HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-31-25 The Fresh Weekly NewsletterOctober 31, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Schedule
City Council Meeting
**Wednesday, November 5, 7:00 p.m.
**Please note that the City Council meeting will be held on
Wednesday, November 5, to allow School District No. 622,
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Schools, to hold an
operating referendum on November 4, 2025.
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
Fall Street Cleaning
Public Works will be sweeping select streets to remove excessive
leaves and loose chip-seal rock from the 2025 street projects starting
Tuesday, November 4th, and continuing into the following week.
Please minimize street parking and keep garbage containers in your
driveway, not on the streets. Thank you for helping keep the city
beautiful!
City Crews Maintain Stormwater Ponds to Protect
Water Flow and Prevent Flooding
The City of Lake Elmo Public Works team has begun mowing
invasive trees and brush in City-owned stormwater ponds and
outlots.
This maintenance is essential to keep these areas functioning
properly and to protect our local environment. Mowing helps control
aggressive plant growth that can block water flow, reduce pond
storage capacity, cause erosion, and increase the risk of flooding.
Invasive species can quickly overtake native vegetation, restrict
access to stormwater pipes, and accumulate sediment. Periodic
sediment removal is also necessary to maintain the ponds’ designed
capacity and performance.
By mowing invasive trees and brush early, the City helps prevent
costly future removals and supports healthy, functioning stormwater
systems throughout Lake Elmo.
Winter Parking Rules go into effect Saturday,
November 1st
Winter parking restrictions in Lake Elmo go into effect Saturday,
November 1, and remain in place through March 31. During this
period, no parking is allowed on any city street from 2 am to 7 am.
These rules ensure that snowplows and emergency vehicles can
safely and efficiently clear roads throughout the winter season.
Residents are encouraged to remind visitors and household
members of the restrictions to help keep Lake Elmo’s streets safe
and accessible all winter long.
Mayor For a Day Essay Contest
Calling all 4th–6th graders! Want to run the city—for just one
day? Put on your mayoral hat (just for fun), and tell us:
“What would you do if you were mayor for a day?”
Write an original essay (125–300 words) and submit by December
12, 2025, for a chance to win $100 and be featured in Minnesota
Cities magazine. Three winners will be selected based on creativity,
originality, and understanding of city services, according to the
League of Minnesota Cities.
How to submit:
Submit online Mayor for a Day Entry Form - League of
Minnesota Cities via the entry form.
PDF via email as a fillable attachment: LMC-
MayorForDay2025_EssayForm-1.pdf
Or print and mail-in physical entry LMC-
MayorForDay2025_EssayForm-1.pdf to 145 University Ave.
W, St. Paul, MN 55103.
Let’s hear from the next generation of leaders: ideas for better parks,
safer streets, greener neighborhoods, or fun community events —
everything is on the table!
Learn About the Features on Our New Website
How Do I?
The How Do I tab at the top of our website's homepage is an
excellent resource for applying for something, finding something,
reporting a concern, viewing city meetings, or learning more about
the City of Lake Elmo.
Also, don't forget to sign up, navigate to the NOTIFY ME to stay informed on city business. You can go to
the Notify Me tab 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. You can unsubscribe anytime!
ROAD PROJECTS
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 Road Projects
County Highway 13 (Ideal Ave) Improvement Project
Open House scheduled for November 19
Washington County, in partnership with the Cities of Lake Elmo and
Oakdale, is planning an improvement project on County Highway 13
(Ideal Ave) from County Highway 6 (Stillwater Blvd) to County
Highway 14 (34th St N).
Join us in person or online to review project alternatives, share
comments on the proposed designs, and learn about the project
schedule and next steps.
.
When: Wednesday, November 19th, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
(no formal presentation).
Where: Oakdale Discovery Center (4444 Hadley Ave North,
Oakdale, MN 55128).
Learn more about this road improvement project in Washington
County
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.
Schiltgen Park
Schiltgen Park, adjacent to the North Star development, is a
neighborhood park with a nature trail that winds through the
Schiltgen Neighborhood. The park provides picnic tables, benches, a
bike rack, and trash bins.
Visit Schiltgen Park or visit LakeElmo.gov to learn more about all our
parks.
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Ribbon Cutting Welcomes the Gardner School to Lake
Elmo
We’re celebrating growth and learning in Lake Elmo! The community
came together this week for the official ribbon cutting of The Gardner
School of Lake Elmo, a new early childhood education center
designed to inspire young minds.
Located right here in our city, The Gardner School offers a nurturing
environment focused on academic excellence, creativity, and care for
our youngest learners. Welcome to Lake Elmo — we’re excited to
see the future you’ll help shape!
photo credit Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Lake Elmo Celebrates Cooperative Energy Futures
Ribbon Cutting
Lake Elmo celebrated a bright step toward renewable energy with a
ribbon-cutting for Cooperative Energy Futures on Thursday.
Council Member Jeff Holtz joined Landowner and Economic
Development Authority Commissioner Tony Manzara, who leased
his property for the project, to cut the ribbon and officially welcome
this new solar energy initiative to the community.
The project highlights Lake Elmo’s commitment to sustainability and
partnerships that support clean, local energy for the future.
LIFE IN LAKE ELMO
Here’s your chance to watch science in action!
Local ornithologists will be here on Saturday, November 1, from 9
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to collect and band bird species. You can watch
the whole fascinating process unfold —from netting to data collection
to banding to release!
Rick, Loren, and Pam are as friendly as they are knowledgeable and
will be happy to talk with visitors, young and old, and answer any
questions you might have. Drop in —they might even let you help
out! Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center
Drop Off Your Pumpkins for Composting
Don't trash your pumpkins! Instead, bring them to a drop-off site in
Washington County. Drop-off sites will be open to residents through
November 10. Pumpkins must be free of glitter, paint, wax, and
candles. The City has a drop-off site in the north parking lot in front
of City Hall; otherwise, visit
www.washingtoncountymn.gov/3575/Pumpkin-Recycling to find a
drop-off site near you.
Turn Your Clocks Ahead Saturday as Daylight Saving
Time Ends
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend! Daylight
Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 2.
As we “fall back,” it’s also a good time to check smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors, replace batteries, and review home safety
plans. Enjoy the extra hour of rest and the brighter mornings ahead!
Minnesota Water Stewards Goes Statewide
“David, Kim, Barb, and Mike are part of an elite cadre of volunteers
helping to engage communities across Minnesota and western
Wisconsin in grass-roots projects to protect and restore lakes, rivers,
and streams.
Beginning in 2026, Freshwater is taking the program statewide and
removing the enrollment fee so that more people can participate.
Locally, the St. Croix Valley Foundation has provided grant funds to
Washington Conservation District (WCD), Freshwater, and North
Woods and Waters to train a new cohort of volunteers, starting in
2026.”
photo credit Angie Hong - Washington Conservation District
Washington Conservation District Water Stewards
Friends & Volunteers Bonfire - Nov 4
Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (6-8pm) for a cozy bonfire and night hike
outside the Nordic Center at Lake Elmo Park Reserve (1515 Keats
Ave N).
This event is an opportunity to make friends, meet some of our local
Water Steward volunteers, and learn about training and volunteer
opportunities in 2026. Yes! There will be s'mores.
RSVP here.
Public Notice of 3M Community Meeting and Agenda
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 pm -7 pm
3M invites you to a community meeting to learn more about our
Cottage Grove site and the management of stormwater and
wastewater.
The meeting will feature current information regarding facility
operations, changes made or planned to enhance our environmental
stewardship, management of production materials, implementation of
our new permit, and community engagement in Cottage Grove.
The meeting will be recorded, and seating will be available on a first-
come, first-served basis.
Date: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Location: Cottage Grove City Hall Training Room (12800 Ravine
Parkway South)
Holiday Lights and Extension Cords
Long, stringy items, such as holiday lights and extension cords, get
caught in the recycling facility's machines. Recycle at drop-off
centers or participating retailers.
Washington County Disposal Directory
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
Last chance to vote early!
School District No. 622, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Schools,
will hold an operating referendum on November 4, 2025.
Early voting is available from September 19 to November 3. Polling
locations are listed below:
Vote early (absentee) in-person
VOTING LOCATIONS:
Washington County Gov. Center | 14949 62nd St. N., Stillwater, MN
55082
Central Service and License Center | 1261 Woodlane Drive,
Woodbury, MN 55125
Cottage Grove Service Center | 13000 Ravine Pkwy, Cottage Grove,
MN 55016
Hours: Mon-Fri. | 8 am – 4:30 pm
Nov. 1 | 8 am – 3 pm
Nov. 3 | 8 am – 5 pm
For more information, visit ISD No. 622, North St. Paul-Maplewood-
Oakdale Schools or visit Elections | Washington County, MN -
Official Website.
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.
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.
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.
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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