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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-26 The Fresh NewsletterTHE ITY OF LAKE ELMO Weekly News & Updates I=tiKE; I'i.a Friday, April 10, 2026 Lake Elmo City Hall Public Meetings Planning Commission Meeting Monday, April 13, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. City Council Workshop Tuesday, April 14, 2026 - 6:30 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. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/calendar] How to Watch Watch online [https://www..youtube.com/aCitvofLakeElm OMN/videos] or on cable television SCCTV [https://vod.scctv.org/internetchannelL channel=10]. Find meeting agendas and minutes at the City of Lake Elmo, MN [https://www.Iakeelmo.gov/agendacenter] 2026 Lake Elmo Roadwork and Construction Updates Minnesota's other season Welcome to Minnesota's other season — construction Z/ As roadwork ramps up across the community, we'll keep you informed on projects, timelines, and any impacts throughout the summer. Stay tuned for updates to help you plan ahead and travel safely! Road Projects: Intersection of Trunk Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue (County State Aid Highway 17) located in the Cities of Grant and Lake Elmo will begin construction this month, clearing trees around the highway. A preconstruction open house is set for May, and highway construction begins in June. This project will be ongoing through the fall of 2027. Visit Washington County's Road update here. Mayor Cadenhead Advocates for Trunk Hwy 36 Improvement Funding at the Capitol Lake Elmo Mayor Charles Cadenhead recently presented to the House Capital Investment Committee in support of MN HF '"414,i=' 3400, requesting a $5 million grant from state bond proceeds to help reduce the financial impact of the Trunk Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue construction project on local residents. The funding would help support the planned interchange at Trunk Highway 36 and Washington County Road CSAH 17 (Lake Elmo Avenue). During his presentation, Mayor Cadenhead emphasized the importance of continued investment in this critical east -west corridor, which serves as a vital route for residents, businesses, and regional travel. The City of Lake Elmo remains committed to working with state and regional partners to advance infrastructure solutions, with the goal of securing grant funding to support the City's share of the project. You can watch the legislative -presentation here. [https://www..youtube.com/watch? v=Qo2DUnwegTO] (Begins at minute 32:11) Lake Elmo's Annual Report Take a look back at a year of progress in Lake Elmo —from infrastructure improvements and park projects to public safety and community engagement. This report highlights the work happening across the City and the impact it has on our community every day. Explore the full report here: Lake Elmo Annual Reports I Lake Elmo, MN [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/451/Lake-Elmo- Annual-Reports]. Arbor Day Proclamation AaIUL25 aZ z6 La BfTld5 ArMut'& f Arbo, Day Tree 0—a,.y S&Uday, April 25.2026 "Each year on the last Friday in the month of April, the people of Minnesota pay special tribute to the vital natural resource that our trees represent and dedicate themselves to the continued vitality of our state's community and rural forests; NOW, THEREFORE I, Charles Cadenhead, Mayor of the City of Lake Elmo, do hereby proclaim April 25, 2026 to be ARBOR DAY and May to be ARBOR MONTH in Lake Elmo, Minnesota." Celebrate Arbor Day with Us Celebrate Arbor Day with us! Join the City of Lake Elmo at Public Works on Saturday, April 25 from 8-10 a.m. to receive a free tree. This annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway is a City -sponsored event. Public Works Address: 3445 Ideal Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Must be a Lake Elmo resident to participate. Fire House Training Exercise The Lake Elmo Fire Department will be conducting live structure fire training tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, 2026 in the area of Legion Avenue N and 30th Street N. Time: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. What to Expect: This active house burn provides a vital, real - world environment for our firefighters to practice life-saving techniques. While smoke and flames will be visible, please be assured this is a controlled training exercise only. There is no need to call 9-1-1 to report smoke in this specific area during these hours. Safety & Environment: By using a controlled burn for training rather than traditional demolition, we are able to provide life-saving training while strictly managing the environmental impact in a way that unplanned emergencies do not allow. Prior to the burn, the department secured all necessary permits from the MN DNR and MPCA. We have also completed a full asbestos inspection and abatement to ensure community safety compliance with permitting requirements. Following the exercise, the site will remain secured for two weeks per disposal regulations before being moved to a certified landfill. We appreciate your support as we work to keep Lake Elmo safe and provide a unique training opportunity for our firefighters. Elmo's Pup Park Clean -Up Day After you pick up a tree Saturday at Public Works, meet us at Lake Elmo's Pup Park to help spruce up the park. Bring your work gloves, some scoops, extra bags, and community spirit as we work together to keep this favorite spot clean, safe, and enjoyable for all —both two -legged and four -legged visitors. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. It's a great way to give back, meet neighbors, and enjoy the outdoors. We hope to see you there! (photo credit Nick Narusiewicz) Elmo's Pup Park Saturday, April 25, 2026 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 4259 Jamaca Ave. N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Public Works Crews are Busy! Spring is here, and our crews are busy with seasonal clean -up —clearing storm drains, tidying parks; and the volleyball and pickleball nets are up for the season! Spring Cleaning! Monday, crews will be out patching potholes, and flushing hydrants. We're also celebrating three team members who recently completed their chainsaw safety recertification! If you see our crews out and about, be sure to say hello. Public Works is Hiring! Looking for a hands-on career where you can make a visible impact in your community? The City is currently hiring for Public Works positions! From maintaining streets and utilities to caring for parks and public spaces, our Public Works team plays a vital role in keeping the community safe, functional, and beautiful. If you enjoy working outdoors, operating equipment, and being part of a dedicated team, we encourage you to apply today. Visit Lake Elmo Jobs to learn more and apply. We also have an opportunity for a seasonal employee this summer. Visit Lakeelmo.govljobs.aspA- Lhttps://www.Iakeelmo.gov/Jobs.aspxjto learn more an apply. Reminder: Board of Appeal and Equalization Meeting April 14 The City of Lake Elmo will hold its annual Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 4:30 p.m. at the Lake Elmo City Hall. A complete report on tax impacts on the property tax statements is available here [https://www.washinatoncountymn.gov/Doc umentCenter/View/78028/Taxes-Payable- 2026-F w-maps 3-26-2026?bidld=], and you can visit the Washington County_ Assessor's website here [https://www.washinatoncountymn.gov/707 /Assessment -and -Values]. For questions or additional information, please contact Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services at (651) 430- 6175. Bring your Little Ones to Toddler Tuesday, April 14 For our next Toddler Tuesday at Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center, we're talking about coyotes! Like the raccoon, coyotes are intelligent and adapt to many types of environments. They have strong family groups and work together to feed and protect their young. Come and have a howlin' good time! Looking for a unique experience with a nature based program for you and your toddlers? The Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center is excited to present its second year of our Toddler Tuesdays program! $8.00 for children 1-5 years old. Adults & children younger than 1 are free. Time:10 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Space is limited to 25 children, so register today! Visit Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center [https://sminc-lake-elmo.org1]to learn more. April 13 - 17 is Severe Weather Awareness Week Severe Weather Awareness Week is an annual reminder, led by organizations like the National Weather Service and NOAA, to help communities prepare for Minnesota's most dangerous weather conditions. Throughout the week, residents are encouraged to learn about threats such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding, and extreme winds, while reviewing safety plans, building emergency kits, and participating in statewide drills. Thursday, April 16, is the statewide tornado drill. At 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. counties across Minnesota and Wisconsin will activate outdoor warning systems. Utility Rate Adjustments Take Effect in April To support ongoing infrastructure and operations, the City Council approved utility rate adjustments effective in April: water rates will increase by 20%, sewer rates by 15%, and a stormwater service rate will be added at 8%. The average residential bill is expected to rise about 14%, or about $7 per month, based on typical usage. To streamline bill payments, you can register online to manage your account, set up autopay, make payments, or choose paperless billing. Just follow this link [https://bsaonline.com/SiteSearch/Advance dRecordSearch? advanced RecordSearchSessionGuid=46a5e 4e7-3c53-42c2-b1c0- aed61c00d746&uid=3270], to the new Utility Billing Portal at BS&A. Visit the Utility Rates page [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/226/Utility_ Rates]on the website to learn more. Washington County Sheriff's Newsletter Highlights its K9 Unit Visit Washington County Sheriff's page [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/195/Washington -County-Sheriffs-Office] on the website to read this month's newsletter and learn more about the K9 Unit! Adopt a Drain From April 13th to May 15th, our community is participating in the Adopt -a -Drain Community Challenge, a four -week effort to help keep storm drains clear during snowmelt and spring rains. Leaves, sand, and debris can quickly clog drains, leading to localized flooding and pollution entering nearby lakes and rivers. Residents can help by adopting a storm drain near their home and spending about 10-15 minutes clearing debris monthly. Our community goal is to adopt 20 storm drains and log 40 cleanings online. If we meet our goal, we will be awarded the Golden Gutter trophy! Community groups are also invited to participate in storm drain clean-ups, stenciling projects, and door -hanger outreach events. Learn more or sign up here. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/448/Adopt-a- Drain-Community-Challenge]. 4 was Naa..ron v�n.r. i raa+�� Annual Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale Spring is here —get ready to go green! The Washington County Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale is now open. Residents can purchase discounted rain barrels and compost bins to conserve water and reduce household waste. Supplies are limited, so order early to reserve yours. Learn more and place your order on the Washington County website. lhttps://www.washinatoncount.ymn.gov/2813 Compost -Bin -and -Rain -Barrel -Sale]. North Yard Waste Summer Hours Summer hours are now in effect for the North Yard Waste site. Leaves, grass clippings, brush, tree waste, and other plant materials are accepted from Washington County households. No Business waste. Visit WashCoRecycles.com/YardWaste [httpJ/www.washcorecycles.com/YardWast e ]. Irrigation Restrictions Continue This Year Now that spring is here, please remember the irrigation restrictions affecting The City of Lake Elmo will continue again this year. To learn more about zone schedules visit the website. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/261/watering- Irrigatlan]. What Do My Taxes Pay For? The City Council adopted the 2026 Budget "M on December 16, 2025. 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. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/230/Proparty- Tax-Calculator]. If you need to search your property, you can view the Washington County Property Tax Search here. [https://mn- washington.publicaccessnow.com/]. City of Lake Elmo 13880 Laverne Ave. N. I Lake Elmo, MN 55042 [https://www.lakeelmo.govlwww.lakeelmo.gov [https://www.lakeelmo.gov] f Share on Facebook V Share on Twitter Share via Email Copyright 2026 The City of Lake Elmo. All Rights Powered by Reserved. a CIVICSEND 3880 Laverne Ave. N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 " ""