News from the City of Lake Elmo
                                                                                                                                                                       
  January 3, 2020
Public Meetings Next Week:

City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 7 7:00PM

Links to the 2020 City Meetings, Agendas and Meeting Minutes: 

City Meetings
 
                                                                               

Tuesday January 7th City Council Agenda

Meeting materials can be accessed here.
Snow Removal Ordinance 


The City's snow removal ordinance is now in effect. The snow removal ordinance requires property owners and occupants to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. If ice and snow are not removed within 48 hours after snowfall ends, it will be considered a nuisance and may be abated by the City in accordance with City Code.





Lake Elmo residents and pets are out enjoying the Sunfish Lake Park trails! The fresh snow makes a picture perfect winter setting. Public Works continues to groom and improve the park trails.




The City of Lake Elmo wants your input!
The City is using Polco, a community engagement tool, to gather feedback from residents. If you'd like to provide your feedback to the City on topics ranging from budgeting to parks amenities and everything in-between, visit www.polco.us/lakeelmo  and create an account!





Guided bird hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve January 11th

Washington County Parks will host a guided bird hike in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve on Saturday, January 11 at 9AM. 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. For questions call 651-430-8370 or visit  www.co.washington.mn.us/parks 


Cold Weather Rule Takes Effect Oct. 15
Customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through April 15

The Minnesota Cold Weather rule takes effect Tuesday, and Xcel Energy wants to ensure that residential customers who need assistance paying their energy bills this winter can get the help they need.
Under the rule, residential customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through the following April 15, if the disconnection would affect the customer's primary heating source. Customers must immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan if they receive a disconnection notice.

Be aware of scams
Xcel Energy also wants to remind customers to be aware of scams that typically ramp up during the change in seasons.
In most scenarios, the scammer tells the customer their account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn't made - usually within the hour. The scammer then instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card - widely available at retail stores - and demands the customer call back to supposedly make a payment to the utility. These scammers often sound professional and may also manipulate caller ID so numbers look like they're coming from Xcel Energy.

If customers have any doubt about the authenticity of someone claiming to be with Xcel Energy and asking for payment, we recommend that they hang up and check their account status using My Account or our mobile app, or call Xcel Energy Customer Service at 800-895-4999. Xcel Energy's website has much more information to help people avoid phone, email, in person and employment scams.

Adopt a Storm Drain
The Adopt-A-Drain program allows you to sign up to keep a storm drain in your neighborhood clear from debris. Adopting a storm drain keeps your neighborhood clean and protects your local waterways. Find out more, and sign up, at  https://adopt-a-drain.org/


Yard Waste Sites in Washington County

RecycleSearch provides an interactive map of Washington and Ramsey Counties that will help you find your closest yard waste disposal site this Fall. 

More information here 



National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program aims to reduce the
impact of flooding on private and public structures. It
does so by providing affordable insurance to property
owners, renters and businesses and by encouraging
communities to adopt and enforce floodplain
management regulations. These efforts help mitigate the
effects of flooding on new and improved structures.

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

Here are some important facts to keep in mind:

* Homeowners and renters insurance does not

typically cover flood damage.

* More than 20 percent of flood claims come from

properties outside high-risk flood zones.

* 1 inch of water can cause $25,000 in flood damage!


Flood insurance plans typically have a 30-day waiting
period before they pay, so residents are urged to buy a
flood insurance policy before the Springtime.

For more information visit www.Floodsmart.gov