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Home My WebLink About07-25-25 The Fresh NewsletterJuly 25, 2025 PUBLIC MEETINGS Schedule Planning Commission Meeting Monday, July 28, 2025, 6:30 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 the City of Lake Elmo, MN Summer Hours Beginning the week of Memorial Day and continuing through Labor Day, Lake Elmo City Hall’s business hours will be: Monday – Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Friday 8:00 AM – Noon. CITY BUSINESS Well 2 is now online! The water treatment plant at Well 2 has been installed and is now online for regular water consumption. In conjunction with Wells 4 and 5, Well 2 will now be integrated into the city's standard water system. All drinking water in Lake Elmo meets the standards set by the Minnesota Department of Health and the EPA. Sewer Line Jetting Continues Each year, the Public Works department cleans approximately one- third of the City’s sanitary sewer lines. Public Works began jetting on July 7th and will continue through the month of July. During the cleaning of sanitary sewer lines, air occasionally vents into a home through the sanitary sewer service line and ventilation system. During the jetting period, please check your sewer vents to ensure they are clear . Also, please keep the lid of your toilet down to prevent water splashing from your bathroom. Jetting will take place in the Hamlet on Sunfish Lake, Legacy at Northstar, Easton Village, Royal Golf, and Southwinds area this year. Exciting Opportunity in Lake Elmo! The City of Lake Elmo is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase and redevelopment or reuse of the City-owned property known as the former Fire Station and Parks Building (the “Property”). The property being sold is approximately 1.2 acres (about 0.8 acres excluding right-of-way dedication). (The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.) We invite creative and community-oriented individuals, developers, nonprofits, and businesses to share their vision for this iconic space. Whether it’s a new retail hub, community space, café, gallery, or something we haven’t even imagined yet, we want to hear from you! This is a unique opportunity to breathe new life into a well-loved space in our community! View the full RFP and details here: City of Lake Elmo, MN Deadline for submissions: noon on August 14, 2025 Let’s see what the next chapter holds for these special sites. The new City of Lake Elmo website is coming August 1st! SUMMER ROAD PROJECTS 10th Street East of Palmer Drive to Manning Ave. will close July 21 for three weeks Washington County has approved a permit request for connection to city utilities affecting portions of County Highway 17 (Lake Elmo Ave) and County Highway 10 (10th St N) in the City of Lake Elmo. For this work to occur safely, County Highway 10 must be temporarily closed to all traffic between the intersections of County Highway 15 (Manning Ave N) and Palmer Drive beginning Monday, July 21. The closure is expected to last approximately three weeks. If, for any reason, the closure is delayed or cancelled, we will update our notifications as soon as possible. Construction of Watermain Extension to begin June 23 The city's contractor began construction of the water main extension and roadway embankment for the Village Parkway crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) on Monday, June 23, 2025. The project is expected to be completed within three weeks. *Update: Watermain installation beneath the tracks has been completed. Roadway fill will be completed by the end of this week. The contractor will demobilize from the site until UPRR completes at- grade crossing improvements over the railroad tracks. There will be a fair amount of truck traffic along Upper 33rd Street for material delivery and construction operations. Washington County / Lake Elmo Summer Road Projects Washington County CSAH 13 (Inwood Ave) Construction Project The project continues, and all of northbound CSAH 13 traffic will detour to WB CSAH 10 -> NB I-694 -> EB CSAH 14 -> SB CSAH 13 -> EB CSAH 6. Southbound traffic will remain unrestricted. To learn more about the project, visit the Washington County Hwy 13 Improvement project here. Washington County will begin Phase 3 of the County Highway 15 (Manning Avenue) August 11. The project includes the addition of center left-turn lanes and right-turn lanes at key locations, the elimination of (northerly) 18th Street North access to Manning, a trail connection from 18th Street North to 18th Street Ct, and pavement rehabilitation. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the fall. You can learn more here. Washington County, in partnership with the City of Lake Elmo and the City of Oakdale, is planning an improvement project on County Highway 13 (Ideal Avenue) from County Highway 6 (Stillwater Boulevard) to County Highway 14 (34th Street North). You can join in person or online to meet the project team, provide input on existing conditions, and learn about the project schedule and next steps. When: Thursday, July 24, from 4 – 6 p.m. (no formal presentation). Where: Lake Elmo City Hall - Community Room (3880 Laverne Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042). LAKE ELMO PARKS AND RECREATION With over 500 acres of city parkland and more than 80 miles of trails, Lake Elmo features an extensive park and trail system for residents and visitors to enjoy and explore. Our park and trail system provides a diverse range of recreational opportunities, including organized sports, casual play, nature appreciation, hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, picnicking, relaxation, and many other outdoor activities. Each park offers high-quality recreational facilities and open spaces for the community to enjoy while preserving the history, setting, character, and unique features that make each park special. We are excited to highlight one of Lake Elmo Park's parks biweekly, inviting our community to learn about and appreciate the contributions these parks make to our growing and thriving community. The asphalt trails at Pebble, Demontreville, and Kleis Park have been completed. Firefly Park Walk, bike, or stroll over to Firefly Park, another neighborhood park located in the heart of Lake Elmo. Firefly Park features new playground equipment, plenty of benches for seating, and a picnic table for sharing snacks or lunch. Visit Firefly Park at 4107 Lavender Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042, or visit LakeElmo.gov to learn more about our parks. Lake Elmo Parks celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month in July! #WHERE YOU BELONG! LIFE IN LAKE ELMO Lake Elmo Night Out 2025 Looking for something to do on the first Tuesday of August that’s outdoors, in town, and with great people? Look no further—this is it! You’ll enjoy a fun summer night at this family-friendly event. Meet the local city, fire, police, safety workers, businesses, and organizations that make Lake Elmo the best place to work and live. Be a part of Lake Elmo Night Out on Tuesday, August 5th, at Lions Park from 6-8 pm! It's Official! Lake Elmo Will Celebrate Our 100th Anniversary in September! In 2025, Lake Elmo celebrates 100 years as a township/city! Local organizations, businesses, and neighborhoods are creating a wonderful mix of events to celebrate this special occasion, and the full calendar of events will be finalized by late August. We are also gathering photos, stories, and memories to share in September and maintain on our website for years to come. Click here to submit memories or your favorite hidden gem in Lake Elmo! Stillwater Area Schools Back to School Reminder Parents, get ready - it's back-to-school time again! Following are start dates: August 18* Grade 6 & 9 - Orientation and First Day of School. Grade K-5 - Ready, Set, Go conferences. August 19* Grade 7-8, 10-12 - First Day of School. August 21* Grade K-5 - First Day of School. August 25* Preschool - First Day of School. The new Lake Elmo Elementary School is on target to open for the 2026/27 Academic School Year. You can find out about your school here. Washington County will host a School Supply Swap Wednesday, August 6 Mark your calendars! Washington County will host a school supply swap on Wednesday, August 6, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Stop by the North Environmental Center (Forest Lake) or South Environmental Center (Woodbury) to pick up gently used supplies, such as notebooks, calculators, scissors, pencil cases, and more. Donations are not required to get items during the event. Also, there’s still time to donate items! Donations can be dropped off at an Environmental Center, Washington County Libraries, and Public Health and Environment office locations through August 2. Lake Elmo Farmer's Market Open for the Season! Get ready for some mid-year magic! Join us this Saturday, July 26, for a jolly Christmas in July celebration at the Lake Elmo Farmers Market. 9 am-1 pm at the Lake Elmo Elementary School parking lot. Start your shopping early with homemade gifts, including canned jams, pickles, salsa, honey, and more. Thank you so much to Jill Lundgren, who has created such a great market. Since 2014, she's been working throughout the years planning, coordinating, scheduling, and making the Lake Elmo Farmer's Market a local favorite. Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center's to host Star Gazing Event again in October Last year was a huge success, so we're hosting it again! The Lake Elmo Parks Commission approved extension of park hours at Sunfish Lake Park October 11 to enable us to hold our Stargazing Date Night after dark again this year. Join us, and our partner, the Minnesota Astronomical Society, for a guided tour of the night sky! The evening includes a light dinner, a presentation by The Minnesota Astronomical Society, and some powerful telescopes set up on the deck for guests to view the night sky. Please remember to dress for the weather! When: Saturday, October 11, 6:00 pm. Suggested donation: $15 to help with food costs. Look for registration for this event to open soon. For more information, visit: Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center STOP FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE Washington County is hosting the Stop Food Waste Challenge in August to engage residents in learning easy, practical skills to prevent wasted food, save money, and create a healthier environment. Participants choose actions from a list of strategies depending on what will make the most impact in their households, and they receive tips along the way to inspire them. We’re seeking partners to promote the challenge and recruit participants. There are many ways to be a partner in the challenge: · Promote the challenge with your community (silver level) · Create a neighborhood team for the challenge (gold) · Host a public event about how to not waste food (platinum) There is no cost to becoming a partner. Partners have their logo displayed on the challenge website, gain access to promotional materials, and get various recognition and cross-promotion during the challenge. See the Stop Food Waste Challenge partnership guide for details on partnership opportunities. Fill out the partnership form to become a 2025 Stop Food Waste Challenge partner. Stop the Food Waste Challenge ORGANICS RECYCLE RIGHT? NO! Pet Litter & Poop Always toss pet and animal droppings/poop/bedding into the trash and not into your organics cart or backyard composting bin. Have a question on recycling? Visit Washington County Environmental Centers here. Watering Season and Irrigation Lake Elmo City Watering Ordinance allows properties connected to the city water system to irrigate twice a week, as indicated on the city's irrigation zone map. Irrigation is restricted from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hand watering is permitted 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. What Do My Taxes Pay For? The City Council adopted the 2025 Tax Levy on December 17. City Finance staff have developed a downloadable property tax calculator that estimates 2025 city taxes (no other jurisdictions) on your home. It shows approximately how much of your taxes are allocated to each service area. Check it out here. 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, and 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. Join us on Nextdoor Visit our website 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 Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice