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Lake Elmo adopts updated lawful-gambling ordinance but declines to allocate proceeds to sheriff
Summary
The Lake Elmo City Council adopted an updated lawful-gambling ordinance that aligns local rules with state statute and authorized publication of the ordinance summary, but after debate the council declined to immediately allocate gambling proceeds toward the Washington County law-enforcement contract; the funds will remain in a dedicated gambling fund until a use is selected.
The Lake Elmo City Council on Monday adopted an update to its lawful-gambling ordinance, aligning the city code with state regulations and adding a clearer "trade area" definition, but the council stopped short of dedicating proceeds to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Finance Coordinator Kramer told the council the city's ordinance dated from 1997 and contained antiquated, more restrictive language than state statute. Kramer said the city has created a gambling fund as required by state law, will report receipts and uses, and tentatively budgeted $20,000 in gambling revenues for 2026; the city has collected roughly $6,500 so far from organizations including the Oakdale Athletic Association. Kramer…
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