HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-19-25 The Fresh Weekly NewsletterSeptember 19, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Schedule
Planning Commission Meeting - Cancelled
Monday, September 22, 2025, 6:30 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
CITY BUSINESS
Pickleball Court Changes
We understand that pickleball has quickly grown in popularity and
brings many neighbors together, but we also recognize concerns
about noise from the courts.
To help balance recreation with neighborhood peace, the City has
set all city park pickleball court hours from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Play is limited to daylight hours only, and no lighting will be used or
allowed after sunset. These guidelines ensure everyone can enjoy
the courts while respecting the quiet and comfort of nearby homes.
Out of respect for our surrounding neighborhoods, the practice walls
at the Pebble and Tablyn courts will be removed to eliminate extra
noise. Park users are reminded that amplified music is not permitted
on the courts.
To further reduce sound impacts, the City will research and
recommend options like sound-reducing barriers and additional
landscaping with trees and bushes for consideration in 2026. These
steps continue our effort to balance recreational opportunities with
the comfort of nearby residents.
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.
Keep up With What's Going on at the City
Did you know the RFP for the purchase of the former Fire Station
was finalized on September 17, and three proposals were reviewed
during the Economic Development Authority's special meeting on
Wednesday? The finalist was selected and will be presented at the
next city council meeting on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
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
Road Closure on 39th Street, September 22, 2025, for
two days
The development contractor plans to close 39th Street on September
22nd and 23rd. There will be signage on Wildflower Drive
(southbound).
Road Closure on Hudson Blvd East of Inwood
Hudson Boulevard east of Inwood Avenue will be closed to
westbound traffic, along with a full closure of Hudson Boulevard east
of Eagle Point Boulevard, starting September 11, 2025, to complete
a forcemain replacement project. Business access will be fully open
west of Julia to the point of the road closure.
The closure and detour route are shown on the attached drawing.
Pre-warning signs were installed last week to notify drivers of the
upcoming work. It is expected to remain in place for about 7 weeks,
weather permitting. Emergency services and school district
transportation representatives have also been notified.
Washington County / Lake Elmo Summer Road Projects
Washington County's Phase 3 of the County Highway
15 (Manning Avenue)
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.
Kleis Park
Kleis Park has a new playground with a paved trail for bikers,
strollers, and walkers. The baseball field is set on plenty of green
space, and the mature trees make a great spot for a picnic.
Visit Kleis Park at 5285 Jamaca Ave, Lake Elmo, MN 55042, or visit
LakeElmo.gov to learn more about our parks.
LIFE IN LAKE ELMO
Lake Elmo Fire Department Open House
Please join us at the Lake Elmo Fire Department Open House on
Monday, September 22, from 4 pm to 7 pm.
This is your chance to meet your firefighters, sheriff deputies &
Lakeview EMS staff.
Station Tours, Rescue & K9 Demonstrations, Car Seat Safety with
Regions Hospital, Hands Only CPR, and Fire Prevention tips.
Treats provided by The Fields at Arbor Glen.
Centennial Street Dance recap
Lake Elmo’s Centennial Street Dance was a lively community
celebration featuring food trucks, live music, bounce houses for kids,
and a festive beer tent. Families and friends gathered to enjoy the
evening, capped off with a dazzling fireworks display that lit up the
night sky.
See the photos here.
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center Fall
Fundraiser
Is it almost time to close down the gardens? There are lots you can
do to keep your plants coming back, including saving the seeds for
next spring (and beyond). On Thursday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m.,
we will be presenting a class on harvesting and saving seed from
native plants.
The SMINC is happy to partner with the Washington County Master
Gardeners to welcome Master Gardeners Chris Bremer and Diane
Clavel for this event. Learn how to harvest different native plant
seeds. When the seed or pod is dry enough to harvest, learn how to
clean the seeds and how to store them for later use. Also included is
an introduction to winter sowing of native seeds. The cost for the
class is $10 per person.
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
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.
Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste should never be thrown in the trash, but
many items can be safely recycled or disposed of at designated
collection sites.
This includes all batteries (except EV batteries), drain and oven
cleaners, fire extinguishers, fluorescent lights, mothballs, nail polish
and remover, aerosol cans (note: empty cans may go in the
garbage), polishes with solvents, spot removers, and other
household cleaners marked with words like caution, warning, danger,
or poison.
Mercury thermometers and thermostats used cooking oil, and vaping
devices with e-liquids can also be properly recycled to protect the
environment and prevent harmful materials from ending up in
landfills.
When you're fall-cleaning, remember to remove products from your
garage that may freeze and take unwanted items to a HHW facility
for proper disposal. You can take them here.
National Thank a Police Officer Day is Saturday,
September 20, 2025
Saturday is National Thank a Police Officer Day. Thank a Police
Officer Day transcends mere expressions of gratitude; it serves as a
means to build bridges between law enforcement and the
communities they protect. By demonstrating our appreciation, we
contribute to fostering deeper understanding and mutual respect.
This can lead to enhanced relationships and cultivate a safer, more
harmonious community for all.
Did you know the City of Lake Elmo contracts with the Washington
County Sheriff's Office for our local police services? View the
Washington County Sheriff's page on our website to view their
monthly newsletter.
Join the Lake Elmo Rotary
Come and join the Lake Elmo Rotary Club. We are a dynamic group
of women and men doing great work in the community and looking
for other members of the community who believe in providing service
to others, promoting integrity, and understanding to others.
Lake Elmo Rotary Club - Free Breakfast Coupon
Join us the 1st or 3rd Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 AM
Lake Elmo Inn, 3442 Lake Elmo Ave., Lake Elmo MN
Please RSVP Mondays by noon - text Liz at 651.283.8794
Expires January 30, 2026
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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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
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