2015 Vol. 9 Issue 4 June - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 A public hearing was held on June 16 at Heritage Hall to discuss the feasibility of putting municipal water hook ups into the Hoffman’s Corner business district area in Gem Lake. Any interested parties were invited to attend and express their questions and concerns about the project. The Gem Lake City Council was very pleased that various members of the public were able to attend and provide input. The subject of the hearing was basically a feasibility study that was conducted by Gem Lake’s city engineers (Short Elliot and Hendrickson or SEH) as to whether the project could be done, and at what price. Supplying municipal water to the Gem Lake business district turned out to be not only feasible, it is necessary to the area's long-term growth and public safety, according to the study. The study was authorized by the city council on November 18 of last year and was meant to be a first step in the process of deciding if and how a municipal water project would get off the ground. Most municipalities contemplating an expansion of municipal services, such as water, begin the process with a feasibility study. SEH began by looking at Gem Lake's previous Water Study, which was done in 2006. This earlier study identified three options for where water would be piped in from the City of White Bear, but recommended the best site as County Road E, at the railroad crossing. The County Road E option was the recommended option in the 2006 study due to its proximity to the initial anticipated service area, Hoffman's Corner, and the city's desire to use White Bear's city water, due to its chemistry and make up. Another recommendation in the current feasibility study is to create an additional emergency connection to the Gem Lake water system. This is due to the fact that the initial system would be a dead end main, supplying a limited area, rather than a more conventional "looped" system. Important Public Hearing Held on June 16 on Water Project for Business District The total project cost, including the emergency loop, is now estimated to be about $490,000. Members of the public at the meeting on June 16 expressed views both in favor and against the project. Those in favor felt the project would make the area more prepared for future development and would aid now in fire-fighting capabilities. Some property owners were concerned about the assessments and payments as a possible impact on their businesses. After the public hearing was closed, the city council voted to formally accept the feasibility study and authorize the engineering firm to prepare specifications and plans that would be needed to put the project out for bids. Plans and specifications for the project will be discussed and voted on at the city council meeting on July 21. If all goes as planned, the council would approve the project plans and advertise for bids to do the construction project. It is thought that the bids would be accepted in late August, then an assessment hearing would be held, probably in September. Assessment amounts would take into account the percentage of the serviced area that each property owner has and independent appraisals done by a third party as to how much the improvement would add to the value of that property. At the assessment hearing, affected properties in the business district would know the projected assessment for their property, and be able to vocalize their opinion on the cost versus benefit equation as it pertains to their situation. If all is still a go, construction would take plane in the October and November and would possibly go into next Spring. There are many steps involved in bringing additional municipal services to property owners, many of these steps are required by state law. Your input will be vital.