October 2012 Gem Lake Newsletter-Version 2

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Ramsey County Conducts Traffic Safety Initiative Maplewood Police conducted a high visibility DWI Saturation on Friday September 17 in an effort to get drunk drivers off the roads. They saturated Highway 36 from border to border within the city and worked from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. As a result they yielded the following: *277 traffic stops *26 people taken into custody *21 DWI arrests *26 drivers cited for "Driving after Revocation or Suspension" It turned out to be quite an eventful night for officers conducted High Visibility stops throughout the area. One officer in St. Paul arrested a driver for DWI who drove onto Phalen Golf Course and hit a tree. A Maplewood officer arrested a driver for Possession of a Controlled Substance that he had arrested three weeks prior in the same area and for the same offense. A St. Anthony officer arrested a driver for DWI and for causing a three car crash that completely blocked Rice Street north of Roselawn. All three vehicles were disabled and had to be towed. A Ramsey County officer arrested a driver for DWI after crashing into three parked cars a block from his home.... Planning Commission Tackles Residential Zoning Ordinance Gem Lake's Planning Commission began work several months ago on revisions to the City's Ordinance 43K, as it pertains to residential zoning rules. The commission, led by Faith Kuny (pictured below) has been tasked with rewriting certain sections of the ordinance, so the rules and the wording will more closely match language and guidelines in the City's recently approved Comprehensive Plan. City News Page In some cases this means bringing consistency to various sections of the ordinance. In other case it means taking a look at set back ordinances for residential lots and the placement of patios, fireplaces, sheds and pools to be sure these rules make sense, are stated clearly, are up to date and match the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. Often times, the Commission is working to be sure the rules in one section of the ordinance, match rules, definitions and wordage in another section. Your feedback is welcome. The next Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for November 7. MS-4 Report Reviewed By Public A public hearing was held September 18 at Heritage Hall on the City's of Gem Lake's 2012 MS-4 Report. This state mandated report on storm water management was completed by council member Jim Lindner and submitted to the State of Minnesota several months ago. Jim (pictured below) spent countless volunteer hours trudging all over Gem Lake to document and photograph inflows and outflows in our city, as required by the report. At the public hearing Jim went over the report in detail. The document was also on display at Heritage Hall for anyone who wanted to read it, as mandated by law. As far as we know, no one stopped by to see it, but maybe next year. Sad News A White Bear Lake man was found dead near his car in Gem Lake on September 14. Police have called the incident an apparent suicide. He had a gun shot wound to his head and a gun next to him on the ground. The man was in his 50's and was found by a passerby.