Laserfiche WebLink
2026 Legislative PrioritiesThe City of Lake Elmo <br />This project has been awarded $10M in federal funding, $20M through state legislators via state <br />bonding, and $6M from MnDOT. This $36M in external funding will be applied to all three agencies <br />(MnDOT, County, and City) to reduce the anticipated costs for all three. <br />However, even with these secured funding sources, the local cost contribution from Lake Elmo may <br />exceed the city’s ability to afford its estimated $4.5M to $5.0M cost share. <br />The project is expected to begin construction in 2026 and finish in the fall of 2027. <br />The City of Lake Elmo requests additional state support should a funding gap arise. <br />Water Quality and Sustainability <br />It is imperative for Lake Elmo’s future that the negative impacts of the Department of Natural <br />Resources (DNR) permitting practices related to the White Bear Lake lawsuit be addressed. Left <br />unaddressed, the restrictions, ambiguity, and uncertainty surrounding judicial decisions on <br />permitting may harm Lake Elmo, with negligible effects on White Bear Lake's water quantity. <br />The City of Lake Elmo requests that the Legislature change the word “May” to “Shall” in bill <br />HF2304/SF2047 in 2023, addressing water use permits from the DNR in section 1 (a) <br />“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner of natural resources SHALL; (1) <br />issue permits necessary for the city of Lake Elmo to construct and operate a new municipal water <br />supply well.” <br />Water treatment O&M long-term funding <br />Lake Elmo has detected PFAS/PFOS in all three of our wells. The city recently constructed a <br />temporary water treatment plant and estimates annual operations and maintenance costs of <br />$400,000. The 3M settlement funds are expected to run out in 2027-2028, and there is no <br />guarantee the city will be reimbursed for operations and maintenance. The city plans to construct <br />two additional water treatment facilities and estimates annual operations and maintenance costs <br />of $690,000 per facility. <br />The City of Lake Elmo requests state support if the 3M settlement funds are fully allocated and no <br />other reimbursement solution is in place.