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City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 1 City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting – March 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Jim Lindner, Len Cacioppo, Ben Johnson and Joshua Patrick were present. Also present: City Attorney Martin Norder, MPCA Representatives Michael Ginsbach, Drew Bahl and Time Grape, Gem Lake Hills Golf Course Representatives Matt Greet and Steve Nasvik, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence, and residents Ken and Jodi Lorenz, Pat Ryan, Jim Wilson, Ken Defiel, Carol Schacht, Callie Donaghue, Paul Emeott, Brad Naylor, Dustin Marks, Sarah Ernhart, Melissa Rottach, Sherrie O’Malley, Jon Reigstad, Tom Bolfing, Rich and Roberta Pientka, Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien, and Isaac Nelson. March 18, 2025, 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 February 18, 2025, City Council Meeting minutes. Motion carried 5-0. A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Cacioppo to accept the March 11, 2025, Planning Commission Meeting minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Special Presentations/Public Hearings MPCA Well Testing Updates Representative from the MPCA shared some information on the recent well samplings and a new contamination detected in 27 properties. Drew Bahl spoke about the latest well sampling results. He shared that some residents were not asked if their wells could be sampled and they only found out when they received a report from the MPCA. This is not the norm for the MPCA, and consent will be asked for before the next round of sampling. Guidelines on PFAS recently changed so the MPCA decided to add that test to the samples as well. Of the 28 homes sampled in the fall of 2024, 27 of those homes showed contamination of PFAS, based on the new guidelines by the state. There are more sampling events scheduled in the coming weeks, which will tell the MPCA if the sampling should be expanded to look at all wells in Gem Lake. Treatment options are available to help with the PFAS contamination, such as installing carbon filter systems in homes. While this helps remove the PFAS contamination, it will not remove the 1,4 Dioxane. PFAS is the primary point of concern to the MPCA now as the numbers for 1,4 Dioxane have started to dwindle. Bottled water is still being supplied to all those with the contamination and will not be supplied to those with the PFAS contamination. Michael Ginsbach shared that PFAS is found all over Minnesota with the main source of the contamination being from 3M products. There is a current lawsuit against 3M regarding the contamination. This is an ongoing investigation for the MPCA. Residents should consult the MPCA website to see what standards any carbon filter system needs to adhere to in order to be effective. Residents in attendance asked questions regarding the new contaminant to which the MPCA representatives reiterated what they had already said regarding it. The MPCA is going to update their website that talks about the contamination in Gem Lake to include information on PFAS as well. Consent Agenda Resolution #2025-007 March 2025 Donation to White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf 2025 Garden Overlay Interim Use Permit – Bryan Hansen County Road E Property Monthly Financial Report(s) Claims