12 December 2009 Gem Lake News - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Free Water Testing Insuring a high quality water supply is a priority for Gem Lake. In order to achieve this goal on an ongoing basis, the city has decided to underwrite the entire cost of well water testing for any interested citizen. Ramsey County has supplied the city with well water testing kits. If you are interested in having your well water tested, you can drop off a sample on the morning of January 25, which will then be conveyed to the state lab for analysis. However, you must use one of the water testing kits supplied to us by the county and you must drop off the sample by 9 a.m. on January 25. The sample must be new. Full directions will be listed with the kits. For more information, or to get a testing kit, contact Jean Reiter at Heritage Hall. Inlet/Outlet Mystery Gem Lake needs to complete an inventory of the city’s storm sewer inlets and outlets are for inclusion in a water report now being prepared by our city engineers. Instead of putting photos on the local milk carton we are asking residents-- Do you have one on your property? Inlets would include things like catch basins, drainage pipes, etc. Outlets would include things like outfalls into small ponds or water drainage pipes to the railroad tracks or elsewhere. Call Jean Reiter at City Hall if you find one. You can also call Jean for more information on what these things might look like. If you cannot tell the difference between a catch basin and a catcher’s mitt, you are not alone. Donate Your Outdated Cell Phone You can give your old cell phone a brand new life, while helping someone in need get out of a life threatening situation. The 911 Cell Phone Bank is working to ensure that seniors and victims of crime have access to emergency 911 communications. The Phone Bank is endorsed by the National Sheriffs Association and the National Association of Triads. Every cell phone donated provides a life line in emergencies to someone in need. If you have extra batteries or cell phone chargers, please include them in your donation. The collection box is located at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road in Gem Lake. City News Page Electronic Newsletter!! This newsletter is now available electronically. This will save a few of your very own tax dollars each month. Can we convert you from a printed and mailed copy to an electronic version? If so, please call Jean Reiter and City Hall. You may also wish to receive both electronic and printed versions. If so, you can also let Jean know and she will take care of it. If we don’t hear from you, the printed version will continue to be mailed to you. Public Hearing Held on Road Assessments A public hearing was held on December 15 at Heritage Hall to discuss the final amounts to be assessed to property owners along South Scheuneman Road for recently completed repairs. Following the hearing, which was designed to gather feedback from the public and listen to any questions or concerns, the city council approved the assessment amounts. Owners have a short window of time to pay upfront for their share of the repairs and thus avoid interest charges. The assessments are scheduled to be placed on the owners’ property tax bills, giving each five years to pay for the total cost of the project. The interest rate being charged over the course of the five year period will be 2%. Gem Lake Recognizes Military Families One response was received to our request last month about Gem Lake residents with family members in the active military. Shirley and Richard Arcand, Jr. had the following to say: “We are very proud of our son Chad, his wife Kerrie and their two children Logan and Cameron. Chad is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and is now stationed in Germany. Next June, he will be taking his family to the Netherlands, where he will be in charge of a garrison.”