News from the City of Lake Elmo

April 14 , 2017
 
Monday, April 17: Park Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18: City Council  Meeting 7:00 p.m.

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

City Meetings
  City Agendas and Minutes
                                                                               

Street Sweeping
Spring stre et sweeping will begin April 17 and last approximately 2 weeks.  Du ri ng that time we ask that you limit on street parking
when sweepers are in your neighborhood .

Please use caution around street sweepers and they move slow and make frequent sharp turns in traffic.

Lake Elmo Fire Department Training
On Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th, four Firefighters from Lake Elmo as well as others from throughout the region, attended a twelve hour training course in Auto Extrication. The training sponsored jointly by Century College and the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility, (EMPSTF where it was held) provided firefighters the opportunity to learn the latest techniques and get hands on the latest tools.
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Next week at the Lake Elmo Library

  
For more information please click here  EVENTS


 


The Lake Elmo Creamery



The History of Oakdale Township, Volume 1, includes an extensive chapter on the Lake Elmo Creamery, describing its origin and subsequent changes. It even includes an annual report for January 1, 1904, that indicates an eight percent dividend paid to stockholders.

In an active and prosperous farm community such as Lake Elmo, a creamery was a necessity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In Lake Elmo, it was first organized in 1898 as a "co-operative association," and called "Lake Elmo Co-operative Dairy Association". It was again reorganized as a corporation on April 10, 1910, under a new name, "Lake Elmo Co-operative Creamery Association".

This was eventually replaced by a third corporation; The "Twin City Milk Producer's Association" on September 1, 1916. Its purpose was to form a single large marketing cooperative from all the small creamery coops around the Twin Cities. William S. Moscrip of Lake Elmo was one of the founders. The brick creamery building still stands close to the railroad tracks on the south side of the Lions Park ballfield. This structure was built by the Twin City Milk Producer's Association in 1924. 

Eveleth Lohmann remembers it this way: "There was a house on the corner of Highway 5 and Lake Elmo Avenue, where Lake Elmo Oil is now. They made many kinds of ice cream there." During World War II, the creamery produced powdered milk.


(Egon Lohman worked for the Twin City Milk Producer's Association for many years (shown in this 1958 photo). Photo courtesy of Eveleth Lohman and "Memories of Lake Elmo, page 172.)


  
Lake Elmo Street and Utility Improvements

Work has resumed on the Downtown Lake Elmo Street and Utility Improvement Project.

The following work will occur in 2017:
  • Storm sewer, water, and sanitary sewer installation between 32nd Street and the railroad tracks.
  • Road reconstruction between 32nd Street and the railroad tracks.
  • Completion of sidewalks and landscaping on 30th Street and all areas in the downtown and south of the railroad tracks on County Highway 17 (Lake Elmo Avenue).
  • The final layer of pavement on all roads that were reconstructed in 2016.
  • Any clean-up work, signing, striping, and other miscellaneous work to finalize the project.
Washington County will begin sending out weekly construction updates; as they have over the 2015 and 2016 construction seasons and we will continue to share that information every week in the Fresh.  The current update from Washington County can be viewed here: update.

As in the past, copies of the Washington County updates will be available to pick up at the Lake Elmo Post Office and The Lake Elmo Inn.


Pothole Season Has Arrived!

Crews from Public Works have begun the long, daunting task of pothole patching.  Lake Elmo Public Works is responsible to maintain over 100 miles of city streets.  It takes a great deal of time to cover this amount of area so we ask for your patience during this process.  If you notice large potholes in the lane of travel please contact Public Works at 651-747-3900.  Large holes and areas in the greatest distress will be the focus of priority before shifting to other areas of the city.

Controlled prairie burns planned in Washington County this spring

Washington County Parks is planning to conduct controlled prairie burns this spring at Big Marine Park Reserve, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, and along County Road 18 between 13th and 18th street.
In addition, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff will be conducting a controlled burn at the Bayport Wildlife Management Area.

The controlled burns help preserve prairies and woodlands by encouraging the growth of native plants and reducing unwanted woody vegetation. Ultimately, these burns enhance wildlife habitat, recycle plant nutrients, and improve nectar resources for pollinators.
The controlled burns are planned with the assistance of local fire departments and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will occur on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. only when weather conditions permit a safe and effective burn. Trained personnel with fire-fighting equipment are on-site until the fire is extinguished. 

For additional information, call the Washington County Natural Resources Coordinator at 651-430-4323. 


Open Book Meetings

I mportant Information Regarding Property Assessments
This may affect your 2018 property taxes
 
Notice is hereby given that the Open Book Meetings for the City of Lake Elmo shall meet on the following dates and locations:
 
Cottage Grove City Hall
Thursday, April 6th, 2017
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Oakdale City Hall
Wednesday, April 12th, 2017
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Woodbury City Hall
Thursday, April 20th, 2017
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Washington County Government Center
Wednesday, April 26th, 2017
2:00pm - 7:00pm
   
Property owners may attend any one of the four regional Open Book meetings.
   
The purpose of these meetings is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor.
   
If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor's office to discuss your concerns. If you are still not satisfied with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local board of appeal and equalization. The board will review your assessments and may make corrections as needed.

A copy of the 2017 Washington County Assessment Report may be accessed here: REPORT