2021 Vol 15, Issue 5 September Gem Lake News

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Charitable Gambling Funds Donated Willow Lane Elementary School and the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf were the recipients of $2500 in charitable gambling funds awarded to them by the Gem Lake City Council on August 17. Willow Lane Elementary School received two separate contributions from the city. A check for $500 was provided to the school to use at their discretion for children in need. Another $500 was used to buy school supplies, based on a list provided to our City Clerk Melissa Lawrence by school officials. After a shopping trip to Walmart, Medelivered a large car-load of supplies to a grateful staff. (See photo below). The school requested everything from facial tissues and disinfecting wipes, to crayons and folders. And we delivered! The remaining $1500 was sent to the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf to help provide much needed food and supplies to those in our area. Pick up Your Dog Poop Gem Lake’s animal control ordinance makes the owner of a dog responsible for immediately cleaning up any feces your dog decides to gift to the world. Basically, any owner having custody of a dog on public property, such as a trail or street, has to pick up and dispose of dog poop and has to carry in their possession means for doing so. The same applies if your dog decides to give your neighbor a special gift. City News After Hour Emergency Number for Public Works In the event of a public works emergency after our normal business hours, there is a number you should call. Gem Lake’s normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A public works emergency is defined as a threat to public safety or critical infrastructure. (Not a pothole, or something that can wait.) Examples of an emergency would be a water main break, (please don’t call City of Vadnais Heights), a city sewer line back up or the collapse of a manhole. The phone number to call after business hours is 651-755-9828. The City of Gem Lake has a cooperative agreement with White Bear Township to handle these emergencies. Workshop on Stormwater Scheduled for October 12 After epic snowfall several years ago caused some flooding issues on Scheuneman Road, the Gem Lake City Council decided to hire the engineering firm SEH to study the matter. The goal was to determine if anything could be done to easier improve water flow in the future. The firm SEH did fairly extensive mapping of the area and took into account that the streets are semi-rural, mostly without curbs and gutter systems, some houses are older and are at grade level and the topography of generations ago generally still exists. They presented an extensive and detailed report at the July and August City Council meetings. Various solutions for optimum storm water flow were presented from the simple to the over the top expensive, involving the construction of swales, driveway and road culverts. It is unclear what course of action, if any, should be taken. A next step that was determined to be potentially very useful involves more communication. To facilitate information flow, the city will sponsor a workshop on the Scheuneman Road Stormwater report on October 12 at Heritage Hall at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Those living in the area of the Golf course are especially encouraged to attend.