Oakdale residents have embraced Washington County's Food Scraps Pickup Program at a faster pace than expected. The free program, available to Oakdale residents since April 2024, aimed to achieve 10% participation by the end of its first year. The city reached that goal in nine months, according to the council update. Residents interested in signing up for the program can do so through a link provided by the city.

In other announcements, the council reminded residents that the Oakdale Indoor Market is winding down for the season, with only two events remaining. The next market is scheduled for Saturday, March 8th from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Discovery Center, where shoppers can browse goods and purchase food items.

The city's Environmental Management Commission also issued guidance on winter road maintenance practices. The commission advised residents and property managers against using deicing salt when temperatures drop below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, noting that salt becomes ineffective at such cold temperatures. More importantly, the commission warned that salt poses a permanent pollution threat to local wetlands—a single teaspoon of salt can contaminate five gallons of water. The commission recommended using sand as an alternative de-icing material that is both more effective in extreme cold and environmentally safer.