2025 Vol 19, Issue 5 October Gem Lake News

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Gem Lake News Page 3 of 8 County Road E Corridor Project: Branding, Marketing & Placemaking NOTE: The follow contains excerpts from ‘Ramsey County Critical Corridors - Commercial Corridor Initiative 2023’ grant application materials, LISC Twin Cities’ Corridor Development Initiative’s ‘County Road E Corridor Action Plan Summary Report and Final Recommendations’ and materials for online survey participation and community open house events created by Tracy Shimek, White Bear Lake Housing & Economic Development Coordinator. Nolan Wall, Planning/Community Development Director for Vadnais Heights and Jason Lindahl, Community Development Director for White Bear Lake contributed significantly to this effort as well. County Road E serves as the primary commercial corridor for the cities of Gem Lake and Vadnais Heights and a significant residential and commercial corridor for White Bear Lake, in Ramsey County Minnesota. Given the prominence of the corridor in the economic vitality of each of the three cities, it has been a focus of efforts to attract investment and enhance the quality of life for community members. The corridor generally extends from an western boundary at Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights to a eastern boundary at Highway 120 in White Bear Lake and one- half mile to the north and south of County Road E. The cities of Gem Lake, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake share borders along County Road E. The corridor serves as a direct access point to major traffic arteries including Interstate 35E, U.S. Highway 61, and Century Avenue North (MN State Highway 120), and provides access to nearby Interstate 694. According to 2020 Decennial Census, approximately 26,100 people reside in the census tracts abutting County Road E. County Road E currently offers a multitude of uses including multi-family residential, single family detached and attached residential, retail, industrial, service, consumer and business services, agricultural space, non-profit organizations, government services, educational facilities, a sports center, and restaurants and hotels. Despite, or perhaps because of this variety of Continued on page 4 Willow Lane Elementary School recently received a large donation of school supplies for the coming school year from the City of Gem Lake. This donation was made using charitable gambling receipts the city receives from bingo and pull-tab sales within city limits. This is the fifth year in a row that Gem Lake has used a portion of its charitable gambling receipts for this purpose. Typically, the City Clerk, waits for a list of supplies the elementary school provides, which includes items they consider most needed for incoming students. The goal is to stock the school’s supply pantry and help the greatest number of children possible with basic school supply needs. Once the list is received, the clerk goes on a shopping spree at Walmart, or a similar discount store and tries to find all the requested supplies. The resulting pile of supplies typically keeps the school stocked for months. Items purchased include everything for notebooks and scissors to Kleenex and colored pencils. The city also approved a $500.00 donation for the school to spend at their own discretion for children in need. Katy Bonsell pictured above is Willow Lane Elementary Schools Administrative Assistant. She shared with the City Clerk that some of the items the school goes through the fastest are black expo markers and glue sticks. She also wanted to let the city know how much they appreciate this donation each year because it helps the children and staff so much. The City Council also asked the City Clerk to inform the school that if there is ever a need for additional supplies throughout the year to reach out and the city will see what it can do to help. School Supplies for Willow Lane Elementary School