Frequently Asked Questions

There are many reasons flags fly at half staff.  Visit Half Staff for more information or to receive state and nationwide half staff notifications directly.

The City of Le Sueur polling location is the lower level of City Hall (203 South Second Street).  Visit our elections page for more information.

A Comprehensive Plan is an expression of the community's vision for the future and strategic map to reach that vision.  The City of Le Sueur adopted the 2040 Comprehensive Plan on November 14, 2016.  Comprehensive planning is an important tool for cities to guide future development of land to ensure a safe, pleasant, and economical environment for residential, commercial, industrial, and public activities.  For more information, visit our Comprehensive Plan homepage.

Leak detection tablets are available to Le Sueur residents at the Water/Wastewater Facility (1500 North Commerce Street) free of charge.  Stop in today to get yours!

The City of Le Sueur is responsible for the maintenance of the water meter.  If the water meter is not working properly or if you suspect there is a problem with your water meter please contact the Water/Wastewater Department.

Property owners are responsible for maintenance of all water piping from the City’s main (including the connection) to the house or business including all piping in the building.  Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of the curb stop valve and the valve before the meter.

Please call 507-665-9941 and follow the instructions to speak with our on call staff to respond to the incident.

If your pipes have already frozen once this season and you have been advised by City staff to keep the lines open by running water, please continue to do so.  In this case, you will not be charged for water and sewer used.  You can also test your water temperature.  Please contact the Water/Wastewater Department if it is 36 degrees or lower or if you need assistance in taking the temperature.

Run cold water from the lowest point in the house, usually a laundry room sink or tub.  It is important to keep the water flowing constantly at a rate of about one gallon every four minutes (the stream width of a pencil).  Do not run hot water, as hot water will freeze faster than cold water.

The City of Le Sueur is not responsible for thawing out your pipes, as the water service is the homeowner’s property from the house to the main in the street.  However, we will assist you in contacting the appropriate professional to fix the problem and will assist who you hire.

Sometimes.  With deep frost, the ground around water pipes may not be frozen, but it is unlikely warming the pipes will help.  If the water temperature falls below 36 degrees and you are concerned, please call contact the Water/Wastewater Department to discuss your options.

The first step is to test your water temperature.  Please call the Water/Wastewater Department at 507-­665-9941 if it is 36 degrees or lower or if you need assistance in taking the temperature.  Failure to contact the Water/Wastewater Department prior to running water to prevent water lines from freezing may result in the property owner or tenant being responsible for the excessive water and sewer charges.

Failure to contact the Water/Wastewater Department prior to running water to prevent water lines from freezing may result in the property owner or tenant being responsible for the excessive water and sewer charges.  Upon contact, we may send a staff person to your location to determine if running water is necessary.

No.  Most water pipes that freeze have no history of freezing in the past.  While relatively few in number, frozen pipes occur at random all across our service area.  In some areas of the City, staff have seen frost depth approaching the water service depth.  However, we cannot determine the frost depth surrounding each of the 1,490 water service lines that exist within the City service area.

The chance is approximately .5% that water lines will freeze.  We want to conserve precious water resources and keep our prices low for our customers, most of whom will not be affected by a frozen water lines in any given winter.  Running water unnecessarily will raise costs for all our customers to prevent an event that is unlikely to occur.

Water service lines (pipes) 6.5 to 7.5 feet below ground.  Frost could be down to the same level as the water service lines in some areas and can freeze in these conditions.  There are a number of factors that determine the depth of the frost in any given winter.

The city is not responsible for sewer service lines freezing or failing due to running water to keep you water service from freezing.  However, you should still contact the Water/Wastewater Department so it can be determined if the problem is your sewer service or city sewer main.

No.  If you are running your water as instructed, keep the water running until we contact you.  Frost will take longer to leave the ground than a few days of above freezing temperatures.

Once your line has been thawed out, it is essential to keep the water running continuously as instructed: one gallon every four minutes.  Turning the water off, even for a few minutes, could cause the once frozen line to refreeze.  Remember this line already froze this year and is likely to refreeze if you do not continue to run water as instructed.

Cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the bubbles in carbonated soft drinks.  After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and escape into the air.

This type of cloudiness occurs most often in the winter when the drinking water is cold.  When relatively warm well water leaves the treatment system, it travels through pipes in the frozen ground to your home.  The water is cooled and is not able to retain as much oxygen, but because the water is trapped in a pipe the oxygen cannot escape.  When you open your tap, the water is no longer trapped inside the pipes and the oxygen immediately begins to escape (or bubble) to the surface.

The hardness of our well water as it comes into your home or business averages about 20 grains per gallon or 350 milligrams per liter of total hardness.

The most likely sources of lead in water are lead solder or brass fixtures in your home’s plumbing and/or your service line.  The City of Le Sueur’s water mains are constructed mainly of cast iron and ductile iron with no soldered joints.

The City of Le Sueur provides drinking water to its residents from groundwater sources:

• Two wells from the Jordan aquifer at 274 and 280 feet
• One multi-aquifer from the Jordan, Fronconia, Ironton, and Galesville aquifer at 660 feet
• One from the Mount Simon aquifer at 690 feet

The City accepts responsibility for damages to mailboxes if the mailbox location and construction complies with the City's Mailbox Placement Standards and the damage is by physically being struck by a plow blade, wing, or other piece of equipment.  Please note: damage caused by snow hitting the mailbox is not covered.

To have your mailbox repaired or replaced, please fill out our Mailbox Damage Application and remit to City Hall.

As a general rule, a snow emergency will be declared following or during a snow occurrence of two or more inches.  The announcement will be made the on City's website, Facebook page, Le Sueur County News, and KCHK radio.  Notifications can also be sent to you direct by text or email by signing up thru our Notify Me module.

Please contact Joel Schmidt, Public Works Manager at 507-593-8378.

The adjacent property owner is responsible for maintenance, construction, and reconstruction of the sidewalk abutting their property.  The property owner also has legal liability should an accident occur on the sidewalk.

The City will repair boulevard turf disturbed by snow plows with black dirt and seed.  This work is normally scheduled in the spring.  Any landscaping or sprinkler systems placed in the City right-of-way, is placed there at the homeowners risk.  Please contact the Streets & Parks Department with questions.

The Streets & Parks Department trims trees located on City property, within City right-of ways, or trees that obstruct the view of City signage, and trees that diminish visibility at intersections.  If you have questions, please contact our Streets & Parks Department.

The Electrical Department trims or removes trees that may interfere with power lines.  Please contact our Electric Department about any concerns.

In most cases, City right-of-way extends 10 to 12 feet behind the back of the curb.

On residential roads that are not posted, the speed limit is 30 miles per hour.  State law for public roadways implies that 30 miles per hour is the lowest speed limit that can be enforced and can only be lower for specific situations such as school zones.

Yard and garden waste such as leaves, shrubs, trees, and glass clippings can be deposited at our site.  Decomposed materials are available to Le Sueur residents.  Only organic materials are acceptable.

The site is open 24/7.

Our compost site is located off of Boright Street (near the Electric building).

Have you noticed a snow pile in your cul-de-sac after the least snow fall?  If so, you may have noticed the snow pile is in the street instead of behind the curb as in past years.  By leaving a snow pile in the street instead of behind the curb in grass or gravel, Public Works & Facilities operators can more safely and efficiently load the snow onto trucks and haul it away. 

Q: Why haul away the snow instead of leaving it in the cul-de-sac? 

A: The potential for property damage is greatly reduced.  Many snow piles must be hauled multiple times during the winter to create more storage for upcoming snowfalls.  Scooping snow from grass and gravel areas often creates damage requiring City crews to replace and regrade gravel, replace dirt, seed, fertilize and water in an attempt to repair the damage. This is costly both in terms staff time and materials and takes time away from other spring-time work.  Additionally, less stormwater facilities wear and tear maintenance is needed.  Public Works & Facilities operators strive to minimize the amount of road debris (asphalt, rocks, etc.) that is scraped into snow piles.  However, a lot of this “junk” makes its way into the Stormwater system which can cost time and money to remove debris in order for the system to function properly.

A: Typical timing for snow pile removal will be within 48 hours after crews are done plowing roads..

Q: Why wasn’t my cul-de-sac snow pile hauled away this time?

A: In most cases, all residential cul-de-sac snow piles will be hauled away after each 2” plus snowstorm. There are some areas that aren’t as crucial for sightline safety, stormwater drainage or not big enough to cause an immediate problem and those snow piles may be delayed or skipped until the next snowstorm.

Q: Will the City declare a Snow Emergency to haul cul-de-sac snow piles.

A: This is very unlikely. Snow Emergencies are meant to allow our crews to safely and efficiently remove snow and ice from the roadways without parked vehicles in the way but aren’t generally needed for this type of operation.  There is potential for temporary “No Parking” signs to be placed in areas to allow crews enough space to haul away a snow pile.

Dogs and cats over the age of 6 months need yearly pet licenses.  The dog or cat need to be current on rabies vaccinations and proof is required at the time of obtaining a license.

Licenses can be purchased or renewed through our eLicense site.

We work with Minnesota Critter Getter for animal control needs.

In general, a public nuisance: 

• Maintains or permits a condition which unreasonably annoys, injures or endangers the safety, health, morals, comfort or repose of any considerable number of members of the public.
• Interferes with, obstructs or renders dangerous for passage, any public highway or right-of-way or waters used by the public.

The full nuisance code is available on our Code of Ordinances page.

Try to get a license plate number from the vehicle, then (even if you don't get a plate number), call the Le Sueur Police Department non-emergency number at 507-665-3313.

The permit to purchase or transfer a firearm can be found on our Permits & Forms page.

The Public Works division can assist with determining if a tree is within the right-of-way.  Please call (507) 593-8378.

Yes.  Please contact Public Works at (507) 593-8378.

Contact a local tree contractor for the removal or injection of the infected Ash tree.

No.

No.

No, but it is recommended to remove any Ash tree to prevent further spread of EAB.

At the City's compost site located off of Boright Street.

The City currently has a Emerald Ash Borer Management plan to help mitigate the further spread of EAB.  This document can be found on our EAB page.