News from the City of Lake Elmo

February 24, 2017
 
Monday, February 27 - Planning Commission 7:00  p.m.
 
 
Links to the 2017 City Meetings, Agendas and Meeting Minutes:
 
                                    City Meetings
 
                                                                               

Interested in Serving on a Committee?

The City of Lake Elmo is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on a City committee.  Current committees are:

Environmental Committee
Finance Committee
Human Resources Committee
Maintenance Advisory Committee
Public Safety Committee

At the February 7, 2017 City Council Meeting, the City Council adopted operating policies and procedures for the Maintenance Advisory Committee and amended the operating policies and procedures for the Environmental Committee.  Information on each committee including the operating policies and procedures and an application form can be found under the "Government" tab on the City's website: www.lakeelmo.org



JAMACA!


 
After Lake Elmo chose to embrace the "Uniform Street Naming and Property Numbering System agreement" in December 1971, the program needed to be implemented.

The overall system was complex, starting from the state capitol. For Lake Elmo, the system began at Ideal Avenue with North and South Avenue names determined by the alphabetical "Uniform Street Naming and Property Numbering System" all the way to the St. Croix River. All East and West Streets were numeric, starting from the State Capitol building.

Only a portion of Washington County communities participate in this program, so the program was not exactly uniform in Washington County.
 
To complicate this, the program worked as long as streets could be identified as traveling North/South, or East/West. To say the least, this was a heated topic in Lake Elmo; especially the Tri-Lakes neighborhood.

Finally, names were determined and street signs were produced. A "charm" factor was lost. Addresses such as "White Oak Shade Road," changed to 32nd St. North.  Many residents were disappointed.
At the conclusion of the project, someone noticed that one street address did not look right.

Somewhere in the address setup, the letter "i" had disappeared from Jamaica Avenue.Street signs were installed, maps printed (with the omission) and postal addresses assigned. "Jamaica" had become "Jamaca". A cry went out from some quarters to correct the imperfection in the uniform system!

Ironically, one of the few battles won by Lake Elmo residents in the war of address uniformity was to do nothing about the misspelling.

To this day, Lake Elmo and Grant Township possess the dubious honor of having the street name; "JAMACA" Avenue in Minnesota; perhaps the world! 

(Note. There is a Jamaca Street in Liverpool, England.)


Source: Rolf Larson.


Next week at the Lake Elmo Library

  
For more information please click here  EVENTS

 
County Board Makes Appointments to Advisory Boards

The Washington County Board of Commissioners made several appointments to county advisory boards Feb. 14.
  • Three members were appointed to the county's Parks and Open Space Commission. Virginia Pleban, Lake Elmo, will fill a Commissioner District 3 position during a first term expiring Dec. 31, 2019; Glen Bearth, Oakdale, will fill a Commissioner District 2 position during a first term expiring Dec. 31, 2019; and Ellie Anderson, Woodbury, will fill a Commissioner District 5 position during a first term expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
The purpose of the commission is to bring citizen perspective to the operation of Washington County Parks. It reviews current operation policies, capital improvement programs, parkland preservation, park development projects, and long-range planning efforts for parkland and facilities for county parks. The commission also provides citizens' perspectives on the administration of the Land and Water Legacy Program.


Volunteers Needed for the 2040 City of Lake Elmo
Comprehensive Plan Update Advisory Panel
Are you interested in helping guide the future of the City of Lake Elmo? The City is undertaking an update to its Comprehensive Plan document that guides the City's long-term land use, growth and development in the community. The update process will primarily focus on identifying a unified vision for the future the City, updating the land use, growth, parks and trails, transportation, and wastewater facilities components of the Plan. The City is seeking 2-4 volunteer members for the Comprehensive Plan Update Advisory Panel. The Panel will provide guidance to City Staff and Consultants working to update the Comprehensive Plan chapters. We anticipate that the Panel will be most active from April 2017-November 2017 on an as need basis. The City is hoping for Advisory Panel members of diverse background, ages and interests including youth, seniors, new residents and old. For more information or to apply, please contact Planning Director Stephen Wensman at 651-747-3911.


Spring Landscape Workshops 


The East Metro Water Resource Education Program and Master Gardeners in Washington County invite you to join us for some Spring Dreaming!
 
We are offering fun, informal workshops to help you with ideas and how-tos for your own property including:
 
*             Small landscaping projects: incorporating gardens, natural areas, and spaces for play;
*             Managing drainage and erosion issues using raingardens, swales, dry creeks while protecting water resources;
*             Creating habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife on your property;
*             Managing invasive species such as buckthorn.
 
Enjoy an evening with your community and get helpful advice from Master Gardeners and Water Resource Educators.
 
***RSVPs received at least 2 days before the workshop will receive a free aerial print out of their property to use during the workshop***  
North Saint Paul - April 6 @ 6p.m. Casey Lake Park Building
St. Paul Park - April 11 @ 6p.m. City Hall
Oakdale - April 18 @ 6p.m. Washington Conservation District Office
Hugo - April 27 @ 6p.m. City Hall
Forest Lake - May 2 @ 6p.m. City Hall
 
RSVP to the workshops at: tinyurl.com/SpringDream2017
 
For more information contact Jenn Radtke: jradtke@mnwcd.org or 651-330-8220 x44
 
DNR Forestry Stewardship Cost Share Program
 
Do you own woodlands in rural Minnesota? Are you looking to practice good forest stewardship on your land? If so, there is money available to share the costs of your woodland projects.
 
The DNR's Private Forestry Management (PFM) cost share program provides money for non-industrial private landowners to practice good forest stewardship on their land. A forester works with the landowner and develops a specific project plan to accomplish their goal. The landowner does the work themselves or hires it out to a contractor. After the work is completed and approved by the forester, the landowner receives a payment that should equate to roughly 50% of the cost to install the project.
 
Some project examples include tree planting, bud capping, crop tree release, tree tube installation, invasive species removal, oak wilt control, wildlife habitat improvement, and forest road rehab. This year we will also be offering a payment to any landowner who gets a new, or updated, Woodland Stewardship Plan prepared for their property.
 
Taking care of your woodlands benefits all Minnesotan's by:
  • Enhancing recreational opportunities such as bird watching, hunting, and fishing.
  • Improving and protecting water quality.
  • Enhancing wildlife habitat.
  • Supporting a healthy forest products economy.
  • Providing clean air.