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Home My WebLink About01-24-25 The FreshJanuary 17, 2025 Public Meetings Next Week: Planning Commission Meeting Monday, January 27th, 6:30 p.m. Visit our website Join us on Nextdoor Full meeting packets and meeting minutes can be accessed here: Agendas and Minutes Winter Parking Ordinance The winter parking ordinance prohibits parking on Lake Elmo streets from November 1 through March 31 between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM, or during a snow event outside of those hours. Remember, if the City's trucks are blocked they can't plow your streets! Washington County Community Survey coming to select households this February Washington County residents should check their mailboxes in February to see if they are one of the 4,500 households randomly selected to take part in the 2025 Washington County Community Survey. This survey is a chance for residents to share their thoughts and help shape the future decisions in the county. Each of the five commissioner districts will have 900 households selected to participate. Survey results, which are statistically valid, will be shared by early summer and will inform future decision-making by county staff and commissioners. Participants can choose one of two ways to complete the survey: online or on paper. Selected households will receive a postcard with instructions on how to access the online survey, which will be available in English, Spanish, and Hmong. If preferred, a paper copy of the survey will be mailed shortly after the postcard. The survey is confidential, and no personal information will be collected or shared. If your household is selected, the county encourages you to participate and make your voice heard. WINTER CONSTELLATIONS LAKE ELMO PARK RESERVE JANUARY 31, 2025 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Make the stars your old friends while watching the great celestial show in the skies over Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Following a short orientation, get to know constellations like The Big Bear, Orion the Hunter, Gemini the Twins, Taurus the Bull, and some of the great stories behind them. We’ll also use large telescopes, among the largest mobile telescopes in Minnesota, for close-up views of the Moon, Jupiter, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and other wonders in the winter skies. Register now online. Call 651-430-8370 for help. For more programs and events, visit Washington County Programs and Events What do my property taxes pay for? Property Tax Calculator The City Council adopted the 2025 Preliminary Levy on September 17. City Finance Dept. staff has developed a downloadable tool that estimates 2025 city taxes (not other jurisdictions) on your home and shows approximately how much of your taxes go toward each service area. Check it out at https://www.lakeelmo.gov/departments/finance___utility/property_tax_calculator.php Lead Service Line Inventory Project The City of Lake Elmo has completed and submitted its service line materials inventory to the Minnesota Department of Health. The service line inventory is publicly available, and you can check the materials for your service line by visiting the Lead Inventory Tracking Tool (LITT) at https://maps.umn.edu/LSL/ you may also contact us Lake Elmo staff @ 651- 747-3946. To complete the service line inventory our system gathered information from building records along with, door to door and self verification. As on 09/27/2024, our inventory contains 0 lead, 2 galvanized requiring replacement, 280 unknown material and 3327 non-lead service lines. You may contact the Lake Elmo Public Works Department to update the tracking records at any time. Urban Farm Conservation Mini-Grants Available The Urban Farm Conservation Mini-Grant offers up to $5,000 for commercial urban farmers in Minnesota to implement conservation practices. The intent of this grant program is to support commercial urban farmers to pay for equipment, materials, and services they may need to manage their farm’s soil, water, and plant and animal life with conservation in mind. This program is open to for-profit businesses, non profit organizations, local government and schools. The application period is open now and closes on January 30, 2025. More information and links to application materials may be accessed here: Urban Farm Mini Grant . Tree Trimming Lake Elmo Public Works Staff will be trimming trees over public sidewalks, trails and along the roadways as weather permits. Tree trimming is necessary to improve the health and appearance of trees and to lessen the interference with pedestrians, bikers and traffic. Trimming is required if trees are obstructing street lights, signs, trails, and roadways. Trees are trimmed to 20 feet over streets or curb, and 7 feet over a sidewalk or path. Staff will only be trimming trees which are in the city’s right-of-way (typically 15 feet behind the curb or road edge) or impede on a city sidewalk and trail. Limbs will be cut back to the trunk of the tree and will be removed from the site. To balance the appearance of a tree staff will occasionally trim around all sides of a tree. Questions can be directed to Lake Elmo Public Works Attention – 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 as well as printed copies are available at City Hall. A recording of the meeting is available here. Private Wells and PFAS If you have questions about your private well water quality, please reach out to the MPCA. You can request your well be tested here: https://webapp.pca.state.mn.us/gw- sampling-req/ PFAS well sampling FAQs: PFAS Well Sampling Frequently Asked Questions state.mn.us) Water filtration FAQs: PFAS Water Filtration Frequently Asked Questions state.mn.us) MDH website about PFAS filtration PFAS and Home Treatment of Water - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) Private well sampling interactive map: Private Well Sampling in the East Metro Area arcgis.com) If you have questions about private well testing in the East Metro, call 651-757- 2903, or email east_metro_pfas_private_well_sampling_inquiries.mpca@state.mn.us Information about PFAS from the department of health can be found Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) MPCA blueprint for Minnesota and PFAS. Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us) Good information to reduce your exposure to PFAS can be found Reducing Exposures: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-MN Dept. of Health and PFAS - SixClasses.org Please visit the City of Lake Elmo’s water resources webpage to learn more at lakeelmo.gov/residents/index.php If you know someone who has concerns about their water, please forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to sign up for the FRESH HERE Will Your Mailbox Survive the Winter? Below are the proper installation instructions from the USPS: 1) Position your mailbox 41” to 45” from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry 2) Place your mailbox 6” to 8” back from curb. If you do not have a raised curb, contact your local post-master for guidance. 3) Put your house or apartment number on the mailbox 4)If your mailbox is on a different street from your house or apartment, put your full street address on the box 5)If you are attaching the box to your house, make sure the postal carrier can reach it easily from your sidewalk, steps, or porch 6) If your mailbox is physically struck by the city plow (not the weight of the snow wake) please contact public works within 72 hours to investigate the damage. City plows get as close as practical to allow for passage of traffic and mail delivery. Residents are responsible to keep piled snow away from the mailboxes. If mailbox damage is determined to be caused by a city plow making direct physical contact with a properly installed mailbox, the city will replace it with a standard size, non-decorative metal mailbox and treated wooden 4x4 post 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. City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Avenue North | Lake Elmo, MN 55042 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice