News from the City of Lake Elmo
                                                                                                                                                                       
 March 20, 2020
Public Meetings Next Week:

There are no public meetings next week.

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

City Meetings
 
                                                                               

COVID-19 Update

With the recent outbreak of the Corona Virus/COVID-19 the City of Lake Elmo is taking precautions to mitigate exposure and illness. Lake Elmo City Offices, Public Works, and Fire Department are closed to the public until further notice.

City Staff will be working and will be available via phone and email. If you need to drop something off at City Hall there are drop boxes outside the building and administration departments.

City Contact information can be found here.

If you need to apply for a zoning or building permit we encourage you to visit our website for guidance on permitting as well as permit applications here.


For more information about the outbreak please refer to Washington County or Minnesota Department of Health
March 17 City Council Meeting Summary





Meeting materials can be accessed here.

Drinking Water Update

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency held two informational meetings in Lake Elmo to update residents and share drinking water supply options. A draft Conceptual Drinking Water Supply Plan is expected in late Spring. The plan will cover public water systems and private wells, and lay out long-term projects addressing quality, quantity, and sustainability of drinking water contaminated by PFAS. The plan will evaluate options such as alternative drinking water sources, treating existing wells, and/or connecting homes with private wells to municipal systems. There will be a second series of meetings later in the Spring to share information on the long-term plan for use of the 3M settlement funds. The latest information on the 3M settlement, details on future meetings, and a sign-up form for email updates can be found at 3msettlement.state.mn.us/. 

To find out if your private well is eligible for testing go to www.health.state.mn.us/pfas and follow the link to the MPCA's interactive map to see if you are in the sampling area. If so, complete the MDH Well Sampling Request Form.

For questions and health concerns, contact the Site Assessment and Consultation Unit at he MDH at 651-747-4897 or health.hazard@state.mn.us

There has been a shortage of toilet paper in stores, this may cause people to use alternative products such as tissues, paper towls, baby wipes, flushable wipes, and simlar items. Only toilet paper breaks down, other products can cause backups in the sanitary sewer, which can further public health concerns. Please help prevent sewer backups and only flush toilet paper.
2020 Spring Flood Threat

Last Spring and Summer many residents were affected by high water levels, and water levels failed to recede to normal levels before this Winter. The risk factors used to determine the 2020 flood threat outlook are similar to last year. 

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


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.




Sand And Bags Available From Lake Elmo Public Works

Sand and bags are available at Public Works (3445 Ideal Ave) for any Lake Elmo property owners who need these supplies for their flood preparations. The site will be accessible throughout the weekend, but folks will need to bag the sand and transport to their property on their own.
 






Instructions to Add Stormwater to your Online Utility Billing

To Add your Stormwater Account to your existing Online Utility Bill Pay:
Log into your account from the City Website
Click on "Manage Profiles" on the left side of the screen
Click "Add New Account" on the upper right side
Click on bubble to add account to your name
Click "Next"
Enter your Stormwater Account Number under the "Utility Account Number" (should begin with 05-)


Click "Search"
Check box for Account
Click "Next"

To Make a Payment on Multiple Accounts:
Click "Make a Payment" on the left side of the screen
Select Type under Payment Methods




Scroll down to see your accounts
Enter payment amount for each account you wish to pay
Click "Continue"



 

We're Hiring!

The City of Lake Elmo is currently accepting applications for Building Official and Seasonal Public Works Employees

Full postings and application details can be found at http://www.lakeelmo.org/government/employment.php
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!

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.