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2 Summer 2013 Filling Holes in 2013 and Beyond By Dean Zuleger, City Administrator Every community has their special set of issues that need attention. Lake Elmo is no exception. In my role as Administra- tor, I have identified four areas that I will concentrate on for the balance of 2013. They are clean water, balanced growth, a commitment to rebuilding our streets, and remodeling our parks. Nothing is more important than the provision of clean wa- ter. Whether it is expanding our water utility or managing the groundwater aquifer, we need to make sure you have potable drinking water. Unfortunately, there is a persis- tent chemical in a good portion of our groundwater, so we have been working hard to design a system that gives you water that is safe for you to drink. Our 2014 plan is to run utility lines down Inwood Avenue and Lake Elmo Avenue that provide a clean, unfiltered source of water to the community. My work in this area also means obtaining the funding for our projects (which will lower your water bill). This will include ensuring those that put the chemical in our groundwater pay their fair share of the new water system, and working with the federal government to ob- tain possible assistance through the Clean Water Act. I won’t rest until everyone has good, clean water. Now that both of our fine citizen-led planning groups have finished their work on the I-94 corridor and the Old Village – and the City Council has approved critical sew- er projects – we will focus on making sure our Met Coun- cil mandated growth has a sense of balance; balance that equalizes growth across the entire landscape and protects our open space character. We have met with no less than eight developers who wish to build homes in Lake Elmo, and utilize our transportation system, desir- able school district and ability to take a deep breath of fresh air. We want to keep it this way, and so far, none of the developers are balking. Included in this balance is my commitment to a vibrant downtown and support of our business community. For you folks in the Old Village, it is 90% certain you will get sewer in 2015. Contact the city if you need help with a failing septic system or may be thinking about replac- ing an old system. Our streets need work. While we have been busy plan- ning, responding to the Met Council, and dealing with adulterated groundwater, our road system suffered. We have made equipment purchases and re-purposed our operational budget to go after some of our more needy streets. Watch for our street crew in your neighborhood with their new Durapatcher machine. Finally, our parks need some TLC. Currently, our Parks Commission is tabulating a community survey that de- tails your thoughts on our current and future needs. My goal is to have every one of our parks be a destination spot for you and your family. We have $900,000 (that we have been sitting on for a while) to make this a reality, so I hope you took time to fill out the survey. If not give me a call at 651-233-5401 and dream a little bit about our park system. We will always be ever vigilant on the day to day issues like traffic enforcement, nuisance properties, building permits, and maintaining property values. But I believe that if we can effectively succeed in the four issues listed above – we can build a stronger Lake Elmo. The City of Lake Elmo is launching a new group composed of citizens ages 25 to 40 to provide a fresh perspec- tive on the future development of Lake Elmo. Young professionals represent a rap- idly growing segment of Lake Elmo’s population. Many, advancing into the next phases of their lives, are coming to Lake Elmo to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city life, and to take advantage of the open space charac- ter and high quality of living that the city exemplifies. “As Lake Elmo embarks on a period of growth and development, we need to ensure that we are considering ide- als and needs of all demographics that make up our community,” said Mayor, Mike Pearson. “Our history is well-established. It’s now time gain in- sight into our future through the eyes of those who will be living it. ” We are seeking 10 to 15 passionate individuals who are interested in living in a balanced and enriching commu- nity. The group will evaluate the City on several areas including parks and recreation, business climate, educa- tional opportunities, community en- gagement, affordability, entertainment and activities, and accessibility to de- termine how best to meet the needs of the younger generation. If interested in joining this group or for more information, contact Alyssa MacLeod at 651-747-3908 or ama- cleod@lakeelmo.org. Wanted: New Ideas for the Next Generation Next Gen Group Forming to Conceptualize the Future of Lake Elmo