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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes December 17, 2024 1
<br />City of Gem Lake
<br />City Council Meeting – December 17, 2024
<br />Meeting Minutes
<br />
<br />Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jim Lindner, Laurel
<br />Amlee, and Ben Johnson were present. Councilmember Len Cacioppo was not present. Also present: City Attorney
<br />Kevin Beck, City Treasurer Tom Kelly, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence, high school students Blue Kurkoski,
<br />Lydia Pearson, Priscilla Robles, Ashtyn Arendts, Ivory Xiong, Tanner Edstrom, Dylan Paulson, Jevin Vang, Joseph
<br />Glauvitz, Jerold Wright, Aeryl Eha, Kate Fuhrman, Megan Hulla, Natalie Steernsland, Ben Watson, Dylan Perm,
<br />Charles Harowicki, Evelyn Lynch, Lisa Calbrieth, Connor Ceach, and resident Jim Wilson, Dustin Marks, and Sarah
<br />Ernhart.
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<br />December 17, 2024, Agenda
<br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Linder to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Amlee.
<br />Motion carried 4-0.
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<br />Minutes
<br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson to approve the November
<br />19, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 4-0.
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<br />Special Presentations/Public Hearings
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<br /> Truth in Taxation Public Hearing
<br />City Treasurer Tom Kelly gave an overview of the 2025 budget and property tax levy for the City of Gem
<br />Lake. The 2025 proposed final property tax levy is proposed at $718,736, which is a 3.11% increase from
<br />the 2024 final property tax levy. The 2025 preliminary property tax levy consists of a debt levy of
<br />$83,736.00 (an increase from 2024 debt levy of $2,182.00) and the general operating levy of $635,000.00
<br />(an increase of 3.16% from the 2024 tax levy). The following changes were made from the 2024 adopted
<br />budget as a basis for the 2025 proposed budget and property tax levy:
<br />1. Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule the debt levy for 2025 is set for $79,711.00. In
<br />addition, in 2018, the City issued bonds for the improvements on Scheuneman Road and the 2025
<br />debt levy for this issue is $4,025.00. The two of these debt levies makes up the City’s 2025 debt
<br />levy of $83,736.
<br />2. City Council wages increased to $9,000 to reflect stipend increase approved earlier this year.
<br />3. City Council contingency left at $9,000.
<br />4. Clerk/General Government budget includes $63,000.00 for wages and $11,5500 for health
<br />insurance coverage.
<br />5. Planning & Zoning budget increased $6,950.00 based on past expenditures.
<br />6. Police budget was increased 13.85% to $147,402 based on the City of White Bear Lake budget
<br />provided us and includes $133,089 for police services and $14,313 for the new public facilities
<br />building.
<br />7. The cost of fire services could increase 8.54% to $52,827.00. It includes $35,300 for fire services,
<br />$8,181 for fire marshal services, and $9,346 for the new public facilities building.
<br />a. Overall, the City of White Bear Lake would like you to pay $23,659 for the next 19 years
<br />for their new facility.
<br />8. Road Maintenance budget includes $20,000 for road maintenance/repair and $8,000 for trimming
<br />boulevard trees.
<br />9. Salt/sand reduced $4,000 to $8,000 and snow plowing left at $14,000, both based on past
<br />expenditures.
<br />10. Heritage Hall budget includes $10,000 for building improvements and $10,000 for other
<br />improvements.
<br />11. Included a park maintenance budget of $7,000 for maintaining park area near the Villas of Gem
<br />Lake.
<br />12. The 2025 budget includes $20,000.00 for future improvements.
<br />13. Revenue and other expenditure line items adjusted based on past history.
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