News from the City of Lake Elmo
April 6,  2018
Meetings next week:

Tuesday, April 10th: City Council Workshop 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11th: Human Resources Committee Meeting 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11th: Comprehensive Plan Open-house 7:00 p.m.

Links to the 2018 City Meetings, Agendas and Meeting Minutes: 

City Meetings
 
                                                                               

City Council Update
At their regular meeting on  Tuesday, April 3, 2018, the Lake Elmo City Council:
  • Approved the Mountain Biking Proposal at Reid Park with SASCA - Resolution 2018-036
  • Approved CSAH 17 (Lake Elmo Ave) Phase 3 Improvements (Preliminary Layout) - Resolution 2018-035
  • Adopted Subdivision Regulations Update - Ordinance 08-205; Resolution 2018-037
  • Approved a Variance Requests for 8728 DeMontrevilleTrail - Resolution 2018-038
  • Summarized the Closed Session Regarding City Administrator Performance Review as Above Average
  • Waived the Contingencies and Proceed to Closing for the Purchase of 3880 Laverne Ave N
     
On the consent agenda the Council:
  • Approved Payment of Disbursements and Payroll  
  • Received Draft EAW for Lake Elmo Airport
  • Approved Corridors of Commerce Resolution of Support - Resolution 2018-030
  • MSAS System  Revisions - Resolution Approved  MSA Designations - Resolution 2018-031  
  • CSAH 13 (Ideal Ave/Olson Lake  Tr ) - Approve d  Pay Request No. 1 to City of Oakdale.
  • 2018 Street Improvements -Approved Plans & Specs; Authorize Ad for Bids -Resolution 2018-032
  • Approve d  Abatement for 2298  Inwood  Ave-Resolution 2018-033
  • Approved An Ordinance Amending Chapter 51 of the City Code to Include Penalties for Not Connecting to Municipal Sewer- Ordinance 08-204; Resolution 2018-034
  • Approved Summary Publication of Assessment of Service Charges and Nuisance Abatement Ordinance-Resolution 2018-024
  • Approve d  Purchase of Asphalt Roller
  • Approve d  Hiring of Public Works Operator III  
  • Approve d  Appointment to Finance Committee
  • Approve d  Appointment to Maintenance Advisory Committee
  • Approve d  Driveway Ordinance and Fee Schedule Amendments - Ordinance 08-206; Ordinance 08-207; Resolution 2018-039
4-10-18 City Council Workshop Agenda
4-11-18 Human Resources Committee Agenda
Public Informational Meeting on 3M Settlement

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources invite all interested members of the public to two upcoming public informational meetings. At these meetings, MPCA and DNR staff will give an overview of the recent settlement with 3M, and explain the process by which potential water quality and natural resource projects will be prioritized and selected for funding.

The Lake Elmo meeting will be held:
Thursday, April 12
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Oak-Land Middle School
820 Manning Ave N., Lake Elmo

The public meetings will start with a half-hour open-house, followed by a short presentation by state agencies at 6:30, ending with Q&A and more open house time. Staff from the MPCA, DNR, Minnesota Department of Health, and local governments will be on hand to discuss and answer questions. All members of the public are invited to attend.


Questions? Contact MPCA Assistant Commissioner Kirk Koudelka at: kirk.koudelka@state.mn.us

Residents looking to stay updated on the state's recent settlement with 3M can also visit the MPCA website below. MPCA also offers the option to sign up for email updates.

   


 
 
Murder in Lake Elmo - Wednesday, April 7, 1869

On April 7, 1869; one hundred forty-nine years ago tomorrow, the bloody murder of Alice Gray and her four young children, occurred in the early morning hours. Her insane husband, James B. Gray, used an ax, a grub-hoe, a butcher knife and a case knife to commit the terrible deed.

The story has been passed through generations of local residents. Mr. Gray became a local bogeyman for children. Raleigh Armstrong would tell his nephew Tom, with a twinkle in his eye, to be careful when out of the house at night - Gray's ghost could still be roaming the fields with his ax. The Armstrong farm is a mile from the scene of the murders.

As time has passed, details of the story have became blurred. Researching the murders was difficult, because no one could recall the year they took place, and Washington County death records did not begin until 1870. That is, until the mid-1990's. While searching microfilm files at the Stillwater Public Library, Thomas G. Armstrong overheard a young woman talking with a friend at the next microfilm machine. They were discussing an ax murder of a mother and her four children. Tom asked them if the family's name was Gray, and the women said yes.

Once the date of the crime was discovered, it became possible to retrieve news stories from the Stillwater and St. Paul papers of the day. These news stories provide details about the murders that had been lost during decades of storytelling. They also have provided an invaluable insight into the life and times of the area's pioneers.

These news stories, provide details about the murders. They also provide an invaluable insight into the life and times of our earliest pioneers. Very likely, their content may appear in future articles.


Sources: Memories of Lake Elmo, collected and authored by Gloria VanDemmeltraadt and The History of Oakdale Township, Volume 1.

(James Armstrong's sworn statement; "I live near here; I know James Gray and these persons that are dead; I heard a noise this morning just as the sun got up; I heard a man hallooing but could not distinguish what he said; I waited about ten minutes and then came up within about forty rods of here; he was sitting with his back against the door of the granary, which was closed. I heard a whistle, and then he began to talk; the first that I understood was "Now come and hang me, G-d d--n you." Photo courtesy of The History of Oakdale Township, Volume 1, page 100.)
Sick of Potholes?


Public Works can't fix potholes if they don't know they exist!  Please call Public Works at: 651-747-3940 to report any potholes on City roads.

Lake Elmo Rotary's Kindness Campaign

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."
  - Mother Teresa
 
The March weather definitely gave us opportunities to shovel a neighbor's sidewalk! In case you didn't get to last month, April is providing another round of opportunities!!! One resident, who went above and beyond to help his neighbors this winter, received this act of kindness in return... 
 

























Our April kindness challenge is to pay a compliment to a complete stranger. These kind words are sure to make someone's day!
 
We'd love to hear what you do this month! You'll find a link to email us your stories at www.lakeelmorotary.org  
 
Always remember...kindness is unifying!
Environmental Assessment/Public Hearing for Lake Elmo Airport

The Draft EA/EAW for the Lake Elmo Airport is published on the project website under the Documents and Links tab ( www.metroairports.org/General-Aviation/Lake-Elmo-Environmental-Assessment/Documents-and-Links.aspx). The April 4th Public Hearing is posted under the Community Involvement tab on the project website and under the Other MAC Meetings page of  metroairports.org. Notices will go out in area newspapers this week.


Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on April 19, 2018. Written comments can be submitted via email to  ContactLakeElmoAirportEA@mspmac.org, submitted in-person at the Public Hearing, or mailed to:

Lake Elmo Airport EA/EAW Comments 
c/o MAC Environment Department
6040 28th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55450.

Residents invited to learn about study for Highway 36, Manning intersection April 19

The public is invited to learn about the interchange study on the Highway 36 and Manning Avenue (County State Aid Highway 15) intersection at a public house 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Washington County Government Center.

The Government Center is at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater. The open house will be in Lower Level Room 16. There will be no formal presentation, and residents are invited to come and go as is convenient.

The purpose of the open house is to talk to the design team about needs and concerns with the current intersection, and learn about the process, opportunities, potential alternatives, and schedule for the project.

Washington County, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the cities of Grant, Lake Elmo, Oak Park Heights, Stillwater, and Stillwater Township is hosting the open house.
Find more information at the website www.co.washington.mn.us/Manning36Interchange or contact the Washington County Project Manager Nathan Arnold at 651-430-4384 or Nathan.Arnold@co.washington.mn.us.

Washington County will have confidential paper shredding at Environmental Center April 18

Washington County will conduct confidential document shredding at the county's Environmental Center 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18.

The Environmental Center is at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury and provides residents with a free and convenient disposal option for household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables all year round.
Additional dates for confidential paper shredding at the Environmental Center will be:
  • Wednesday, June 6;
  • Wednesday, July 11;
  • Wednesday, Sept. 19; and
  • Wednesday, Nov. 7.
It is open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The center accepts household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables. The center also has a Free Product Room, in which residents may browse the shelves and take home previously-owned products such as paint, stain, automotive supplies, household cleaners, and other products. All items taken to the Environmental Center are inspected to determine if they are usable products.