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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Lake Level Up Due to Huge Rainfall <br /> <br />Due in part to the dramatic rainstorm on <br />Thursday September 23, Gem Lake's water level <br />has risen from 7.7 feet to 7.9. The water level in <br />Gem Lake is slowly recovering from several <br />years of drought conditions, when it hit a low of <br />5.9 feet. <br /> <br />Election Day Reminder <br /> <br />Tuesday, November 2 is election day. Polls will <br />be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For all Gem <br />Lake residents, Heritage Hall is your official <br />voting place. <br /> <br />City Budget for 2011 Set for Completion at <br />November Meeting <br /> <br />You are encouraged to attend and participate in <br />the November 16th City Council Meeting. Budget <br />numbers for 2011 will be finalized and sent to <br />Ramsey County for processing on next year's <br />property tax bills. A preliminary budget of <br />$426,015 for 2011 was approved by the Gem <br />Lake City Council on August 17 at the City <br />Council Meeting. This budget included a general <br />tax levy of $361,245 and a debt service levy of <br />$52,000. <br /> <br />Cities throughout Ramsey County were each <br />mandated to approve a preliminary budget and <br />submit it to the county by September 15. <br />Throughout the autumn months, each city was <br />then allowed time to further refine its budget and <br />submit a final number in December. However, <br />the final tax levy cannot be higher than the <br />preliminary number submitted in September. <br /> <br />Property tax revenue are expected to make up <br />approximately 84% of the budget, with the bulk <br />of the remainder coming from licenses and <br />permits (3%), miscellaneous income (9.75%) <br />and Intergovernmental income (2.52 %). <br />The November City Council meeting will begin at <br />7:00 p.m. If you would like a copy of the <br />preliminary budget, contact City Secretary Jean <br />Reiter at Heritage Hall. See page 6 for contact <br />information. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />City News Page <br /> <br /> <br />Wind Energy Ordinance in Development <br /> <br />This summer the Gem Lake Planning <br />Commission began drafting a wind energy <br />ordinance. After gathering information from <br />surrounding communities and one local wind <br />energy expert, the planning commission held a <br />public hearing on the subject in August. A draft <br />of a wind energy ordinance will be reviewed <br />again at the October City Council Meeting. <br /> <br /> Coyote Sightings in Inver Grove Heights <br /> <br />Gem Lake is not the only city in the metro area <br />that experiences sightings of coyotes within its <br />borders. Earlier this month, Fox 9 News <br />reported that Inver Grove residents were <br />concerned enough about the sightings to ask a <br />representative from the Minnesota Department <br />of Natural Resources to discuss the problem at <br />a recent city council meeting. <br /> <br />It turns out that metro area residents have been <br />trying to get rid of coyotes for generations, <br />according to Bob Fashingbauer of the DNR. In <br />some cases it appears that coyotes have lost <br />their fear of man and have actually injured or <br />killed pets. Fashingburger reiterated that the <br />DNR is not in the business of removing problem <br />animals. The coyote is not a protected species <br />and can be taken anytime without a state permit, <br />if hunting is allowed within a city. However, <br />since hunting and trapping is not allowed in <br />Inver Grove Heights, as with most cities in the <br />metro area, it is going to be up to Inver Grove <br />Heights to take care of the problem.