HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_02_25 The Fresh NewsletterMay 2, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Schedule
City Council Meeting.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:00 P.M .
Meetings are held at City Hall, 3880 Laverne Ave N., Lake Elmo, MN 55042. Changes or
cancellations will be posted at Lakeelmo.gov/calendar.
How to Watch
Watch online or on cable television here.
Find meeting agendas and minutes at City of Lake Elmo, MN
Arbor Day Proclamation
The Month of May Proclaimed as Arbor Month in Lake Elmo
The City of Lake Elmo has proclaimed Saturday, April 26, 2025, as Arbor Day and May 2025 as Arbor
Month in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
Read the Proclamation
Thank our firefighters on International
Firefighters Day, May 4th, and Every Day.
International Firefighters Day, observed on May 4, honors firefighters
for their service worldwide.
We honor the sacrifice and bravery of every firefighter, remember
those who lost their lives, and commemorate the tireless efforts of
those who served and protected the United States on 9/11 and the
days that followed.
New Playground at Kleis Park
City Council approved the recommendation for a new playset at Kleis
Park, at Jamaca Blvd N and 53rd Street N in Lake Elmo.
Public Works will begin removing the current playground equipment
on Wednesday, April 23, and prepping the new playground site and
asphalt trail in the coming weeks. Installation is scheduled for June.
Road Closure: Westbound Hudson Blvd
Between Julia Ave and Eagle Point Blvd
Construction resumes on Hudson Boulevard between Julia Avenue
and Eagle Point Boulevard and will continue until it is completed later
in May. During the duration of this project, Hudson Boulevard will be
restricted to eastbound only traffic.
The detour route for westbound traffic from Keats and Hudson
Boulevard goes west on Hudson Boulevard to Julia Avenue. Then,
head north on Julia Avenue to 5th Street North, heading west to
Inwood Boulevard.
Road Closure: Stillwater Way N From Little
Bluestem Trail North to East Stillwater Way
The City is planning a road closure on Stillwater Way N. from Little
Bluestem Trail North to the east end of Stillwater Way N. on
Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The closure will facilitate turn lane
construction, including saw cutting, curb and pavement removal,
storm sewer installation, and road sub-base construction.
During the road closure, cars may use Stillwater Blvd. and Manning
Avenue.
Bay West Research Project update
Bay West began grading the site for the project's gravel pad, which
will be installed this week.
The system will operate at the site in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, for four
weeks, "marking one of the first full-scale, on-site PFAS destruction
projects using fully tested supercritical water oxidation technology in
the country," according to Bay West scientists.
Bay West will oversee system testing and process optimization as
the unit treats PFAS-contaminated materials, including Aqueous
Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), landfill leachate, biosolids, impacted
soils, and filtration media such as granular activated carbon (GAC)
and ion exchange resins.
Testing Operations will begin May 15, and the project will demobilize
June 10. Learn more here.
Adopt a Storm Drain
Keep your neighborhood clean and ADOPT A STORM DRAIN.
Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to impact our
waterways positively!
From April 15 - 30, anyone who adopts a new drain will receive
a reusable Adopt-a-Drain string backpack as a thank-you for their
commitment to keeping our communities clean!
Here’s how you can join in:
1. Adopt a new drain – Whether you're a first-time adopter
or a returning one, getting involved is easy! You can
make a difference by volunteering just 15 minutes twice
a month to pick up the garbage and debris near your
drain. Sign-up at mn.adopt-a-drain.org
2. Receive your free backpack—To show our appreciation,
we’ll send you a reusable Adopt-a-Drain string
backpack when you adopt a new drain.
Lake Elmo Crosswalk Update
Public Works crews have started working on two new
crosswalk markings: one at Laverne Ave. N. and 39th Street,
and the other at 39th Street and Wildflower Dr. The project is
expected to be completed by May.
Find the Lake Elmo Crosswalk Policy, adopted by the city
council on December 3, 2024, here.
New Website Design Launching Soon!
We've been busy behind the scenes refreshing our City of Lake
Elmo website, and we're excited to share it soon.
It's been redesigned from the ground up, with a fresh look and
feel and packed full of new features. We've made it easier than
ever to navigate, so you can find what you're looking for in no
time.
Coming in May!
Watering and Irrigation Season
As we head into the irrigation season, please remember the
city ordinance allows properties connected to the city water
system to irrigate 2 days per week (according to the city
irrigation zone map). Irrigation is restricted from the hours of
5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hand watering is allowed at any time,
and new sod waivers are available if needed.
Using a smart irrigation controller device can further reduce
your water usage. For more information on watering
restrictions, please visit lakeelmo.gov.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure we all have sufficient
drinking water and fire protection.
Important Notice - Utility Rate Change
You will see an increase in your utility rates reflected on your 2025
Quarter 1 statement.
In a concentrated effort to secure funding for the operations and
maintenance of Lake Elmo's water treatment facilities and to place
the utility funds on a more stable long-term footing- the City Council
accepted the finance department’s recommendation for a rate
increase in the water and sewer funds, effective with the Quarter 1
bills this April. No increases are planned for stormwater fees in
2025.
Learn more about rate changes and sample calculations at Lakeelmo.gov.
Pothole Patching
Public Works crews have started to fill potholes on city streets.
Please reduce speed when approaching street crews.
You can report potholes by calling Public Works at 651-747-
3945 or report a pothole here.
Real ID ACT Deadline May 7
Are you planning to get your REAL ID? Federal enforcement
begins on May 7, but you can still apply for one any time after
that date.
A Real ID is needed to go through TSA airport security
checkpoints, enter certain federal buildings, or enter a U.S.
Military Base.
Other federally accepted IDs include:
-U.S. Passport or passport card
-Enhanced driver’s license or ID
-U.S. Department of Defense ID
-Permanent resident card
-Federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID
To find all acceptable documents, check online.
If you want to apply for a REAL ID, you can pre-apply online
and then go to your DMV to finish the application.
May Recycling Focus - Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are the most common unacceptable item found in
the recycling bin. Please don't put them in your curbside bin.
Instead, drop off plastic bags at local retailers, including grocery
stores, supermarkets, retail stores, convenience stores, and
drug stores. These are all common places to find plastic
bag recycling bins.
Mosquito Season is Coming
The snow has melted, and the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
District (MMCD) is working on preventative measures to
reduce the summer onslaught of nuisance and disease-
carrying mosquitoes in the Twin Cities.
An added tool to assist with operations this year will be the
addition of more treatment drones to the MMCD fleet. For the
first time in 2025, drones will be used to treat mosquito larvae
in standing water in every county of the District.
MMCD trucks, helicopters, drones, and staff may be seen in
neighborhoods, parks, and near wetlands. This year, MMCD
expanded its UAS/drone program, and it will now be active in
every county so that residents can see them more regularly.
At times, MMCD employees may need to cross private property
to access and check areas for mosquito larvae. If you have
questions about mosquito control activities or concerns about
an employee, please call the MMCD front desk at (651) 645-
9149 or visit MMCD.org.
New Fish Consumption Guidelines in
Minnesota
As anglers prepare for the annual rite of passage known as the
Fishing Opener on May 10, some new guidelines should be
noted.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released new
fish consumption guidelines due to the presence of per- and
poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in fish from certain
water bodies in 10 Minnesota counties.
Some waterbodies in the Twin Cities metro area—Anoka,
Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties
—are affected.
Some waterbodies in Douglas, Martin, McLeod, and St. Louis
counties are affected in Greater Minnesota.
Discover information about your lake
here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html
Master Gardeners Plant Sale
Mark your calendars now for the annual Plant Sale and Garden
Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, hosted by the
University of Minnesota Extension Washington County Master
Gardener Volunteer program.
Home gardeners can buy a wide selection of plants, including
varieties featured in ready-made garden exhibits, and get their
gardening questions answered at a free Diagnostic Clinic.
This event will be held inside Building A at the Washington
County Fairgrounds, located at Highway 5 and Manning
Avenue in Lake Elmo. Bring a wagon or cart for shopping;
cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.
For more information about the UMN Extension Washington
County Master Gardener Volunteer Program, visit:
washingtoncountymg.org.
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
Tickets are sold out for this spring’s fundraiser at the Lake
Elmo Inn Event Center, but if you are still looking for a way to
pitch in, you can bid on something in our online auction! We
have seven items and/or experiences with a range of dollar
values. To view the items and learn more about bidding, go to
https://sminc-lake-elmo.org/2025onlineauction/ or find it
through the Fundraiser tab on the website.
Saturday, May 10, is our monthly buckthorn removal day.
However, May is a tough time to spot buckthorn, so we are
going to pull garlic mustard and plant some oak seedlings
instead. The time is the same as usual, 9:30 a.m., but we will
meet at the west entrance (at the “Pup Park”) instead.
Typically, we supply the tools, but we have a limited supply of
shovels, so if you have one, you can bring that, which would be
helpful!
On May 17th, we have a double header! At 10 a.m. Keith
Zilinski, a local rockhound and member of a number of
geological organizations, will be here to talk about Minnesota
rocks and agates. It’s a free event, open to rock lovers of all
ages, and you’re encouraged to bring rocks that need
identifying! That afternoon, at 1 p.m., Washington County
Master Gardener Peter Fritz will be here to give a guided tour
of our Tree Trek exhibit. The trees are just starting to leaf out—
and hopefully one or two will have flowers—and we’re hoping
for a beautiful spring walk for this one. This event is also free
and open to the public.
What do my property taxes pay for?
Property Tax Calculator
The City Council adopted the 2025 Tax Levy on December
17. City Finance Dept. staff has developed a downloadable tool
that estimates 2025 city taxes (not other jurisdictions) on your
home and shows approximately how much of your taxes go
toward each service area.
Check it out here.
Lead Service Line Inventory Project
The City of Lake Elmo has completed and submitted its service
line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The service line inventory is publicly available, and you can
check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead
Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT) at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/.
To complete the service line inventory, our system gathered
information from building records, along with door-to-door
efforts and self-verification. As of September 27, 2024, our
inventory consists of 0 lead lines, two galvanized lines requiring
replacement, 280 lines with unknown materials, and 3,327 non-
lead service lines.
You may contact the Lake Elmo Public Works Department at
any time to update the tracking records. You may also contact
Lake Elmo staff @ 651-747-3946.
Attention – NEW Utility Billing Payment Portal
We have moved to an intuitive new Utility Billing Portal called Paya.
Grab your City of Lake Elmo utility account number and proceed to Paya at the link below to register,
manage your account, set up autopay, or make payments.
LakeElmo.PayaCP.com
If Autopay isn't for you, try out the new Text-and-Pay option.
If you need assistance, reach out to us at RNess@LakeElmo.gov or call 651-747-3906.
Safe Drinking Water Meeting Replay is Available
The City of Lake Elmo, along with the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), hosted
an informational meeting regarding PFAS, safe drinking water, and
private wells on July 25, 2024, where presentations were given by
MPCA, MDH, and Lake Elmo’s City Engineer as well as a question-
and-answer period for the participants. The presentation slides are
available here as well as printed copies are available at City Hall. A
recording of the meeting is available here.
The Lake Elmo Community Development
Department is happy to share our new Sign
Guide, created to help local businesses and
residents understand the sign regulations in our
community. This guide offers information on the
types of signs allowed, size requirements,
placement, and more. Whether you are a
business owner looking to advertise or a
resident curious about neighborhood guidelines,
this is a good resource for you. Check out the
Lake Elmo Sign Guide (linked here: Sign Guide)
to learn more.
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Our mission is to provide quality public services in a fiscally responsible manner in
partnership with our community.
City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Avenue North | Lake Elmo, MN 55042 US
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