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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 />Add This to Your Spring To-Do List: Create a <br />Butterfly Garden <br /> <br />You’ve probably already heard that pollinators, <br />particularly Monarch butterflies, are in trouble. More <br />than one third of all plants or plant products <br />consumed by humans are directly or indirectly <br />dependent on insects for pollination. The decline of <br />pollinators affects us all – but we have the power to <br />make small changes that will positively affect <br />pollinators! <br />Here are three simple steps to support pollinators in <br />your backyard: <br />1. Are you working on any NEW landscaping <br />projects this year? Choose plants that <br />pollinators love and that are suited for your <br />site conditions (soil type, light, planting <br />space, etc.). Some ideas for plants include: <br />wild geraniums, coreopsis, purple <br />coneflower, anise hyssop, beebalm, and of <br />course swamp milkweed. Consider <br />choosing plants that haven’t been treated <br />with systemic insecticides (they can m ove <br />into pollen and nectar). Ask for help from a <br />local garden center or nursery for <br />suggestions. <br />2. IMPROVE on existing landscapes. Leave <br />pollinator friendly plants such as dandelions <br />and clover in lawns for early season nectar. <br />Mow to a height of 3 inches, and consider <br />adjusting the frequency and timing of <br />mowing. <br />3. Be SMART when using pesticides. Use <br />them only when necessary, and choose <br />pesticides with a low toxicity to bees. To <br />learn which insecticides to avoid, look for <br />the bee hazard icon. Follow the label <br />exactly, THE LABEL IS THE LAW. <br />A more comprehensive list of plants and <br />pesticide toxicity to bees is available at <br />http://tinyurl.com/PollinatorFriendlyYards. <br />If you decide to make a change to support <br />Pollinators you can take the Pollinator Hero <br />Pledge at <br />http://tinyurl.com/PollinatorHeroPledge. <br />If you are interested in learning more about <br />pollinator friendly native plants and landscaping, <br />visit www.bluethumb.org <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />City News Page <br /> <br />Dog Licenses are Due for Renewal <br /> <br />It’s time to make your dog an official member of <br />the Gem Lake community. Dog licenses in our fair <br />city run from June 1-May 31. If you currently have <br />a licensed dog, you will be mailed a new <br />application form in two to three weeks. The <br />application should be returned with a $10 fee and <br />a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate. The <br />certificate will be returned to you. <br /> <br />If you need more information or another copy of <br />the application form, call Karen Edson at 651- <br />747-2755. <br /> <br />Gardening Permit Approved <br />A public hearing was held on April 21 regarding <br />the renewal of the public gardening permit for the <br />property owned by Tom Hansen on County Road <br />E. Hansen was asked to post No Hunting signs <br />on his property, due to several complaints of gun <br />shots. The permit was approved. <br /> <br />Bonds to be Re-financed <br /> <br />With interest rates at historic lows, the Gem Lake <br />City Council has voted to refinancing the 2007 <br />General Obligation CIP Bonds that were used to <br />finance the building of Heritage Hall. The public <br />finance firm of Ehlers assisted the city to analyze <br />options and implications of refinancing the bonds. <br />Their analysis showed that Gem Lake could save <br />approximately $57,000 over the life of the 20 year <br />bond. <br />