|
City of Gem Lake City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025, 1
<br />City of Gem Lake
<br />City Council Meeting – December 16, 2025
<br />Meeting Minutes
<br />
<br />Mayor Gretchen Artig-Swomley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers Len Cacioppo,
<br />Ben Johnson, Jim Lindner, and Joshua Patrick were present. Councilmember Len Cacioppo was absent.
<br />Also present: City Attorney Martin Norder, City Treasurer Tom Kelly, City Engineer Justin Gese, and
<br />City Clerk Barb Suciu.
<br />
<br />December 16, 2025, Agenda
<br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember
<br />Johnson. Motion carried 4-0.
<br />
<br />Minutes
<br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson to approve
<br />November 18, 2025, City Council Meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0.
<br />
<br />A motion was introduced by Councilmember Lindner, seconded by Councilmember Johnson to accept the
<br />December 2, 2025, City Planning Commission Meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0.
<br />
<br />Special Presentations/Public Hearings
<br />Truth In Taxation Hearing
<br />City Treasurer Tom Kelly gave an overview of the 2026 budget and property tax levy for the City of Gem
<br />Lake. The 2026 proposed final property tax levy is proposed at $715,830, which is a 0.4% decrease from
<br />the 2025 final property tax levy. The 2026 preliminary property tax levy consists of a debt levy of
<br />$85,778.00 (an increase from 2025 debt levy of $2,042.00) and the general operating levy of $630,052.00
<br />(a decrease of 0.78% from the 2025 tax levy). The following changes were made from the 2025adopted
<br />budget as a basis for the 2026 proposed budget and property tax levy:
<br />1. Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule the debt levy for 2026 is set for $77,763.00. In
<br />addition, in 2018, the City issued bonds for the improvements on Scheuneman Road and the
<br />2065 debt levy for this issue is $8,015.00. The two of these debt levies make up the City’s 2026
<br />debt levy of $85,778.00.
<br />2. City Council wages remain at $9,000, which remained the same as 2025.
<br />3. City Council contingency left at $9,000.
<br />4. Clerk/General Government budget includes $64,900.00 for wages and for health insurance
<br />coverage. Based on current rates and COLA increases.
<br />5. Financial Administration and Legal Services reduced based on past expenditures.
<br />6. Planning & Zoning budget increased $12,000.00 based on past expenditures.
<br />7. Police budget increased by 4.16% to $153,537 based on the City of White Bear Lake budget
<br />provided and includes $139,470 for police services and $14,067 for the public facilities building.
<br />8. The cost of fire services could increase 1.22% to $53,474.00. It includes $35,196 for fire
<br />services, $9,087 for fire marshal services, and $9,191 for the public facilities building.
<br />9. Road Maintenance budget includes $18,000 for road maintenance/repair and $8,000 for
<br />trimming boulevard trees.
<br />10. Ice & Snow Removal budget increased 2.13% to $24,000 based on past expenditures.
<br />11. Heritage Hall budget includes $10,000 for building improvements and $10,000 for other
<br />improvements.
|