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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes July 16, 2024 1 | Page City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting – July 16, 2024 Meeting Minutes Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Len Cacioppo, Jim Lindner, Ben Johnson, and Laurel Amlee were present. Also present: City Attorney Kevin Beck, City Treasurer Tom Kelly, MPCA Hydrogeologist Michael Ginsbach, MPCA Environmental Specialist Drew Bahl, MN Department of Health Environmental Research Scientist Emily Hansen, Planning Commission Chair Joshua Patrick, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence and residents Jim Wilson, David Birkebak, Steve Varley and Carol Schacht. July 16, 2024, Agenda A motion was introduced by Councilmember Linder to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to approve the June 18, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 5-0. A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to accept the July 9, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Special Presentations/Public Hearings MPCA Update – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Representatives Time Grape and Michael Ginsbach Michael Ginsbach of the MPCA shared with the Council and those in attendance a small update on the well contamination in Gem Lake. A round of well testing took place in February for those that had their water turned on outside, and another test was completed in May to get those that were not completed in February. Some testing was also completed on the other side of the railroad tracks. The bonding bill was not approved at the last legislative session, but the MPCA will continue to pursue it at the next session. Contamination numbers are staying consistent with some areas slowly going down, with the exception of one property whose numbers went up. The Council asked Mr. Ginsbach a couple questions along the lines of: • Where do we stand with well testing? • When will the May results be published? • Does the rainwater affect sampling? A summary from Mr. Ginsbach was that more testing will be done in the future of the residential wells and testing of potential sources of contamination. At this time, the one potential source is still Cortec Corporation located on White Bear Parkway in White Bear Township. May results are ready, and Mr. Bahl will get them put on the website and get the information to the Council. Rainwater can have an effect on samples, it all depends on where the recharge zones are. Some of the residents in attendance asked questions along the lines of: • When will the next set of samples be taken? • Can the contamination map be updated to accurately reflect house locations for elevation difference purposes? • With the speed of water penetrating the soil is there a chance something is going through the well casing? A summary from Mr. Ginsbach was that more sampling will take place later in the year and he will work on getting the map and website fixed to reflect accurate information. Older wells may be more susceptible to water penetration because they may not have been fully grouted. Standards have since changed.