News from the City of Lake Elmo
June 22,  2018
Meetings next week:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There are no meetings scheduled for next week.


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

City Meetings
 
                                                                               

County to Provide Property Assessing in Lake Elmo

At their June 5th meeting, the County Board approved an agreement with Lake Elmo to provide property assessing for the City.  Washington County provides local assessment services for more than 80 percent of the parcels in the county.

Greg Strauss (pictured to the right), will provide assessing services for Lake Elmo.  He is a Certified Minnesota Appraiser with Washington County and works out of the Government Center in Stillwater.  Originally from Southern California, Greg has been involved in Real Estate for over 25 years.  He lives in Washington County with his wife Tammy, and enjoys camping, ATVs, boating, and riding horses in his spare time.  Greg can be contacted at: 651-275-7530 or greg.strauss@co.washington.mn.us.
Permanent Water Use Restriction

To encourage water conservation, the following water use restrictions have been in place in the City of Lake Elmo since 2010.

(1). Odd/Event Sprinkling Restriction: Property owners having even numberd postal addresses may water, sprinkle, or irrigate their lawns, only on even numbered days, and property owners having odd numbered postal addressses may water, sprinkle, or irrigate their lawns only on odd numbered days.

(2). Time of Day Sprinkling Restriction:  Property owners are prohibited from watering, sprinkling, or irrigating their lawns between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM daily.

CSAH 15 (Manning Ave.) and CSAH 14 Realignment

Project Schedule:

Last Week:
  • Utility relocations continued.
  • Crews worked in installing storm sewer.
  • Dust control was put in place.
  • Crews worked on excavating and grading the subgrade.
  • Crews continued installing sanitary sewer.
This Week:
  • Two crews will work to complete storm sewer installations.
  • Subgrade excavation and filling will occur throughout the project site.
  • Utility relocations will be ongoing.
Upcoming Work:
  • Crews will begin hauling select granular next week sometime.
Access:
CSAH 14 (40th Street N) east of CSAH 15 (Manning Avenue) to McFair Avenue is closed to all traffic. The detour route is shown below.















The DeMontreville Daughters

Originally, all of the lakes in the Tri-Lakes area were names for Dr. DeMontreville and his daughters. While Lake DeMontreville and Lake Jane maintain their earlier names, the other lakes in the chain.

Originally, Olson Lake, connected by a channel with Lake DeMontreville was known as Lake Emma. The first person of European heritage to settle on the smaller lake were Gustav Olson and his wife, Carolyn. He came from Norway. Carolyn came from Sweden. The Olson's built a home on what was initially Lake DeMontreville in 1898. Jeffrey Sovereign, current owner of the property, says that the deed to the property in 1898 shows the name as Lake DeMontreville. The name of the smaller lake was changed to Olson Lake in the early 1900s.

Information compiled by Marcia Anderson and Kathy McQuaid in the Tri-Lakes 50th Anniversary booklet. Much of it was written by Ken Sovereign and published first in the Birchbark, the Tri-Lakes periodical publication, in 1989:

"The Olson family had six children, and their dairy herd was pastured in what is now Oace Acres and Pebble Park. They raised corn and poultry, ran a small truck farm, and operated a resort with 24 fishing boats, a dance hall, picnic grounds, and a small store. Some of the Olson brothers played different instruments so they formed the Olson Brothers Orchestra to entertain guests."

The other lake was called Lake Sarah. It is not in Lake Elmo, but mostly in Pine Springs. The lake was separated when U.S. Highway 36 was build. The portion in Lake Elmo become little more than a pond. The larger portion of the Lake was in Pine Springs. The larger lake became Long Lake. Two of the daughters, Emma and Sara lost their historical markers, being replaced by Long Lake and Olson Lake.



Sources: Memories of Lake Elmo, collected and authored by Gloria VaDemmeltraadt and the Tri-Lakes 50th Anniversary booklet, first published in the Birchbark, the Tri-Lakes periodical publication, in 1989.

Over time, the names of the Tri-Lakes have evolved into four named lakes and one unnamed pond. All but Long Lake are located in Lake Elmo. This map is courtesy of Google Maps. 

Help Eradicate Buckthorn From Sunfish Lake Park

                                                                                  
Sunfish Lake Park is being overrun with buckthorn. Join the Friends of Lake Elmo Sunfish Park on June 30th from 10 am-noon to begin our work on this problem.
 
Please bring gloves, something to cut buckthorn, if you have it, and water. We will have coffee and a lunch at the Sally Manzara Nature Center after the event.
 
This is the first of many regular Adopt A Park events we have planned for Sunfish Lake Park.
 
For more information, or to be put on our mailing list for future events, contact George Johnson at 651-757-5610 or gjohnson2020@gmail.com.



Upcoming Events at the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center

                                                                                  
Senior Mondays 
Guided Trail walk for seniors followed by coffee, refreshments and conversation.      
Mondays beginning June 18, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Buckthorn Removal in Sunfish Lake Park 
June 30th 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Beginning Watercolor painting class with Artist Julie Schroeder
Friday, July 20, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM


Mini-Camp Adventures in July:
Visit  www.sminc-lake-elmo.org  or leave a voicemail at 651-408-2838 for more information.  Registration forms available at the Nature Center.  Register soon; space is limited!

Critter Camp - July 9-12:
4 to 6-year-olds mornings
7 to 8-year-olds afternoons

Let's Get Muddy - July 16-19:
4 to 6-year-olds mornings

Survival - July 23-26:
7 to 8-year-olds mornings  

Washington County will have confidential paper shredding at Environmental Center July 11

Washington County will conduct confidential document shredding at the county's Environmental Center 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 11.
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, 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.

Lake Elmo Rotary's Kindness Campaign

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." 
 - 
James Matthew Barrie

June is here and brings with it lots of sunshine as we approach the first official day of summer! The fantastic May weather provided plenty of time to help a neighbor with yard work. Some of you enlisted the help of your children and turned this challenge into a family event - way to go!! Thanking those in uniform for their service often ended with them thanking us for thanking them! More magical conversations happening that normally would have gone unspoken.
 
For our June challenge we are turning the tables and asking you to do something kind for yourself. We are all so busy meeting the demands of work, family and all the other stuff life throws at us that we don't have much time to be good to ourselves. Happy summer - I hope you will make time to eat a Popsicle, listen to the birds and watch the sunset.

As always, we'd love to hear what you do this month! You'll find a link to email us at  www.lakeelmorotary.org
 
Always remember...kindness is contagious!
Spot spraying for noxious weeds to begin in Washington County June 19

                                                                                  
Washington County staff will begin spot spraying noxious weeds in the more than 220 miles of rural roadsides June 19 through October.

This is being done to help comply with the Minnesota State Noxious Weed law administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The chemicals to be used are Escort XP, Milestone VM, and Liberate.

Property owners who do not want their roadside sprayed or mowed, and are willing to take responsibility for controlling and eradicating noxious weeds on the adjacent roadside, may visit the Washington County North Shop at 11660 Myeron Road in Stillwater Township to obtain signage, or call 651-430-4300. Be prepared to provide an address, the nearest cross street, and a description of where DO NOT SPRAY signs will be located.

Washington County Parks are featuring "Passports to Parks" through Nov. 1

Visit at least five Washington County parks and answer the questions as you go. Bring your completed passport to any park office to receive your prize. Park offices include Big Marine Park Reserve, Historic Courthouse, Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St. Croix Bluffs.

Scavenger Hunt will begin on Explore Your Parks Day, June 2, 2018 and will be collected through November 1, 2018. Follow all park rules including vehicle permit requirements and park hours (6:00 AM - 10:00 PM)



2017 Consumer Confidence Report Now Available

The 2017 Lake Elmo Consumer Confidence Report regarding the City's drinking water quality is now available. The full report can be viewed here:  http://www.lakeelmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2017-CCR-newspaper.pdf
Campfire program continues with "American Kestrel" July 7


The Warner Nature Center will present "American Kestrel" at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 10 (one mile north of Interstate 94) in Lake Elmo. The program will be in the campground amphitheater. Call 651-430-8370 or see www.co.washington.mn.us/parks for additional information on this and other programs.

Follow Washington County Parks on social media at @WashCountyParks.
Enjoy guided fitness hike June 28 at Lake Elmo Park

Explore the Washington County Parks trail system with guided fitness hikes, with the next hike at 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, June 28, at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

The one-hour hikes involve a warm-up and fitness challenges along the way. Trails are a mix of turf, gravel, grass, snow, and pavement depending on trail conditions, time of year, and location. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early. If light rain, hike will go on as scheduled. The program is for those ages 13 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

All guided fitness hikes are at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. and will meet at the Nordic Center. The continuing 2018 schedule is:
  • July 12
  • July 26
  • Aug. 9
  • Aug. 23
  • Sept. 6
  • Sept. 20
  • Oct. 4
  • Nov. 1
  • Dec. 6
These programs are free with a parks vehicle permit ($7/day or $30/annual) with the exception of Free Tuesdays.   Follow Washington County Parks on social media at @WashCountyParks.
Guided morning bird hikes continue with July 7 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, July 7, 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.

This is a one-hour guided hike; meet at the Nordic Center foyer, and park in 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 hike 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 at 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.