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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-26 The Fresh Weekly NewsletterFriday, Aug. 7, 2026 Lake Elmo City Center Public Meetings Planning Commission Meeting - CANCELLED Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 - 6:30 p.m. Election Day Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. City Council Workshop Wednesday, Aug. 12, 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/@CityofLakeElm oMN/videos] or on cable television SCCTV [https://vod.scctv.org/internetchannel/? channel=10] Find meeting agendas and minutes at the City of Lake Elmo, MN [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/agendacenter] Summer Hours Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Friday - 8:00 AM - Noon Minnesota's Other Season - Road Construction Welcome to Minnesota’s other season—road construction 🚧 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! UPDATE: CSAH 14 - Stillwater Blvd Westbound from 39th St. to Lake Elmo Ave. N. is now closed. CSAH 14 (Stillwater Boulevard) is closed to westbound traffic from 39th Street to Lake Elmo Ave. N. (west of the elementary school). Stillwater Boulevard is open to eastbound traffic only. All access points to side streets (Lake Elmo Avenue, Laverne Avenue, and Layton Avenue) are open to turn onto off Stillwater Boulevard.  All residential and commercial driveways that access to Stillwater Boulevard are open during construction and accessible if traveling eastbound on Stillwater Boulevard. The work is expected to take approximately 3 months to complete (weather dependent). Please note all area businesses remain open and accessible. We encourage residents and visitors to continue supporting our local businesses by following the posted detour routes and shopping, dining, and utilizing services throughout the construction period. HWY 36 & Lake Elmo Ave. Interchange Construction  Access to HWY 36 from Lake Elmo Avenue is closed. This project includes the removal of the existing traffic signal (light) at the intersection of Hwy 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue, and the construction of a new grade separated interchange.  This project also includes the construction of a new frontage road on the south side of Hwy 36. Construction will continue through the fall of 2027. Follow this HWY 36 project here. [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9519d bdf93294a3a84fb1dbc02dbc361] Lake Elmo 2026 Street and Utility Improvement Project The 2026 Street and Utility Improvement project is nearing completion with restoration and paving expected to conclude in August. The project includes roadway work on portions of 26th Street North, 27th Street North, Imperial Avenue North, Innsdale Avenue North, and Inwood Avenue North. See timelines, and construction details here. [https://clients.bolton- menk.com/lakeelmostreets2026/] Hudson Blvd. Road Closure & Detour The westbound lane of Hudson Boulevard between Jade Trail N. and Julia Avenue is now closed to traffic. Traffic traveling eastbound on Hudson Boulevard will remain open. Westbound traffic will follow the signed detour via Julia Avenue N., west on 5th Street N., south on Jade Trail Lane, and back to Hudson Boulevard.  The closure is anticipated to remain in place for approximately two months, weather and construction progress permitting. Thank you for your patience as these improvements are completed. City Business Come Join Our Public Works Team! The City of Lake Elmo is seeking qualified candidates to join our Public Works team in two important leadership roles: Public Works Streets/Parks Lead Public Utility Lead If you enjoy working outdoors, leading a team, and serving the community, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our Employment page [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/Jobs.aspx] for job details and application information. Applications are accepted until the positions are filled. Apply today and help shape the future of Lake Elmo! Register for a Free Hands-Only CPR Class on Aug. 8 The Lake Elmo Fire Department is offering a free Hands-Only CPR class on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This educational session is designed to teach participants the basics of Hands-Only CPR and how to recognize and respond to a cardiac emergency. Registration Details Cost: Free to attend Certification: No certification is provided; these are strictly educational sessions. Capacity: Limited to 20 participants per class. How to Join: Please complete the CPR Class Request Form to register. Calling All Artists! The City of Lake Elmo is launching a new quarterly Public Art Program featuring rotating exhibits at Lake Elmo City Center.  Local artists, including high school artists, are encouraged to apply and showcase their work in a public setting. The program celebrates creativity and brings local art to the community year- round. Learn more about the program and apply on the website. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/463/Lake-Elmo- Public-Art-Display-Program] Don't Forget to Vote on Tuesday The Primary election is Tuesday, August 11.   To better serve our growing community, the City has added an additional voting precinct in Lake Elmo. The new precinct reflects the population growth we've experienced over the past two years and will help make voting more convenient for residents. Primary Election Day Updated Precinct Locations: City Center – 3880 Laverne Avenue N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 *New this year - Rockpoint Church – 5825 Kelvin Avenue N., Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Visit Lake Elmo's website [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/175/Elections] for updated precinct information, including maps and polling locations. Voters are still able to vote early through Monday, and you can find locations and times, and see what's on the ballot at the Washington County Elections page [https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/667 /Elections-Voting].  Washington County Sheriff's Office Monthly Newsletter Now Available The latest Washington County Sheriff's Office monthly newsletter [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/195/Washington -County-Sheriffs-Office] is now available. Read about recent public safety updates, community outreach, crime prevention information, and other news from around Washington County. Take a few minutes to see what's happening in your community and stay informed about the work of the Sheriff's Office. Life in Lake Elmo Mark Your Calendars Summer in Lake Elmo is full of traditions that bring residents together to celebrate our community.  Lake Elmo City Celebration at Lions Park Saturday, September 12 Celebrate the end of summer at the Lake Elmo City Celebration! Bring your friends, family, and neighbors to Lions Park on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 5 pm to 10 pm for an evening of music, food, and community fun. Enjoy: 🎶 Live music with the country band GUS SENT ME 🌮 Food Trucks including Love Baba, Kona Ice, Taste of Chile, Tender Lovin Chix, Fire & Ice, and Lake ELmo Creamery 🍺 Beer tent hosted by the Lake Elmo Rotary 🏰 Bounce houses and activities for kids ✨ A fun-filled evening with the Lake Elmo community Whether you're dancing under the stars, enjoying dinner from a local food truck, or simply spending time with family and friends, there's something for everyone. We can't wait to celebrate with you! Volunteers Needed for the Bounce House at the City Celebration  We're looking for volunteers to help supervise the bounce houses during the Lake Elmo City Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 12. Volunteers will help monitor the bounce houses and keep the area safe for children. Interested? Contact Council Member Matt Hirn at Mhirn@lakeelmo.gov [mailto:Mhirn@lakeelmo.gov] | 715-432- 3608. Thank you for helping make this a fun and safe community event! Summer Camp Spotlight: Summer Camp Spotlight!  Wonder Wednesday: Citizen Science, Wednesday, August 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our one-day, fun-filled, Wonder Wednesdays let kids explore the beautiful outdoor setting and learn about their surrounding environment. It is run by experienced instructors and the days include interpretive education, games, crafts to bring home, free play and hikes. Campers will learn ways that the public can help us learn more about the world around us. They’ll witness the process and significance of bird banding. In the afternoon, we will be joined by Monarch Joint Venture to explore their research on Monarch butterflies. The day will conclude with an exciting activity of attempting to catch butterflies for tagging.  ($85 per camper, ages 7 and up) Visit Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center [https://sminc-lake-elmo.org/] for more.  Visit Lake Elmo's Farmer's Market  The Lake Elmo Farmer's Market has moved to its new home at the Washington County Fairgrounds! Stop by Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., now through October 17, to shop fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods, handcrafted items, and more, while supporting local vendors. It's a great way to enjoy the season and connect with the community.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle No Large Bulky Plastic Items in Recycling Bin Plastic toys and similar items don't belong in your recycling cart. If they're no longer usable, place them in the trash. If they're still in good condition, consider donating or selling them at a local garage sale. Visit the new Washington County website  [https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/626 /Recycling-and-Waste-Disposal]to learn more.  Trash the poo! Please remember to clean up after your pets whenever you're out enjoying Lake Elmo's parks, trails, and neighborhoods. Pet waste isn't just unpleasant—it can wash into storm drains, lakes, and streams, affecting water quality and public health. Always toss pet waste into the trash and not in your organics cart or composting bin. Thank you for doing your part to help keep Lake Elmo beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Water Wise We're in a Drought, Help Us Out Hot, dry conditions are putting additional demand on our water supply. Currently, the average person in Lake Elmo uses about 200 gallons of water each day, with much of that going toward lawn irrigation. We're asking everyone to help by reducing outdoor watering and follow the City's designated irrigation schedule. If water use doesn't decrease, the City may need to implement additional conservation measures to help protect our water supply. By conserving water now, we can work together to help avoid the need for further restrictions. To learn more about watering zone schedules and restrictions, visit the website. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/261/Watering- Irrigation] You can find more about drought conditions at the DNR. [https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journa l/drought_monitor.html] Save Money on Your Water Bill In partnership with the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) the City of Lake Elmo is offering a rebate program for purchases of eligible water-efficient products.  This funding has enabled Lake Elmo to provide a rebate to current water customers who replace existing devices with specified water-efficient products, or who have an irrigation system audit completed by a professional. Qualifying purchases are eligible for a rebate on your water bill. These credits range from $150 to $500, dependent on your rebate type. Go to the Water Rebate Program page  [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/225/Water- Rebate-Program]on the website for guidelines, restrictions, and a list of qualifying items. What Do My Taxes Pay For?  The City Council adopted the 2026 Budget 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/Property- Tax-Calculator] If you need to search your property, you can view the Washington County Property Tax Search here. [https://mn- washington.publicaccessnow.com/] Volunteer, Connect, Get Involved!  Looking to get more involved in the community? Lake Elmo’s local organizations offer great opportunities to volunteer, connect with neighbors, support local causes, and take part in community events and activities.  Whether you’re new to the area or a lifelong resident, these groups help make Lake Elmo a welcoming and vibrant place to live. Learn more about Lake Elmo's Community Organizations here. [https://www.lakeelmo.gov/316/Community-Organizations] City of Lake Elmo | 3880 Laverne Ave. N. | Lake Elmo, MN 55042 [https://www.lakeelmo.gov]www.lakeelmo.gov [https://www.lakeelmo.gov] Copyright 2026 The City of Lake Elmo. All Rights Reserved. 3880 Laverne Ave. N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Powered by