# Lake Elmo *City in Washington County, Minnesota* Lake Elmo is a city in Washington County, [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 11,335 residents, and the 2022 census estimate was 13,449. Much of the land inside the city limits is still farmed, so the city looks rural.[^1] In 2004 the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] affirmed a finding by the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)]] about the city's comprehensive plan. The plan restricted development, and the Council found it a substantial departure from regional system plans that forecast 31,600 residents by 2040.[^2] Lake Elmo is also one of the east-metro communities in the State's PFAS record. The State's complaint against 3M names the [[Washington County Landfill]] (Lake Elmo) among four sites.[^3] The [[Minnesota Department of Health]] chronology records that seven Lake Elmo wells near the former county landfill tested positive for PFOA in 2004.[^4] The project's at-issue record names Lake Elmo in three pairs: - the State's 1999 assurance to a Lake Elmo family that their water was safe, set against PFAS found in their well in 2006;[^4] - the federal Medium-Low rating of the [[Gold Line]] bus rapid transit project;[^5] - a May 21, 2026 federal health care fraud charge against a Lake Elmo-based operator.[^6] ## Who The city is governed by a council made up of a mayor and four members, each serving a four-year term. The council holds legislative authority and decides policy.[^1] Two appointed bodies support the council: - a park commission, which advises the council on developing and maintaining parks and trails; - a planning commission, which makes recommendations on the comprehensive plan, site plans, subdivisions, zoning and related matters.[^1] Regional and state bodies appear in the city's record through their documented actions: - the Metropolitan Council, whose plan finding the Supreme Court affirmed;[^2] - the Minnesota Department of Health, through its PFAS chronology;[^4] - the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, through its community project funding report;[^7] - the State of Minnesota, as plaintiff and trustee in its suit against 3M.[^8] ## Where The [[United States Census Bureau]] gives the city's total area as 24.36 square miles. Of that, 22.25 square miles is land and 2.11 square miles is water.[^1] Several roads frame the city: - Minnesota State Highway 36 forms its northern edge. - [[Interstate 94]] forms its southern edge. - County State-Aid Highway 14 is the main east–west route. - County State-Aid Highway 17 is the main north–south route.[^1] The city is named for the nearby lake of the same name. Its settlement dates to a single farm established in 1852 near what is now the intersection of Manning Avenue and 30th Street, across the highway from the Lake Elmo Airport. That farm's barn, built in 1875, was converted into a residence in 1998. The original 1852 farmhouse was deliberately burned in 2007.[^1] Most of the city lies within the [[Stillwater]] School District (#834). It includes Lake Elmo Elementary School and Oak-Land Middle School.[^1] Two contamination sites are located in the city: - **Baytown Township Groundwater Plume.** The main source area of this Superfund site is a property at 11325 Stillwater Boulevard, where a metal-working operation ran from 1940 to 1968. The site carries Superfund status because TCE contaminated an aquifer that supplies local drinking water.[^1] - **Washington County Landfill.** The former landfill in Lake Elmo is one of the four sites in the State's 3M complaint. The other three are 3M Cottage Grove, the [[Oakdale Disposal Site]], and the 3M Woodbury Disposal Site.[^3] ## What ### Regional planning case The Minnesota Supreme Court decided *City of Lake Elmo v. Metropolitan Council*, No. A03-458, on August 5, 2004.[^2] At the time Lake Elmo had about 7,000 residents. It had submitted a comprehensive plan that limited development in order to keep the city rural.[^2] The Metropolitan Council found that the plan was a substantial departure from regional system plans. Those plans: - forecast 31,600 residents by 2040; - set minimum densities of three units per acre; - required the city to accommodate about 9,350 sewered households; - required connection to regional wastewater infrastructure.[^2][^9] The Supreme Court affirmed.[^2] The opinion is dated August 5, 2004; the Wikipedia article on the city instead dates the court's order to conform the plan to the Council's regional development guide to 2005.[^9][^1] That article also projects the city's population at more than 21,000 by 2040, against the 31,600 in the Council's system-plan forecast.[^1][^2] ### PFAS in groundwater The Minnesota Department of Health chronology states that it was not until 2002–2004 that 3M disclosed its PFAS disposal locations to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: "the former Washington county Landfill, the 3M-Woodbury Disposal Site, and the 3M-Oakdale Disposal Site."[^4] In 2004, seven wells in Lake Elmo near the former county landfill tested positive for PFOA.[^4] The same chronology shows the Department's health-based value for PFOA falling from 7 µg/L in 2002 to 0.0000079 µg/L in January 2024.[^4] The Department's East Metro biomonitoring work began with three projects in 2008. The 2008 pilot detected PFCs in 100% of participants.[^10] The 2014 round tested blood from more than 300 residents of [[Oakdale]], Lake Elmo and [[Cottage Grove]]. Long-term residents exposed before the 2006 filtration showed levels that were declining but still elevated.[^10] ### *State of Minnesota v. 3M Company* The State's complaint was filed in [[Hennepin County District Court]] as No. 27-CV-10-28862.[^3] It pleads six counts: - the Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act (MERLA); - the Minnesota Water Pollution Control Act; - trespass; - common-law nuisance; - statutory nuisance; - negligence.[^3] The State sues as trustee under Minn. Stat. § 115B.04. The complaint covers four chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, PFBA and PFBS) and four sites, including the Washington County Landfill (Lake Elmo).[^3][^8] The pack does not state the case's disposition. ### 2018 shooting in Lake Elmo According to CBS Minnesota, a [[Washington County grand jury]] indicted Deputy Brian Krook on a charge of second-degree manslaughter on July 19, 2019. The charge concerned the April 12, 2018 death of Benjamin Evans, 23, an on-call firefighter and EMT. CBS reported that Evans was armed and suicidal, and that the shooting followed a standoff of about 40 minutes in Lake Elmo.[^11] MPR News reported in March 2020 that a jury found the deputy not guilty.[^12] ## When - **1852:** The farm that began the settlement is established.[^1] - **1940–1968:** A metal-working facility occupies the property at 11325 Stillwater Boulevard.[^1] - **1999:** According to the at-issue pair, the State tells a Lake Elmo family their water is safe.[^4] - **2002–2004:** 3M discloses its PFAS disposal locations, including the Washington County Landfill, to the Pollution Control Agency.[^4] - **2004:** Seven Lake Elmo wells near the landfill test positive for PFOA.[^4] - **August 5, 2004:** The Supreme Court decides *City of Lake Elmo v. Metropolitan Council*.[^2] - **2006:** PFAS is found in the family's well, according to the at-issue pair.[^4] Filtration begins; the biomonitoring project measures residents' exposure before this point.[^10] - **2008:** The biomonitoring pilot detects PFCs in all participants.[^10] - **2014 and 2016:** Lake Elmo's council supports the Gold Line in 2014 and has voted against it by 2016.[^13] - **2018–2020:** Evans dies on April 12, 2018; Krook is indicted on July 19, 2019 and acquitted in March 2020.[^11][^12] - **January 2024:** The PFOA health-based value is set at 0.0000079 µg/L.[^4] - **May 21, 2026:** A federal health care fraud takedown charges a Lake Elmo-based operator.[^6] ## How much The Pollution Control Agency's FY2025 legislative report lists community project funding as follows:[^7] | Community | Funding | |---|---| | [[Woodbury]] | $251,960,201 | | Cottage Grove | $110,224,231 | | Lake Elmo | $2,353,000 | | Newport | $1,918,950 | | [[Hastings]] | $1,440,500 | | **Total, key projects** | **$369,316,077** | Lake Elmo's amount is about 0.6 percent of the total.[^7] The federal charging summary alleges that the Lake Elmo-based operator submitted more than $4.3 million in [[Housing Stabilization Services]] claims and was paid about $3.7 million. These are allegations.[^6] ## How many - **2020 census:** 11,335 residents; 4,004 households; 4,324 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant.[^1] - **2010 census:** 8,069 residents; 2,779 households; 2,252 families.[^1] - **2004 well testing:** seven Lake Elmo wells near the former county landfill tested positive for PFOA.[^4] - **2014 biomonitoring round:** more than 300 residents of Oakdale, Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove were tested.[^10] ## In the at-issue record **Washington (AI-Washington-009).** This pair rests on Minnesota Reformer reporting and is anchored to the Department of Health chronology. It records that in 1999 the State told a Lake Elmo family their water was safe, reasoning that contaminants would not flow uphill. PFAS was found in their well in 2006. The State then supplied bottled water, declined to extend city water at an estimated $247,000, and offered a $2,500 carbon filter.[^4] The Department's own chronology dates two events that bear on that assurance. 3M disclosed the county landfill as a disposal site in 2002–2004, and the first PFOA detections in Lake Elmo wells came in 2004.[^4] **Gold Line (AI-Washington-086).** The Federal Transit Administration profile gave the project an overall rating of Medium-Low and an opening-year forecast of 5,500 daily linked trips.[^5] According to the pair, which draws on Metro Transit and CBS reporting, the line was built with more than $200 million in federal funds and 26% each from Ramsey and Washington counties.[^5] Lake Elmo's council supported the project in 2014 and had voted against it by 2016.[^13] **Health care fraud (AI-Washington-091).** The Department of Justice's case summaries describe the May 21, 2026 Minnesota health care fraud takedown: 15 defendants and more than $90 million in intended loss. One charged operator was based in Lake Elmo, Washington County.[^6] The summary alleges more than $4.3 million in Housing Stabilization Services claims, of which about $3.7 million was paid. It further alleges that employees were directed to bill assigned hours per client "week after week, regardless of whether services were actually provided."[^6] Status: charged; these are allegations, not convictions.[^6] ## In the Minnesota record ### Where - Lake Elmo is in Washington County, and most of the city lies in the Stillwater School District (#834).[^1] - The Baytown Township Groundwater Plume source area is at 11325 Stillwater Boulevard in Lake Elmo.[^1] - The State's 3M complaint names the Washington County Landfill (Lake Elmo) among its four sites.[^3] - The federal charging summary places one charged operator in Lake Elmo, Washington County.[^6] - The 2018 shooting that led to the deputy's indictment followed a standoff in Lake Elmo.[^11] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lake Elmo, Minnesota* (revid 1374527039, retrieved 2026-10-27) — population, households, area, roads, early history, government structure, school district, Baytown plume summary, 2005 order date and 2040 projection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Elmo,_Minnesota [^2]: Minnesota Supreme Court, *City of Lake Elmo v. Metropolitan Council*, No. A03-458 (August 5, 2004) — the city's restrictive plan, the Council's substantial-departure finding, the 31,600 forecast, three units per acre, about 9,350 sewered households, and the affirmance. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mn-supreme-court/1267424.html [^3]: State of Minnesota, *State of Minnesota v. 3M Company*, Complaint, Hennepin County District Court No. 27-CV-10-28862 — six counts, trusteeship under Minn. Stat. § 115B.04, four chemicals, and four sites including the Washington County Landfill (Lake Elmo). https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Cases/3M/docs/Complaint.pdf [^4]: Minnesota Department of Health, *History of MDH PFAS activities* — 3M's 2002–2004 disposal-site disclosures, the 2004 PFOA detections in seven Lake Elmo wells, and the health-based-value chronology; also the anchor of at-issue pair AI-Washington-009, whose family account rests on Minnesota Reformer reporting. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/history.html [^5]: Federal Transit Administration, *METRO Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project profile* — Medium-Low overall rating and 5,500 opening-year daily linked trips; anchor of at-issue pair AI-Washington-086, whose funding shares come from the pair's Metro Transit and CBS sources. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/funding/grant-programs/capital-investments/130136/mn-st-paul-metro-gold-line-bus-rapid-transit-profile.pdf [^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, *2026 Minnesota Health Care Fraud Case Summaries* (May 21, 2026) — 15 defendants, more than $90 million intended loss, and charges against a Lake Elmo-based operator; allegations only. https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2026-minnesota-hcf-case-summaries [^7]: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, *FY2025 PFC legislative report* — community project funding by city and the key-project total. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrc-pfc-2sy25.pdf [^8]: Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, *State of Minnesota v. 3M Company* case page — the State's suit and filings. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Cases/3M/ [^9]: Minnesota Supreme Court, *City of Lake Elmo v. Metropolitan Council*, No. A03-458 (August 5, 2004) — opinion text and date. https://law.justia.com/cases/minnesota/supreme-court/2004/opa030458-0805.html [^10]: Minnesota Department of Health, *East Metro PFAS biomonitoring* — projects beginning in 2008, the 100% detection rate in the 2008 pilot, the 2014 round of more than 300 residents, and the pre-2006-filtration exposure findings. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/biomonitoring/projects/pfas.html [^11]: CBS Minnesota, *Minnesota deputy indicted in 2018 fatal shooting* (July 19, 2019) — grand jury indictment of Deputy Brian Krook in the April 12, 2018 death of Benjamin Evans in Lake Elmo. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-deputy-indicted-in-2018-fatal-shooting/ [^12]: MPR News, *Jury finds Washington County deputy not guilty in 2018 shooting death* (March 19, 2020) — acquittal. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/03/19/jury-finds-washington-county-deputy-not-guilty-in-2018-shooting-death [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Metro Gold Line (Minnesota)* — Lake Elmo council support in 2014 and opposition by 2016 (tertiary). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Gold_Line_(Minnesota