2022 Vol 16, Issue 7 November Gem Lake News

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 City News MS4 Public Hearing Held in September A public hearing was held on September 20 on Gem Lake’s annual MS4 report, which is a mandatory document required by state law, covering stormwater flow within city borders. At the public hearing, an overview of Gem Lake’s stormwater situation and anything that would have impacted it in the previous year was presented. The report is now on file at Heritage Hall and available to anyone who wants to read more about it. What is an MS4 and what does it mean to be compliant? MS4 stands for “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System” shortened to the “M” and four “S’s” for a catchy acronym that is all about managing runoff from storm events. An MS4 is a government entity such as a city, county, or other governmental entity, that is charged with the responsibility of preventing the spread of pollution. MS4 falls under the direction of another acronym NPDES, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. NPDES traces its origins to the 1992 Clean Water Act that was designed to protect the nation’s water supply. Septic Inspection Required with Property Sale If you sell or transfer ownership of your property in Gem Lake, you are required to have a compliance inspection done on your septic system by a qualified septic inspector. A certificate of compliance on the septic system must be submitted to Gem Lake’s city clerk for any system that is more than five years old. There are some exceptions. For instance, if you are selling a property with no buildings or plumbing fixtures on it, a compliance certificate is not required. Contact the city clerk for a copy of Gem Lake’s ordinance on this matter, or for more information about Ordinance 67D, which covers private septic systems. Gem Lake Has a Facebook Page Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence has designed and published a Facebook page for the City of Gem Lake. The address is: www.facebook.com/CityofGemLakeMN The Facebook pages focuses primarily on special announcements and news items, events, etc. It is intended to compliment rather than replace the city web-site. Please check it out and “like” and “follow” the page. We are also looking for a few appropriate Gem Lake photos. Your feedback is welcome! Changes to Dog Ordinance Several changes were made to Gem Lake’s Domestic Animal Ordinance. There is now a $50 fine if a person fails to pick up their dog’s waste on public or private property other than their own. There is also now a $50 fine if a dog owner fails to get a license for their pet. See Ordinance No. 140 Domestic Animals for more information. Food Shelf Donations Made by City Two large donations were made to the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf by the City of Gem Lake. The City Council approved two checks for $1,000 each, one in September and one in October. The contributions are made possible by charitable gambling within city limits. In Gem Lake’s case it results from pull-tab sales at the Country Lounge. Truth in Taxation Hearing There will be a “Truth in Taxation” Public Hearing to cover Gem Lake’s proposed 2023 Annual Budget. You are invited to attend on December 20, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. This hearing will be held during the regular City Council Meeting, which takes place on the third Tuesday of each month. Because Gem Lake now has a population of over 500, Minnesota State Law requires that there be such a hearing and that all citizens and interested parties have a chance to review and comment on the proposed final budget, you are invited to attend.