HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-25 The Fresh Weekly NewsletterDecember 12, 2025
PUBLIC MEETINGS
City Hall Meetings Schedule
Parks Commission Meeting
Monday, December 15, 2026 - 6:30 p.m.
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 7:00 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
CITY BUSINESS
Lake Elmo Utility Bills are Getting a Fresh Look in 2026!
Coming in mid-to-late January 2026 - The look of your utility bills is about to change! The old-style postcards
are no more.
Be on the lookout for an envelope from the City of Lake Elmo, which will include full-size utility statement as
well as other pertinent and timely info for City residents.
You’ll find a much more detailed statement as well as details on how to sign up for the new platform,
paperless billing, and autopay!
The Fresh Moves to a New Format in 2026
The City of Lake Elmo will implement a new email system in 2026
designed to improve reliability, security, and ease of use for both staff
and residents.
This updated platform will streamline communication across
departments, enhance data protection, and create a more user-
friendly experience for those interacting with the city.
Please check your spam account in the first few weeks of January.
Current Fresh subscribers will automatically be subscribed to this
new email.
It's Tree Trimming Time in Lake Elmo
October through March is the ideal time for tree trimming. Keeping
trees healthy and trimmed helps with safety, tree health, and overall
appearance throughout Lake Elmo.
Our Public Works team maintains trees in the City’s right-of-way to
ensure clear streets, visible signs, room for emergency vehicles, and
safe travel for everyone. Diseased or hazardous trees may be
removed, and branches are trimmed to provide proper clearance
over streets (20 ft) and sidewalks (7 ft).
In rural areas, small branches may be left behind; in neighborhoods,
they’re chipped and hauled away.
If a tree is blocking the road, interfering with homes or vehicles, or
creating a safety concern, it becomes a priority for our crews.
Thanks for giving Public Works room to work safely—and for helping
keep Lake Elmo’s streets clear and our trees healthy!
Learn About the Features on Our New Website
The City of Lake Elmo will begin using the Civic Send email system
from our website to deliver the Fresh beginning in January. You can
sign up for the Fresh directly at Notify Me • Lake Elmo, MN •
CivicEngage. Just click on the Fresh Community Newsletter and
follow the prompts. Don't forget to confirm it in your email.
ROAD PROJECTS
Washington County / Lake Elmo Road Projects
Washington County's Phase 3 of the
County Highway 15 (Manning Avenue)
The project includes adding center-left and right-turn
lanes at key locations, eliminating (northerly) access
to Manning from 18th Street North, adding 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.
Lions Park Ice Rink is Open!
Lions Park Ice Rink is officially open for the season! Residents are
invited to lace up their skates and enjoy one of Lake Elmo’s favorite
winter traditions. Our Public Works team regularly maintains the rink
to ensure smooth, safe skating conditions for all ages. Grab your
skates, bring your friends and family, and make the most of this
classic winter fun right here in Lake Elmo.
Also, don't forget, with all this fresh snow, it's a great time to hit Lake
Elmo's groomed trails: Demontreville Wildlife Park, Elmo's Pup Park,
Pebble Park, Reid Park, and Sunfish Lake Park.
Learn more about all of Lake Elmo's Parks here.
LIFE IN LAKE ELMO
Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center to Host
Fundraiser in January
On January 10, at 12:30, we’ll be having a puzzle contest to raise
money for the SMINC. It’s $50 per team to register (all proceeds go
to the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center); teams can have up
to 4 people (at least one team member needs to be 18 years old or
older); we have room for 10 teams.
Everyone gets the same puzzle, and the three fastest finish times get
prizes (and bragging rights). Sound fun? You can register by visiting
our event calendar on our website.
Support the St. Croix Valley Through Service
The Afton Bayport Lakeland Lions Club (ABL Lions) is a vibrant and
welcoming group of community volunteers who believe in giving back
while having fun.
Under their motto “Where There’s a NEED, There’s a LION,” club
members enthusiastically take on projects and initiatives that meet
real community needs. For anyone in the surrounding areas of the
St. Croix Valley looking for a chance to give back, meet like-minded
locals, and help make the world a better place to live, the ABL Lions
welcome you.
Visit www.ABLLions.com or
email aftonbayportlakelandlions@gmail.com to learn more!
Don't Toss Your Holiday Lights in the Recycling Bin .
Recycling holiday lights at designated centers helps cut down waste
and supports environmental efforts in Washington County.
Instead of discarding your holiday lights, residents of Washington
County can drop them off at one of the environmental centers in
Forest Lake or Woodbury.
We appreciate your efforts to keep our community green. You can
find out more about all the items you can recycle in the Washington
County Going Green Guide.
Metro Transit is Expanding its Woodbury Area Zone
Metro Transit just launched the Woodbury Area zone expansion with
its December service change on 12/6/2025. Also new is Route 345,
which will connect the Metro micro zone with the airport and the Mall
of America.
Route 345 has three Park & Ride lots: Woodlane Station in
Woodbury, the Newport Transit Center, and 30th Avenue Station in
Bloomington. In Woodbury, Route 345 stops at Woodlane Station,
which also serves routes 323, 355, and Metro Micro, along with the
Gold Line. The new route is said to cut nearly 30 minutes off the
commute time between Woodbury and the Mall of America,
according to Metro Transit.
Be a Battery Hero This Holiday Season
‘Tis the season for twinkly lights, new gadgets, remote-controlled
everything… and a surprising number of worn-out batteries. Before
those little power packs roll around in junk drawers until next July,
give them the happy ending they deserve: recycling!
Instead of tossing old batteries in the trash (they hate that), drop
them off at a Washington County Environmental Center and let them
be reborn into something amazing. It’s like giving your used batteries
a second chance to shine—very on-brand for the holidays.
Be a Holiday Battery Hero! Visit Washington County Environmental
Services t o learn more and find your nearest environmental center.
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 will vote and adopt the 2026 Budget on December 16. City Finance staff have developed
a downloadable property tax calculator that estimates 2026 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.
If you need to search your property, you can view the Washington County Property Tax Search here.
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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