News from the City of Lake Elmo
February 2,  2018
Meetings next week:

Wednesday, February 7th: City Council Meeting 4 :00 p.m.

**Note: The city council meeting will be held on Wednesday due to precinct caucuses being held on Tuesday**

Links to the 2017 City Meetings, Agendas and Meeting Minutes: 

City Meetings
  City Agendas and Minutes
                                                                               




Visit with the Mayor February 9th
Mayor Mike Pearson will be at Lake Elmo Coffee at 3:00 PM on Friday, February 9th to meet with residents. All are welcome!


Council to Consider Updates to Chicken Ordinance
At the February 7th meeting, Council will be considering updates to the residential chicken ordinance.  The proposed changes would increase the number of chickens allowed, and change the permit terms from one year to two.



Precinct Caucuses are February 6th: Find Your Caucus Location

Find your 2018 caucus location by visiting the caucus finder at:  http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us. Remember, your caucus location may be different than your Election Day polling location.  If you have any further questions, please reach out to Washington County at: 651-430-6790.


Mountain Biking in Lake Elmo

The Stillwater high school mountain bike team has approached the City with an ambitious team building and community involvement project.  Their proposal consists of constructing a little over 2 miles of mountain bike trails throughout Reid Park for local residents as well as the mountain bike team to enjoy.  The Stillwater Area Scholastic Cycling Advocates (SASCA) have volunteered to provide labor and materials necessary for the trail construction.  

If you would like to learn more about the proposal or possibly donate to their cause we encourage, and welcome you to attend the Parks Commission meeting on February 21st in the Council Chambers at  City Hall 3800 Laverne Ave. N.  The meeting will  start at 6:30 PM.       



When Hockey Sticks Were Still Sticks - Lake Elmo Hardwood

Lake Elmo Hardwood was a large and active enterprise in Lake Elmo, housed in several metal buildings near the old Creamery and the railroad tracks, next to Lion's Park, 11320 Upper 33rd Street North. The business was owned by Joe Rogers who is now deceased. Louise Friedrich believes that Rogers' business started in 1967, expanding it several times through the years.

While hockey sticks were still made of wood, the Christian Brothers Hockey Stick Company had their wood cured at Lake Elmo Hardwood. They cured  special woods like hickory. This was a special part of their business."

Jim Sachs used to work there. From a time and he said that they brought in green lumber and dried it in six large kilns before surfacing the lumber and cutting it to dimension. Their cured  wood was also used for cabinets, moldings as well as many other things.

Source: Memories of Lake Elmo, collected and authored by Gloria VanDemmeltraadt.

(Once a source of jobs and extremely dynamic business, Lake Elmo Hardwood is now closed, and like the creamery, look empty and lonely. Photo by Rolf Larson)


Learn how to snowshoe at Lake Elmo Park Reserve Feb. 10
Experience snowshoeing at Lake Elmo Park Reserve beginning at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10.

The program is sponsored by DIRO Outdoors. Explore the park's rolling hills, woods, and prairies, and experience what makes snowshoeing such a great winter activity. Snowshoes are available for all ages and sizes.

Class size is limited; registration is required. Online registration is available for $10 for each adult ages 15 and older, and $5 for each youth ages 14 and younger, which includes equipment. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for winter outdoor activity. 

Parking is available in the Eagle Point Trailhead lot; lessons will meet at the Eagle Point Trailhead kiosk. There will be a portable toilet onsite. The Nordic Center is across the park road with bathroom facilities, and other amenities, including Wi-Fi and an outdoor fire pit available to the public. The trails from the Nordic Center trailhead are for cross-country skiing only at this time.

Close attention will be paid to weather conditions with notifications to registrants sent out with a 24-hour notice. Lessons will cancel in case of inclement weather, including storms and/or wind chill temperatures at -10°or lower. An option to reschedule will be offered should this happen. Call the Lake Elmo Park Office at 651-430-8370 for more information.

A park permit is required, $7 daily or $30 annually. Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at 515 Keats Ave. N.
In Lake Elmo. Follow Washington County Parks on social media @WashCountyParks.           

Lake Elmo Fire Department Host to Joint Training
The Lake Elmo Fire Department recently hosted a joint training with the City of Oakdale at the donated training house on 38th St.  Both departments collaborated with an outside instructor who trained firefighters on "firefighter survivability."

The firefighters were instructed on what should be done while they are in a structure fighting a fire, and severe issues arise.  Among the topics that were covers were running out of air, disorientation, separation from crew, building collapses, and blocked escape routes.


Lake Elmo Rotary's Kindness Campaign

"We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world." - Howard Zinn
                                                               
  It's official! Mayor Pearson has proclaimed 2018 to be "Random Acts of Kindness Year" for Lake Elmo. This first month we invite you to join us in doing random acts of kindness while you are shopping. Take a minute to look for opportunities to connect with someone - notice a cashier's name tag  and thank them by name, look around for someone unloading their bags and offer to return their cart for them, smile at other shoppers... you get the idea!



Here's the fun part - we have "Tag You're It" cards to give to recipients as you surprise them with kindness. The card is a way of inviting others to "pay it forward" and do a random act for someone else. Cards will be available at City Hall and at local businesses in the coming month. Lake Elmo Rotarians are excited to be "tagging" others and we'd love to hear what you do as well. Please share random acts you participate in as the giver, observer or recipient on our website:  www.lakeelmorotary.org
 
Always remember...kindness is free!
 
Winter Parking Ordinance Reminder: It's Not Just at Night

The City of Lake Elmo Winter Parking Ordinance states: It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park any vehicle or trailer or permit the same to stand on any street or alley within the city between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 1 until March 31 of the following  year. Parking is also restricted at any time that snow accumulation equals or exceeds 2" or more until the street is cleared of snow.

The winter parking ordinance does not apply to private streets (marked with a blue street sign), only to public roadways.


Stay Informed with the CodeRED Emergency Notification System

Do you want to know when an emergency takes place near your home? To learn more about the CodeRED Emergency Notification System, and to sign up visit:  https://www.co.washington.mn.us/1826/Code-Red .


Guided morning bird hikes continue with Feb. 10 hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve
A rotating schedule of bird hikes throughout Washington County Parks will continue with a hike 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

Learn to identify the birds that call the St. Croix Valley home and contribute to citizen science data collection by completing bird count surveys with the guide. The surveys collected will assist the county's Natural Resources team and related work in conjunction with the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund grant. 
It is a one-hour guided hike. Meet at the Nordic Center Foyer, with parking at the Nordic Trailhead Lot.

For Washington County park locations, see www.co.washington.mn.us/parks. Under park locations, find a county map with park contact information; search "guided bird hikes" on the county website for more information.

The hikes will traverse turf, gravel, and paved trail depending on trail conditions. Participants should bring binoculars and dress for hiking and the weather. This program is free with a parks vehicle permit ($7/daily or $30/annually) and is open to people of all ages and abilities. ADA accommodations can be made as needed. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
 
For questions, call 651-430-8370 or email parks@co.washington.mn.us   .  For more Washington County Parks programs and events, see www.co.washington.mn.us/parks .  Follow Washington County Parks on social media at @WashCountyParks.

Volunteers Needed!


Finance Committee:
To aid the City Council in the administration of financial operations of the City of Lake Elmo through the review of financial policies, the monthly review of financial statements, the annual review of the audit report and the review of the annual operating budgets.


Human Resources Committee:
The Human Resources Committees purpose is to aid the City Council in the administration of personnel policies and staffing through productivity audits, human resource policies, & procedures, wages & rate administration, benefit review and disciplinary procedures


The City of Lake Elmo is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on these committees.  

Information on each committee and an application form can be found under the "Government" tab on the City's website:  www.lakeelmo.org

Celebrate winter skies with a celestial show at Lake Elmo Park Reserve Feb. 17

Make the stars your old friends while watching the great winter celestial show in the skies over Lake Elmo Park Reserve 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, with meteorologist Mike Lynch.
Participants will start off with an indoor orientation at the Nordic Center, followed by time outside under the heavens. Get to know Orion the Hunter, Gemini the Twins, Taurus the Bull, and many more. The group will use large reflecting telescopes, including two giant reflector telescopes that are among the biggest mobile telescopes in the upper Midwest, for close-up views of the moon, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and other celestial treasures.

Learn about basic celestial photography. Weather permitting, the group will also use a new astronomical camera-telescope for views of the more distant universe.
Participants will receive a handout package with star maps and constellation charts, apps, websites, and a telescope-buying guide.

Lynch has been a meteorologist and broadcaster at WCCO Radio for nearly 40 years and has been hosting star watching and astronomy programs for more than 45 years. He is the author of the book "Stars, a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations" that will be available for purchase. Glow-in-the-dark star and constellation shirts will also be available for purchase.
Even if it's cloudy, participants will learn a lot, and get a Mike Lynch "Cloud Check" for a future Minnesota/Wisconsin Starwatch program.

This is a free program; however, a vehicle permit is required, $7 daily or $30 annually. Follow Washington County Parks on social media @WashCountyParks.