HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Summer SourceSummer 2013
City Hall - 3800 Laver ne Avenue Nor th - Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 (651) 747-3900
Community is most fre-
quently defined as a
group of people sharing
common characteristics
or interests. The key to
building stronger commu-
nities is the ability to find
a common ground that
honors a wide variety of
viewpoints and beliefs. It is fairly safe to proclaim that citi-
zens of Lake Elmo share a collective vision of living and
working in an environment that is vibrant, offers a high
quality of life, and enhances the natural, open space en-
vironment. It is also fair to say that not every citizen has
the same ideas on how to achieve this vision; especially
when addressing change.
In an effort to respect diverse attitudes and opinions, a
group of community leaders have partnered with City of-
ficials and staff to launch an initiative called ‘Speak Your
Peace’. This effort provides the tools necessary for reach-
ing agreements in a respectful and efficient manner. The
campaign is centered on the Nine Tools of Civility, they
are: Pay Attention, Listen, Be Inclusive, Don’t Gossip,
Show Respect, Seek Common Good, Repair Damaged
Relationships, Give Constructive Criticism, and Take Re-
sponsibility.
“The City of Lake Elmo is embarking on a period of inevi-
table growth, which will affect every citizen of Lake Elmo
in some capacity,” said Mike Reeves, campaign repre-
sentative. “It is more important now for citizens to get
engaged in our community. Speak Your Peace will equip
us to address upcoming changes collaboratively, proac-
tively, and respectfully.”
The Nine Tools of Civility don’t only apply to efficient lo-
cal government. Every group including church bodies,
service organizations, school groups, and the workplace,
can benefit from the principles of Speak Your Peace. The
campaign offers the tools necessary to communicate
more effectively, and become more productive as a result.
The campaign was officially launched with City Council
passing a resolution on April 16, 2013 to incorporate the
Nine Tools of Civility as the foundation for conducting
business of the council. The resolution was affirmed by
city commissioners and introduced to the public with a
community Speak Your Peace pledge signing event on
May 22, 2013. Residents are welcomed and encouraged
to sign the pledge, which is on display at City Hall. The
next phase includes bringing customized presentations to
groups and organizations in the community, introducing
the tools and providing skills training. For more informa-
tion or to schedule a presentation, visit www.SpeakYour-
PeaceLakeElmo.org.
Building A Stronger Community
City Hall - 3800 Laver ne Avenue Nor th - Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 (651) 747-3900
Above, City Administer Dean Zuleger
speaks to a room full of Lake Elmo
residents and community leaders that
gathered at City Hall on May 22 to
sign the Speak Your Peace pledge
and to support the vision of a stronger
community.
Left, the Speak Your Peace pledge
is on display in the lobby of City Hall,
awaiting new signatures.
Lake Elmo Speak Your Peace campaign strengthens community in a civil way
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
3
Summer 2013
In advance of future growth in the
community, the City has been working
on a project to update and reorganize
the City’s Zoning Code. In addition to
reorganizing the structure of the Code
to make it more intuitive, the City has
been evaluating several ordinances
for effectiveness. This evaluation
revealed that several ordinances in
the Zoning Code should be updated
to either reflect best practices, or
make them easier to administer. Two
of the ordinances that have recently
been reviewed as part of the Zoning
Code Update Project are the Fence
Ordinance and the Sign Ordinance.
Regarding the Fence Ordinance,
the recent changes include more
straightforward standards for
commercial fencing. In addition,
residential fences are allowed to be
solid up to six feet in height, with the
exception of front and side (corner)
yard setback areas. This change is
a departure from the previous fence
ordinance that required that any
portion of a residential fence above
42” to be 75% open to air and light.
Regarding the Sign Ordinance, the
City’s evaluation revealed that it
was poorly organized, challenging
to administer, and restrictive in
some areas of the community. The
City adopted a new sign ordinance
that is better organized, more
comprehensive and less restrictive
than the previous ordinance. Staff felt
that evaluating this ordinance for best
practices was important in advance
of future commercial or mixed-use
growth in the community. The new
ordinance is designed with helping
local businesses in mind, by updating
it to reflect the use of current sign
technology.
To view copies of the new ordinances,
visit www.lakeelmo.org/government/
municipal-code.
Changes Made to City’s Zoning Code
What do you envision your community to look like in the
future? That is the fundamental question that a group of
Lake Elmo officials, residents and business owners sought
to answer as they participated in the Lake Elmo Branding
and Theming Study. The goal of the Branding and Them-
ing Study was to establish a kit of design elements and
amenities that can be utilized within public rights-of-way
and other community spaces to establish a unique brand
or aesthetic that reflects Lake Elmo’s character. These
design elements and amenities include lighting, signage,
fencing, landscaping, and other elements that contribute to
an attractive streetscape. With the incorporation of these
design elements, it is the ultimate goal that the Lake Elmo
community will look and feel different than other surround-
ing communities.
The Study was led by Damon Farber and Associates, a
locally renowned landscape architecture firm. The five
month effort included a visual listening exercise and visual
preference exercise to determine what the desired design
aesthetic was for the public spaces. Damon Farber and
Associates used the information collected from these ex-
ercises to draft multiple concepts related to Lake Elmo’s
brand or theme. The various concepts were discussed at
multiple meetings where members of the public could pro-
vide feedback and input about the designs.
Given the upcoming growth that the City is planning for,
it is important to have these design elements in place be-
fore new development occurs. As the amenities and de-
sign elements are established, it is the City’s goal that
private growth and development match or incorporate
similar themes and styles. In other words, if the City gets
the design of the public spaces right, the private spaces
will follow. In terms of public spaces, these designs can
be especially important in the construction of new collec-
tor roads or other transportation corridors. In addition, the
City has been working with Washington County on a future
reconstruction of Lake Elmo Avenue (CSAH-17). As part
of this project, the City intends to incorporate these design
elements and amenities into the streetscape of Lake Elmo
Avenue. Within the Branding and Theming Study, there
are multiple renderings of how these design elements
could be incorporated into downtown, among other areas.
However, it is important to note that the final design will
be determined by Washington County with input and col-
laboration from the City of Lake Elmo. Nevertheless, it is
critical to have a document like this in place to ensure that
no opportunities are missed in terms of implementing the
established vision for the community. It also helps commu-
nicating the City’s vision to both private and public parties
who are engaged in Lake Elmo’s future.
The Study is available online for viewing at www.lakeemo.
org/theming.
Envisioning the Future Look of Lake Elmo
An aerial view of what downtown Lake Elmo could look like, based on feedback
received from a City Branding and Theming Study.
Sign and Fence Ordinances Evaluated to Become More Straightforward
4
Summer 2013
State Highway 5 to be Converted to Three-Lane Roadway
Highway 5 through downtown
Lake Elmo will undergo some
changes this September which
will improve the roadway surface,
reduce vehicle speeds, and improve
safety. The improvements are being
implemented from recommendations
outlined in a State Highway 5 Road
Safety Audit completed earlier this
year by an independent panel of
transportation and traffic engineers.
The improvements will include:
• A thin surface overlay to restore
the pavement and provide a skid
resistant wearing surface;
• Convert Highway 5 to a 3-lane
roadway with center left turn
lanes;
• Install a raised center median
refuge for safe pedestrian crossing
at the Elementary School, and;
• Adding center and edge rumble
strips along the rural segments to
improve safety.
With construction set to begin this
September, MnDOT will be placing
a thin overlay along Highway 5 from
the Jamaca Avenue Roundabout,
through Downtown, to the four-lane
transition at 58th Street North. The
overlay will help to restore and protect
the pavement and provide a skid
resistant wearing surface. This work
will be completed under traffic with no
significant lane closures. The “micro
surfacing” project will cover up the
existing pavement markings.
Given the opportunity to re-stripe the
roadway, MnDOT has been working
with the City of Lake Elmo to place the
new pavement markings in a manner
that converts Highway 5 to a 3-lane
roadway through the downtown area,
from CSAH 17 (north leg) to 39th
Street North. A 3-lane roadway that
includes one lane for each direction,
plus the introduction of center left
turn lanes, is considered a mitigation
strategy for rear end crashes; the
type of safety concerns experienced
along this segment of road. The lane
configuration will also provide a traffic
calming affect resulting in reduced
travel speeds.
Outside of the downtown segment,
between the Jamaca Avenue
Roundabout and the north leg of
CSAH 17, and between 39th Street
North and 58th Street North, MnDOT
will be adding center rumble strips and
replacing the edge rumble strips to
alert inattentive drivers when they drift
from their lanes. Rumble strips are
an effective safety measure and cost
effective improvement for reducing
accidents due to driver carelessness.
Road safety improvements that will begin in Sep-
tember include converting Highway 5 into a 3-lane
roadway, like the one pictured above.
The City of Lake Elmo and the Metropolitan Council
have recently agreed to amend the 2005 Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties, which
will ultimately give the City additional flexibility to meet the
household and population targets that serve as the basis
for the agreement. Under the original agreement, the City
would have been required to have a significant number
of new housing units connected to the regional sanitary
sewer system by 2015. Due to a number of factors,
including a major downturn in the economy, the City
successfully negotiated revisions to the MOU document
in 2010 that pushed back the dates for compliance with
the population and household forecasts. With the recent
approval of an updated land use plan for the I-94 Corridor
planning area, the City proposed a revised developing
staging schedule that moves the timing for new housing
and commercial development further into the future. The
chart to the right identifies the City’s new household and
population forecasts in the Comprehensive Plan and as
part of a revised MOU.
At this time, the revised projections do not extend
the development time frame out beyond 2030, which
means the same amount of population growth has been
compressed into a narrower range of dates. The Met
Council has acknowledged the City’s concerns that the
proposed timing for new growth and development may not
be attainable within this compressed time frame, and the
revised MOU contains language that will allow the City and
Met Council to continue to negotiate a revised development
schedule. The City Council has ultimately established a
goal to achieve a reduced overall population number and to
move the target date back to 2040. Negotiations between
the City and Met Council will continue as the Met Council
develops revised household and population forecasts for
the Twin Cities region later this year.
For additional information about the City’s household
and population forecasts, please contact the Planning
Department, at 651-747-3900.
Lake Elmo and Metropolitan Council Ratify Revised MOU
Lake Elmo Housing & Population Projections 2010-2030
Year 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Total Households 2,779 3,519 5,114 6,524 8,727
Total Population 8,069 9,677 14,064 17,941 24,000
5
Summer 2013
Meet Cal and Nola Wilkens, the new
friendly faces at the Lake Elmo Wine
Company. The couple took ownership
of the business after previous owner,
Kim Ommerborn, moved out of the
area. Always desiring to own and run
a business of their own, they learned
about the sale of the wine shop in an
ad in the St. Paul newspaper.
“Owning a wine shop was the farthest
thing from our minds but the listing
just popped out at us,” said Cal. “Nola
and I discussed the idea for only a
moment before knowing that this was
an opportunity that we had to pursue.”
Cal, a former executive in the food
manufacturing industry, and Nola, a
school speech pathologist realized
that the wine shop would provide the
perfect opportunity to mix their shared
love of wine with their individual skill
sets: food and education.
“I love to meet the people that come
into the store and chat with them
about wine,” said Nola. “There are
so many factors involved that affect
the characteristics of each wine from
the geographical region and type of
grape, to the type of soil in which the
grapes were planted. I have learned
and continue to learn so much since
opening the store and I enjoy sharing
that knowledge with our customers.”
Though it felt like an innate calling to
purchase the shop, it was the store’s
unique charm and the delightful small
town location that sold them. They
were also pleased to find that the pur-
chase of the shop was accompanied
by loyal customers.
“In order to offer consistent service
that the customers are used to we are
following the previous business plan
and offering special events,” said Cal.
“We still keep in touch with Kim, which
has been great for all parties involved
during this transition.”
In addition to special events, Lake
Elmo Wine Company offers daily wine
tastings and lives up to its reputation
for offering unique wines that are high
in both quality and value. The Wilkens
also hope to offer patio seating this
summer. Lake Elmo Wine Company
is located at 3511 Lake Elmo Ave-
nue North. Business hours are Mon-
day, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday
through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To stay informed on upcoming events
and special offers, call 651-621-1520,
visit www.lakeelmowineco.com or fol-
low Lake Elmo Wine Company on
Facebook.
Cal and Nola Wilkens say taking over ownership of
the Lake Elmo Wine Company was meant to be.
Business Feature: New Faces Gracing the Shops of DowntownLake Elmo Wine Shop a Dream Come True for New Owners
Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop is looking a lit-
tle different these days. That’s thanks
to a new (larger) space, remodel and
rebranding.
The change took place when Robert
Hawkins took ownership on May 1,
2013, the day that previous owner
Mike Alwin retired. Hawkins moved
the store into a larger space located
a few doors down from the original
location to allow for a wider selection
of the high quality products that cus-
tomers are used to seeing. Finished
off with cozy furnishings and updated
branding (designed by Hawkins’ wife
Rhea, a graphic designer), the shop
emits a comfortable, relaxed vibe.
Hawkins, born and raised in Montana,
has spent a large part of his career
as a fly fishing guide. When a friend
called and told him the shop was for
sale, he jumped at the chance to make
the move to Minnesota to explore and
teach in new waters.
“This store has a rich history, which
I love,” said Hawkins. “But it was the
opportunity to continue the tradition of
teaching and guiding that sold me.”
The store, which has been a core trout
shop, now includes warm water fish-
ing training focused on bass, pike and
muskie.
Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop is located
at 3459 Lake Elmo Avenue North.
Store hours are Wednesdays and
Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays
and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat-
urdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays
8 a.m. to noon. For more information
about the store and educational of-
ferings visit www.bobmitchellsfly-
shop.com or call 651-770-5854.
Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop: New Look, New Space, New Opportunities
Newly owned and remodeled Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop
is a great place to sit down and tell a fish tale or two.
6
Summer 2013
In most cities, the summer is consid-
ered over after Labor Day weekend.
In Lake Elmo, the summer fun doesn’t
end until after Lake Elmo Days, the
annual community celebration!
Lake Elmo Days, previously coined
Fall Festival, began in 2007, as a 50th
Anniversary celebration for the Lake
Elmo Fire Department. The event
has since grown into a two-day festi-
val featuring a parade, local business
expo, food vendors, live music, pig
roast, silent auction, Jaycees cupcake
walk, Cedar Pet Clinic’s Everybody
Wins Children’s Pet Show, and more!
This year’s event features new activi-
ties, adding extra entertainment value
and involvement for youth. Battle of
the Bands will be the main event on
Friday night. The competition will bring
up to eight local amateur bands head-
to-head to vie for the grand prize,
awarded by a panel of judges. Added
to the lineup of Saturday’s festivities
will be a community talent showcase,
providing our local performers an
opportunity to strut their stuff. Also
added this year is the revival of the
float competition. Neighborhoods and
businesses will compete for the honor
of displaying the traveling “best float”
trophy. Lake Elmo Bank also holds
their annual Community Day event
during this weekend, which serves as
a great kick-off to the event.
Lake Elmo Days will take place on
September 6 and 7, 2013, in Lions
Park Lake Elmo. Applications are cur-
rently being accepted for parade par-
ticipants, expo vendors, battle of the
bands contestants, and talent show-
case performers. For more informa-
tion, including a detailed schedule of
events visit www.lakeelmo.org/elmo-
days, or contact Alyssa at 651-747-
3908 or amacleod@lakeelmo.org.
Battle of the Bands, Talent Showcase
New Additions to 2013 Lake Elmo Days Upcoming Summer Events in Lake Elmo
July 4, 2013 - Lake Elmo
Kid’s Parade and Ice Cream
Social
All are welcome to join in the Fourth of
July Kid’s parade down through down-
town Lake Elmo. Participants should
be available to line up by 11:50 a.m. on
Lake Elmo Avenue, south of 32nd Street.
The parade is followed by an ice cream
in Lions Park, hosted by the Lake Elmo
Rotary Club. For more information con-
tact event coordinator, Steve Johnson at
612-670-4243.
July 13, 2013 - Go Comman-
do Adventure Race at Green
Acres Recreation Area
In it’s fourth year, this military themed ad-
venture race is the only of its kind in the
East Metro. In addition to the race, the
event includes live music and conces-
sions. Spectator passes are available
for $20, which includes a complimentary
backpack, and lunch voucher. Parking
is off site; shuttles will be available from
the Washington County Fairgrounds.
For more information visit www.gocom-
mando.us.
August 3-4, 2013 - NW Inter-
national Regatta Champion-
ship on Lake Elmo
The Minneapolis Rowing Club will host
their 110th NW International Regatta
Championship, which will include 52
events and approximately 400 rowers
from the United States and Canada. The
event will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on
both days. Spectators are encouraged to
watch the competitions from the fishing
line at the north end of Lake Elmo.
August 8-11, 2013 - Huff ‘n
Puff Days in Lions Park
More than just a four-day softball tourna-
ment, the Lake Elmo Jaycees make this
truly a fun family weekend event for the
St. Croix Valley area. In addition to the
96-team softball tournament, there will
be kids games/activities, beanbag and
volleyball tournaments, free prize draw-
ing, concessions, and more. All proceeds
from this event go back into the commu-
nity. For more information visit www.la-
keelmojaycees.org.
Get into reading this summer! It’s
not too late to get involved in Lake
Elmo Public Library’s summer pro-
gram, which will run through August
17. The program is filled with games,
programs, prizes, and author visits.
The program is geared for elementary
through junior high aged students,
who can register throughout the sum-
mer for tracking reading time and be
eligible to win prizes. Every Saturday
a name will be drawn to win a Target
gift card. The more visits to the library
the more chances to win. Story time
for preschoolers will expand to every
Friday at 10:30 am.
Children will be rewarded for time
invested in reading, including an ice
cream cone from Gorman’s at five
hours and rewards from PINZ at 10
and 20 hours. Lake Elmo Bank and
Joe Park Golf @ Country Air Wedge
Course have also donated special
gifts.
Special programs will take place ev-
ery Wednesday including PowerUp 4
Kids and Kendama Tricks with Mayor
Mike Pearson on July 24. Please visit
http://lakeelmopubliclibrary.org for a
full list of events.
Lake Elmo Library
Offers Summer Reading Program,
Special Programs for Kids
Local students are “fired up” to read in the Lake Elmo
Library’s summer reading program!
7
Summer 2013
Summer is here
and for many
residents in Lake
Elmo that means
bicycles will be
coming out of
storage and hit-
ting the streets. Before you venture
out, there are safety checks that
should be addressed. First, check
the pressure on your bicycle’s tires. It
is not uncommon for tires to lose air
over the winter or obtain a crack. Sec-
ond, check your brakes and cables to
make sure they are operating proper-
ly. Cracks in the cables are one of the
leading causes in bicycle related ac-
cidents. Third, check your chain and
make sure it is set at the correct ten-
sion and it is lubricated. If your chain
is rusted, make sure to change it be-
fore you venture out on your bicycle.
Finally, check all of your reflectors on
the bicycle to make sure that none
of them are broken. If you observe a
broken reflector, make sure to replace
it immediately for your safety. Most
importantly, WEAR YOUR HELMET.
There have been several accidents
every year with serious injuries that
could have been avoided if the rider
had been wearing a helmet.
It is important to keep in mind that
there are state laws that apply to bi-
cycles. The following is a summarized
list of some of the laws most com-
monly overlooked:
• Persons riding on a bicycle shall not
attach themselves to any vehicle on a
roadway;
• Every person operating a bicycle on
a roadway shall ride as close as prac-
ticable to the right-hand curb or edge
of the roadway. Children under the
age of 10 may use the sidewalk, but
be aware and careful of walkers;
• If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder
of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel
in the same direction as adjacent ve-
hicular traffic;
• A continuous arm signal is required
during the last 100 feet prior to a turn
or lane change (unless the arm is
needed to control the bike) and while
stopped, waiting to turn;
• No person shall operate a bicycle at
nighttime unless the bicycle or its op-
erator is equipped with a lamp which
shall emit a white light visible from
a distance of at least 500 feet to the
front and with a red reflector visible
from all distances from 100 feet to 600
feet to the rear.
Please see Minnesota statute 169.22
for a complete list. Have a safe sum-
mer!
From the County Sheriff Department: Bike Safely this Summer
Members of the Lake Elmo Fire De-
partment were recognized at their an-
nual awards banquet held on Sunday,
May 5, 2013, at the Machine Shed
Restaurant.
Captain Bernard Sachs and Fire-
fighter Mark VanDemmeltraadt were
awarded with plaques to thank them
for their service as they retired from
the team. Captain Sachs was with the
department for 12 years, and followed
in the tradition of the Sachs family as
a member of the LEFD. As the Train-
ing Captain, he was instrumental in
improving the department’s training
process. Vandemmeltraadt, giving 18
years of service, was very involved in
the development of the department’s
surface water rescue program and
ongoing water rescue training.
Other members received pins to com-
memorate milestones in their service
careers. Captain Mike Cornell was
acknowledged for 5 years of service.
Members receiving pins for 10 years
of service included Firefighter Lee
Olson, Safety Officer Brian Hauser,
and Firefighter John Laatsch. Fire-
fighter and Engineer Brian Johnson
was honored with a pin and ring for 20
years of service.
The Fire Department also presents
an “Outstanding Service Award” each
year to recognize a member of the
community that has gone above and
beyond within the department, the fire
service, or the community at large.
This year’s recipient was Al Bever,
whose primary contributions included
building maintenance and organiza-
tion of office space.
Lake Elmo Firefighters
Recognized for Years of Service
MARCH, APRIL, MAY
EMERGENCY
CALL RESPONSE
Fire: 27, Rescue: 13, Medical: 53
Please Don’t
Feed the Deer
Throughout the spring and early
summer the City has received
several concerns from residents
whose gardens have been dam-
aged by the over population of
deer roaming through City neigh-
borhoods.
City officials have been working
with the DNR to discuss options
for reducing the deer population.
Until a course of action is decid-
ed, residents are being urged to
stop feeding the deer.
Feeding deer not only leads to
bringing a surplus of deer into the
community, but it is harmful to the
deers’ health and diminishes their
ability to survive in their natural
habitats. Refraining from feed-
ing deer will also help stop the
spreading of diseases and keep
our wildlife healthy.
8
Summer 2013
The City of Lake
Elmo has the hon-
or of being recog-
nized as a Min-
nesota GreenStep
City and will re-
ceive an award for advancing to become a Step 2 City by
completing seven best practices. The award will be recog-
nized at the upcoming League of Minnesota Cities (LMC)
2013 Annual Conference on June 20th. This award shows
community members and other cities across Minnesota
that Lake Elmo is taking great steps in the direction of
energy and resource conservation and innovation.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance,
and recognition program. As one of 56 participating cit-
ies, Lake Elmo is helping to lead the way in sustainabil-
ity across the state of Minnesota. Lake Elmo has worked
hard to implement best practices in order to fulfill their
sustainability goals. Actions that are taken within the pro-
gram focus on cost savings, energy use reduction, and
the encouragement of civic innovation.
Details on the best practices the City has completed can
be seen by visiting www.MnGreenStep.org, clicking on
“See all cities” next to the map, and then clicking on the
Cityʹs name. This award is a great achievement for Lake
Elmo. By being part of a sustainability program, the 56
GreenStep cities are helping to secure Minnesota’s natu-
ral beauty for the future while also helping the cities and
regions thrive economically and socially.
About GreenStep Cities: Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a
voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program
to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life
goals. This free continuous improvement program, man-
aged by a public-private partnership, is based upon 28
best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by
completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level,
from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tai-
lored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and
energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation.
More at www.MnGreenStep.org.
Mayor
Mike Pearson
Council
Justin Bloyer
Nicole Park
Anne Smith
Wally Nelson
City Administrator
Dean Zuleger
Internet: www.lakeelmo.org
Email: comments@lakeelmo.org
POLICE-FIRE Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergency: (651) 439-9381
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3800 Laverne Ave. N., Lake Elmo MN 55042 • 651-747-3900
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Lake Elmo Recognized for
Environmental Sustainability Efforts
www.facebook.com/LakeElmoMN
Sixth-grade students from Lake Elmo Elementary participated in a tree-
planting ceremony at City Hall to celebrate Arbor Day and the City of
Lake Elmo’s 11th year (students are holding last year’s banner) as being
designated a Tree City USA.
Celebrating Arbor Day
and 11 Years as Tree City USA