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�c take News Pa `e 2 a��' .
<br />MPCA A S icantinuetl from Page 11
<br />The. City of Gem Lake :began its own education
<br />campaign, commissioned an updated water plan,
<br />explore d:options for municipal water systems, and began
<br />to apply for federal and .state funding to pay the cost of
<br />installation, if deemed appropriate.
<br />When the MPCA appeared at a council meeting earlier
<br />this year, they -reported to the City that a possible source
<br />for the contamination, had been discovered at..a nearby
<br />manufacturing firm. The name of this firm is Cortec,
<br />which is Located .just to the north. of Gem Lake in White
<br />Sear Township..Cortec.is now fully cooperating with the
<br />MPCA.tofind.out more and to mitigate any problem as
<br />soon as possible.
<br />The MPCA outlined a plan to do further well testing in the
<br />affected area.and to. report back.wit h the results on.
<br />,September 19. The goal was to continue to collect: data
<br />in order to determine if the well contamination is
<br />increasing or decreasing, as to see if it is moving to new
<br />areas.
<br />The results reported at the. September meeting were
<br />somewhat surprising to the layman, but fairly predictable
<br />to the experts. Samples were. collected from 39 wells. last
<br />year, which generally encompassed. the.22 affected wells
<br />and a variety of nearby wells, For the most current.
<br />readings, data was captured from 34 of the same 39
<br />wells.
<br />Of these 34 wells, 26 had a declining amount of pollution
<br />present, with two ofthose falling into the: Non�Detectable
<br />category. Most of the declines were fairly: small, such as
<br />a decrease at one address. from 1:8'ppb to 1.5 ppb. The
<br />most dramatic decreases occurred at two. wells., one
<br />declining in poilution:from 3.3 ppb to 2.1 ppb,and.the
<br />other. falling from 2.,8 ppb to 1.4 ppb.
<br />Right of the wells showed an increase of the presence of
<br />I A4oxane, although most of the increases were
<br />miniscule. For instance, one well went from a detection.
<br />of 0.58 ppb .(which is under the State's.:standard for
<br />contamination) to 0.65 ppb. The largest of the increases.
<br />occurred .at a well that went: from 1.6 ppb to 2.1 ppb..
<br />Although these: results sounds dramatically better, the:
<br />MPCA. urges caution. According to the agency, these.
<br />hum bers.ahow changes that are not as startling as they
<br />may sound. The changes are actually quite small and
<br />might.indicate that the pollution came from a one-time
<br />release of the chemical, although that has not been.
<br />confirmed. The importantthing to: consider is how the
<br />chemical behaves in the ground over a long period of
<br />time. The answer will lie.in regular testing, over a long
<br />period. of time. More tests in the area, are planned for
<br />next year.
<br />2024 True -in -Taxation Final
<br />Buduet HeanugiContione€f.from Rage 1l
<br />The 2024 preliminary property tax levy is proposed. at:.
<br />$71.71.7-44 which is .a 7:291 %. increase from. the 2023
<br />certifiedpreliminary property tax levy. The.2024
<br />preliminary property tax levy consists of a debt levy of
<br />$8.1,554:00 (a decrease from 2023 preliminary debt levy
<br />of $2,864.00) and the general operating levy of
<br />$836,188.00 (an increase of 8.806% from the 2023
<br />preliminary tax levy):
<br />The following changes were made from the 2023
<br />adopted :budget as a. basis for the 2024 proposed
<br />preliminary property tax levy:
<br />• Bas.edon the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule the.
<br />debt levy for 2024 is set for $76,269.00. In
<br />addition,. in. 2018; the City issued bonds for the
<br />improvements on Scheuneman Road and the 2024
<br />debt levy for this: issue is. $5,285.00. The two of
<br />these debt.levies makes up the City's 2024 debt
<br />levy of $81,554.
<br />• This budget does not include small government aid
<br />from the State, since the City no. longer qualifies.
<br />This reduces revenues by $7,000.00..
<br />■ City Council contingencywas:increased to $1.0,000
<br />(.was $9,000).
<br />Clerk/General. Government budget includes
<br />$60,000.00 for wages and $11,000 for health.
<br />insurance .Coverage.
<br />■ ClerklGenerai. Government budget does not include
<br />$75,815 for the new. software.
<br />• Planning.& Zoning budget increased $5,000.00,
<br />based on past expenditures.
<br />• Police budget was increased 12.38% to $129,466
<br />based on the City of White Bear Lake. budget
<br />provided us.and includes $115,877Jor police
<br />services and $1.3,589 for debt payments. on. the
<br />new public facilities building.
<br />The cost: of fire services could increase 43.04% to
<br />$48,669.00. It includes $31,982 for fire services,
<br />$7,746 for fire marshal services, and $8,941 for
<br />debt. payments on the new public facilities building.
<br />Overall, the City of Write Bear Lake would like .
<br />Gem Lake. to pay $22,580. for the: next 20 years for.
<br />their new facility.
<br />• Road Maintenance budget includes $22,000 for
<br />road maintenancelrepaiir and $15,000 for trimming
<br />boulevard trees.
<br />• Salt/sand reduced $3,000. to $12,OQ0 and snow
<br />plowing contract decreased from $17,000 to
<br />$15,000, both based on past expenditures..
<br />• Heritage Hall budget includes $15,000 for building
<br />improvements to the:.office doorsand front window
<br />for security and $15,000.for the irrigation system.
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