2021 10-19 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes October 19, 2021 3 | Page Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Report/Recap of Zoom Call Tim Grape of the MPCA thanked the council for allowing the agency to participate in the full meeting and to be available for private meetings with citizens from 6-8:00 p.m. tonight at Heritage Hall. About 10 people took advantage of the opportunity to meet in the small conference rooms with MPCA officials. Grape reported that the zoom call garnered a significant audience and many questions were asked and answered. A recording of the call will be available on the agency web-site soon. Work continues to find the source of 1,4 Dioxane in 15 Gem Lake wells. The agency is following leads and is working closely with city officials to comb files for clues. Additional wells are in the process of being tested in the city and results will be available in coming weeks. Although it might take a little time, Grape felt confident that the origin of the problem will probably be found. He encouraged citizens of Gem Lake to call the agency with any questions and he provided contact information to those in attendance. Heritage Hall Update Councilmember Lindner reported that most of the repairs and improvements to Heritage Hall, which were approved by the council at previous meetings, have been completed with a few exceptions. A new sink and motion activated faucet will be installed soon in the kitchenette area. Outdoor lights will be finished as soon as necessary parts are received by the supplier. Countertop and cabinet expansion in the office area is expected to be completed in November. Internal Management Update Melissa Lawrence, Acting City Clerk, was unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to a family emergency. Mayor Artig-Swomley reported that Lawrence was able to attend and successfully complete a city clerk training course sponsored several weeks ago by the League of Minnesota Cities. Work continues on insuring ordinances are up to date, in searchable formats and are posted on the web-site in their most current version. Lawrence is also working on renewals for rental property licenses in Gem Lake. She is also in the process of determining if there are any new rental properties and sending them the license application form to complete. Fire and Burning Issues Mayor Artig-Swomley and Councilmember Lindner had a meeting with Fire Chief Greg Peterson and Asst. Fire Chief/Fire Marshall Kurt Frison of the City of White Bear Lake in September. At this meeting, the Fire Department made many helpful suggestions on how the two cities could coordinate efforts on fire safety and ordinance enforcement. The Fire Inspector agreed to provide suggested updates to the Gem Lake Fire Ordinance and to submit them back to the Mayor prior to the next council meeting. Also discussed at the meeting were burning permits, recreational burning activities and guidelines and the suggestion that Gem Lake adopt Minnesota State Code #1306, which would require fire sprinklers in all new and significant remodeling or expansion projects in commercial buildings. A total burning ban was not put into place during the very dry summer months in White Bear Lake, but Peterson said it was discussed. The group talked about coordinating efforts if a burning ban ever needed to be put in place. Councilmember Lindner introduced a motion to put a burning ban in place automatically if the City of White Bear Lake ever had to institute one, and that the burning ban would have the same conditions and duration as White Bear Lake’s ban. Councilmember Cacioppo seconded the motion, all in favor, motion approved.