[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6469526,"mediaKeyId","5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7","parentId",5780813,"title","Lake Elmo Lake Association asks council for letter supporting invasive-species grant","audioSeconds",149,"startMs",44000,"endMs",193000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7&start=44&end=193","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7/thumbnail_44000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469526/Calumet-City/Cook-County/Illinois/Lake-Elmo-Lake-Association-asks-council-for-letter-supporting-invasive-species-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469526-d7a4946c8ecb338443f1175836e6645e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199962&Signature=j~4MqTeQGLgXBusoLisO4ZmjBP5BJMofhfm6Eo9dbGomXKIAEP7uP9JE~aReoWcj-gZpg9Zg4lDNvEI5Hevb5gQRopswpV9ROSmA1bctVoA6lXJCgb22Er4sdKJ-KOg3uopkiXwEAFjYco~g48VBejrfSAgf1lk2En23ZzWJgkDd5ELSae4TPwnHxgxtLLEqBTHTuPth-OZUKSAhR-IDaDOwrTA2UX27iKXRtU9C7AL-WIosdkZ7IQ5NrFpP~rZAi7pqeo9-afV7Ste2BPxOZ~0Dn3FVH0rrSRmAw4RWm5NxUdsou8PI5XZjERxMYgterRgAK06lla3XNae1VJKDrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lake Elmo","date","2025-09-17T13:02:25Z","article","Wendy Griffin, president of the Lake Elmo Lake Association and a resident at 2835 Lake Elmo Avenue North, told the Lake Elmo City Council during public comment on Aug. 25 that the association has been accepted to apply for a DNR funding program and asked the city to provide a letter of intent supporting the association's grant application.

\"We were here a couple months ago to tell you that we had submitted a grant into the DNR,\" Griffin said. She said the grant, if awarded, would fund a full-lake treatment to address Eurasian milfoil and curly pondweed and that the association is developing a five-year plan to address zebra mussels, which were recently found in Lake Elmo. Griffin identified partners in planning and treatment work as Patrick from PLM (a weed-removal contractor), Meg Ratti from Bar Engineering, Valley Branch (partner on zebra-mussel planning) and the Washington Conservation District for other invasive-species assistance.

Griffin asked the city to supply a letter of intent that would show municipal support for the association's DNR funding application. She also thanked the council and staff for a recent Saturday community event and suggested the city consider bringing back a street dance or festival for residents.

No council action was taken during the meeting on the request; staff did not announce a response timeline on the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lake Elmo City Council meeting 09/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Lake Elmo resident and Lake Association president requested a city letter of intent to support a pending Department of Natural Resources grant application for invasive-species lake treatment and described recent zebra mussel findings and partner agencies involved in a long-term plan.","taxTitle","Calumet City, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",56809,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6469531,"Council receives feasibility report, schedules public hearing for 2026 street and utility improvements",704,392000,1096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7&start=392&end=1096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7/thumbnail_392000.jpg","/articles/6469531/Calumet-City/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-receives-feasibility-report-schedules-public-hearing-for-2026-street-and-utility-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469531-7c61757c3f74b6220ab6bb7f161be644/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199962&Signature=OnIkbEw6sy1J5MMMl2XzZS0clsRJbHUSCEZoj1Ba7HyrovSCFYzUOEK4qa6ptWvmJ3Sk-qP8Adi6ftnTFdNE8Rv3wD2jaX-VV5Ectnomoc6xEWX76xfnO6hyxKLA4z0v6pweF2aITVA~yJQzPXrJ2Vwcczb4b1bfJRxYnTUKzFILBvwGdYtQr5LHNlrqHrZVYa-qYhM2iKdAeMuGOpb1ir1-B-UJ1Bk-AHZlXu7WR~nZSPfXQA26SCzbL8pZX9uWW7GgD~sx8S-u6g6x48cDWBkzejjChfMsruOqNLUsgn4T-g0N0EQlun509Lh7tG8dANvJOFPPkKy6FMhQ9W2QUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake Elmo City Council on Aug. 25, 2025, accepted a feasibility report and adopted a resolution calling a public improvement hearing for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvements project (Resolution 2025-059).

City public works consultant/engineer Stanley told the council the project covers streets in the Lake Elmo Heights and Eagle Creek Point Estates neighborhoods near Inwood Avenue. A geotechnical investigation supported reclaiming and reconstructing the existing pavement to match current geometrics. Stanley described proposed work as including reconstructing streets to existing curb-to-curb widths, installing concrete curb and gutter, targeted storm-sewer replacement, grading and drainage improvements, and posting no-parking restrictions around cul-de-sacs per city policy.

Stanley said existing public water mains — installed roughly 20 years ago — are expected to remain in service for decades and that no water-main replacement is proposed at this time. The project area lies outside the city's existing municipal sewer (MUSA) boundary, and no sanitary sewer extension is proposed.

On costs, Stanley said the city's 2026 capital improvement plan included roughly $2.7 million for the project; the current all-in estimate presented was just under $2.4 million. Of that estimate, staff forecast roughly $1,665,000 would be city-paid costs and about $727,000 would be assessed to benefiting properties. Stanley noted assessments vary by lot and called the resulting per-parcel assessment generally in line with recent projects.

Council member Pregnis asked about a neighborhood meeting; Stanley said about 35 to 40 people attended and described the meeting as informational, with discussion about concrete curb and gutter and general acceptance of the recommended approach. Council member Jericic pressed for the stormwater-utility fund to be considered for stormwater-related work; staff acknowledged that financing options will be reviewed as the project moves toward the improvement hearing.

The council approved a resolution receiving the feasibility report and calling a public improvement hearing; staff will return in October to conduct the hearing and seek direction on proceeding.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-059, receiving the feasibility report and calling the public improvement hearing for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvements project — Passed (voice vote).","The council accepted a feasibility report and called a public improvement hearing for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvements project covering Lake Elmo Heights and Eagle Creek Point Estates; staff presented project scope, estimated costs and an assessment split proposal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6469536,"Lake Elmo council adopts preliminary 2026 budget, sets levy hearing after 3-2 vote",1840,1097000,2937000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7&start=1097&end=2937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780813-df56cba891c1c8cf811e01cf8c4909e7/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","/articles/6469536/Calumet-City/Cook-County/Illinois/Lake-Elmo-council-adopts-preliminary-2026-budget-sets-levy-hearing-after-3-2-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469536-7ca668883ec10d678775d686b73192cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199962&Signature=HbHW7rAraXUMwHVwU3VPjAQ9qtaUar-REsFf9Z7pPO7V4SayKG3vj1mRZPYXE9qiEP6AAgJ-g2Zl3Frxy6VoV6HTSD5Aek8S8caqFowLfs9bUFaX1CrSvdpMO5pkDCtfD5IL6-xUV3wJmunIvahB1YIFJLXUszttVaIZhYYVOa6B8RrDGY72NOGRbwCloWU8pxuPqfeDD5UduTWvjKEn0XKMNOPlQlBNpTlU7i6C4uEkt~Hfp~SkkjBqbU8QIhPlKyB488qj-Wr7A-2vWuoHsKxVJu8eOyiCrD9YhUaujNb4UVOkKh78vWOSNBReKh7jDKeZIdPcmv6yMxnWtBR8Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake Elmo City Council on Aug. 25, 2025, approved Resolution 2025-060 adopting a proposed 2026 general fund budget and property tax levy and set a public hearing for Dec. 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote.

Council members and city staff framed the vote as a first step in a larger strategic financial planning process. Finance Director Adler presented the proposed 2026 numbers: estimated tax revenues of about $6.3 million, non-tax revenues of just over $2.2 million and total general fund expenses of about $8.8 million — an 11% increase over 2025. The total proposed levy shown in the presentation was $11,497,785, a roughly $1.4 million (14%) increase from the prior year. Adler told the council the median-home impact in Lake Elmo would be about $179 annually (roughly $15 per month) under the proposal.

Adler said the package includes several new capital levies the city has not previously used: an infrastructure reserve for larger street reconstruction and reclamation, a City Center capital-improvement levy, a vehicle and equipment levy and a street-maintenance levy. \"Part of the levy that we've discussed a lot are the capital levies,\" Adler said, noting the package is intended to begin building dedicated capital reserves rather than relying solely on bonds.

Council member Hearn urged a slower approach and pressed staff for scenario modeling. Hearn said he was concerned about long-term tax targets and asked whether a smaller near-term contribution to the infrastructure reserve could still produce stable long-term debt outcomes. \"I was told that we're as a city, that we potentially would have to work towards 50 to 60% tax rates,\" Hearn said, framing his request for additional analysis on fund balances and alternative levy pacing.

Adler and other staff responded that the city has modeled multiple scenarios. Adler said a scenario reducing the proposed infrastructure reserve contribution by $200,000 would change long-term debt projections — moving a 2038 debt projection from about $20 million to about $23 million in one model — but that the projections are modeling exercises tied to other assumptions the city will refine during its strategic planning process. \"These are just modeling at this point,\" Adler said.

Council members split on approach. Council member Holtz argued for more aggressive savings now to avoid a larger one-time funding shock later, saying earlier investment could reduce future borrowing. Other council members, including Hearn, favored a slower build-up in reserve funding and asked staff for more comparative data on infrastructure value, depreciation and the fund-balance effects of different levy levels.

The council voted to set the public hearing for Dec. 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. as part of adopting the proposed levy; the resolution notes that the proposed levy may be reduced but not increased at final adoption.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-060, approving the 2026 proposed general fund budget and property tax levy and setting the public hearing for Dec. 16, 2025 — Passed 3-2.

Next steps

Staff and council members said they will continue scenario modeling and present further strategic financial materials ahead of the Dec. 16 public hearing. The council invited additional modeling on infrastructure fund balances and long-term debt projections before final levy adoption.","The Lake Elmo City Council approved a proposed 2026 general fund budget and property tax levy and set a public hearing for Dec. 16, 2025, following a 3-2 vote after an extended discussion about infrastructure levies, debt projections and alternatives for pacing capital funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lake Elmo Lake Association asks council for letter supporting invasive-species grant

Council receives feasibility report, schedules public hearing for 2026 street and utility improvements

Lake Elmo council adopts preliminary 2026 budget, sets levy hearing after 3-2 vote