HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-29-25 The FreshAugust 29, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Schedule
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 7:00 pm
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
The City of Lake Elmo will be closed on Monday, September 1, for Labor Day
The City of Lake Elmo will be closed Monday, September 1, to observe the Labor Day Holiday. City offices
will return to regular business hours on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Business Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
CITY BUSINESS
Reid Park Parking Lot Construction
The Reid Park parking lot will be under construction starting August
18. The project will extend the existing sidewalk from the park to 30th
Street, add a new trail, lay down a new asphalt surface, increase
parking spaces, and install concrete curbs to manage stormwater.
Access to the park will be limited to pedestrians during the week of
August 25, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of
September.
Public Works Crew is out doing Ditch Mowing
The Public Works crew is out in the community doing ditch mowing
and will continue for the next two weeks.
Ditch mowing improves sight distance for traffic, reduces snow
drifting onto the road, and lessens the need for chemicals to control
noxious weeds. Please drive safely.
Crack Fill and Seal Coat Projects have Begun
Over the next two weeks, the City of Lake Elmo will be out on the
streets doing some much-needed maintenance, including crack
sealing and seal coating.
These improvements help extend the life of our roads and keep them
in good shape for years to come. Please be patient and drive safely
around public works crews. See the complete map here.
It's Here!
Our much-anticipated new website is finally here! Visit LakeElmo.gov
and take a virtual tour.
Stay updated on news and other topics in Lake Elmo. Our new
website offers notifications about updates on road and trail closures,
detours, and important announcements through our Notify
Me option.
To sign up, navigate to the NOTIFY ME from the notifications tab in
the center of the home page at LakeElmo.gov, choose email options,
and/or if you prefer text messages on your phone, select that. Then
choose from different lists, such as News Flashes, Agendas, and
Calendars. It’s an easy way to stay informed about ongoing
developments. You can unsubscribe anytime!
ROAD PROJECTS
10th Street East of Palmer Drive to Manning Ave. To
Close August 18 for Three Weeks
10th Street east of Palmer Drive will close for three weeks starting
August 18th. This is the same closure that was announced a couple
of weeks ago, but the contractor encountered groundwater issues
and had to revise the plan to finish the school utility extension work.
Washington County / Lake Elmo Summer Road Projects
Washington County will begin Phase 3 of the County
Highway 15 (Manning Avenue) August 18.
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.
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.
Ivywood Park
Hammes Park features three separate playground areas, complete
with swings, slides, monkey bars, climbing walls, benches, and a
picnic table. This park is ADA accessible.
Visit Hammes Park at 9337 6th St. N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042, or visit
LakeElmo.gov to learn more about our parks.
LIFE IN LAKE ELMO
Come Celebrate With Us ~ Lake Elmo is Turning 100!
This year marks a century of community, tradition, and hometown
pride, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with you.
Join us Saturday, September 13, as we honor our history, enjoy
time together, and look forward to the next hundred years.
Details: Saturday, September 13, 2025
5:00 pm - Flyover
5:40 pm - Mayor's Welcome
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm - Food Trucks, Beer & Seltzer Trailer
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Street Dance with music by Tyte Phitt
9:00 pm - Fireworks Display
Lions Park, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
*You must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid ID to
consume alcohol.
Follow us at Centennial Street Dance & Celebration | Lake Elmo, MN
for more details.
Attention Lake Elmo Businesses, non-profit
organizations, and Neighborhoods!
You may have heard that Lake Elmo is celebrating its 100th
Anniversary this year. In September, we would like to encourage you
to host an event to commemorate this centennial celebration, or
weave the 100th anniversary into an existing event. Consider a
sidewalk chalk art contest, scavenger hunt, Lake Elmo temporary
tattoos, a contest around the theme of 100, or a game from 100
years ago.
To commemorate this special milestone, Connect Lake Elmo is also
highlighting Lake Elmo-themed products and promotions with a kick-
back to our community.
You can check out the Connect Lake Elmo website for more
information on how to submit your event or themed product/service.
Our summer camps are all wrapped up, but for our
littlest campers, the fun continues!
On Saturday, September 6th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., we will be
tagging monarch butterflies at Sunfish Lake Park. This is a free,
family-friendly event, and you are welcome to drop in any time.
Monarch tagging has been occurring since 1992, not only to
determine the origin of monarchs that overwinter in Mexico, but also
to track the timing and pace of their migration, mortality during
migration, and any changes in the distribution of monarch butterflies.
This is our first time tagging monarchs at the SMINC, and we are
seeking help in catching butterflies! No experience necessary – bring
your kids, your friends, and your neighbors to participate in this
citizen science project.
We have nets, but our supply is limited. If you can bring one, please
do. You will be in tall grass, so please remember to wear long pants
and closed-toe shoes. Bring water, bug spray, sunscreen, and,
again, if you have a net, bring that too. Hope to see you there!
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
Bluegrass Festival returns to Lake Elmo Park Reserve
Sept. 6
Washington County’s 23rd annual Bluegrass Festival will be from 2
to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Lake Elmo Park Reserve’s South
Pavilion.
The free family-friendly event fuses community, the great outdoors,
and homegrown bluegrass music.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for an
afternoon of enjoyment. Food trucks will be on-site selling food, and
there will be fun activities such as face painting. Camping is available
by reservation at the park’s campgrounds.
The music schedule is:
• 2-2:50 p.m. – Barley Jacks
• 3-3:50 p.m. – Triple Fiddle
• 4-4:50 p.m. – Brotherhood of Birds Band
• 5-6 p.m. – Monroe Crossing
The Bluegrass Festival is free with a vehicle permit ($7 daily, $30
annually), which is required to enter the park. No animals or alcohol
at the festival. Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at 1515 Keats Ave. N. in
Lake Elmo. See WashingtonCountyMN.gov/Parks for maps and
more information.
Inspire Your Community by Becoming a Recycling
Ambassador
Recycling Ambassadors take a six-week training program to learn
more about food waste, composting, environmental health, waste
systems, and general recycling. Recycling Ambassadors will have
opportunities to volunteer and encourage others to reduce, reuse,
and recycle.
Classes are held on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in
September/October. Classes are virtual, except for in-person tours
scheduled for Sept. 10 and Oct. 1.
Register at https://bit.ly/4mAX8r1.
BIZ RECYCLING
Get free recycling assistance at your apartment!
Property managers in Ramsey or Washington County can get free help
through BizRecycling—a program that offers:
· Free in-unit recycling bins and signage
· Expert waste-reduction guidance
· Up to $20,000 in grant funding for recycling improvements
In 2025, a 174-unit property in Oakdale observed an estimated cost savings
of $300 a month following the construction of an enclosure funded by the
BizRecycling grant!
This free assistance can help address illegal dumping, prevent
contamination and overage charges, and reduce overall trash volumes. Get
started by scheduling a free waste assessment and submitting a contact
form here:.
If you are a resident at an apartment and want to get involved,
forward this to your property manager!
*Multi-unit residential properties with 5 or more units in Ramsey and
Washington counties are eligible for BizRecycling assistance.
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.
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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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