minnesota. The appropriation law language provides $485,000 to counties in each year. Funding is offered to each county, based on a formula, defined below. Some counties choose not to apply for a grant, since the funding amount offered is considered too low to be considered of value-all funding is allocated in each fiscal year.

Levels of Assistance: The formula used to provide financial assistance to counties is based upon:

  • Public acres within the county (federal, state and county, combined)
  • Public waters & wetlands within a county (since they are frozen or otherwise accessible by OHVs much of the year)
  • Number of OHVs registered within a county
  • Number of OHVs primarily used within a county, and
  • County participation funding divided equally among counties in the program.

General Information: A total of $485,000 in funding is available for use in each fiscal year (2010 & 2011). Participating counties will be applying for funding for both fiscal years in this application, and contract, which will be sent once final dollar amounts are determined. Grant amounts will be the same to each participating county in each program/fiscal year, and should be used (and will be reimbursed) only during the state fiscal year in which the grant is awarded. DNR will issue one grant contract for the two- year biennium, once the funding is awarded and final allocations are determined, in July 2009.

An announcement/letter of invitation to participate has been sent to each Minnesota County Sheriff’s Office, along with the application form. All reporting forms, the application and the letter will be posted on the DNR website.

The OHV Grant Program is a reimbursement program, with one payment provided to each recipient county. Reimbursement requests may be sent in when the recipient county reaches its maximum grant amount, or, after the individual program years have concluded, on June 30th of each year. All recipients will be expected to spend at least the amount of their grant. Counties will be required to submit an annual report for each year of participation in the grant program, showing all grant funds spent by the participating agency.

NEW REQUIREMENT FOR 2010/2011: THE APPROPRIATION LAW REQUIRES THAT PARTICIPATIN COUNTIES POST THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATIN IN THE GRANT PROGRAM ON THEIR WEBSITE BY JUNE 30TH OF EACH YEAR, AND REPORT THE SAME INFORMATOPM TO THE DNR. Further guidance or instruction regarding this requirement will be provided, and posted, once it is received.

Requirements: Grant recipients are required to track and provide proof of expenditure for all expenses incurred. Generally, a copy of an Integrated Payment System report, along with invoices for purchases with a total cost over $5,000, and an example officer log are required for payment, along with the posted reporting forms. Guidance on filling out those forms is provided as a part of this posting. Payment system reports should be obtained from your county’s auditor or treasurer.

NOTE! No reimbursement can be made for work done without having a signed, returned and fully executed contract in place prior to the expenditure being made, for each year of the contract. Once you receive your contract copies, sign and return all three (3) copies.

How to Apply: County grant applications have been mailed out to all county sheriff’s offices, and are also available on the DNR website. Fill out the application, which is the indication you intend to participate in the grant program, to Chuck Niska, at the address shown below, no later than July 24, 2009.

Additional forms on this website include:

For more information, or to return your application, please contact:

Chuck Niska
MN DNE Division of Enforcement
500 Lafayette Road, Box 47
St. Paul, MN 55155-4047
612-756-4165 (Cell)
chuck.niska@state.mn.us