HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 Vol 19, Issue 1 January Gem Lake NewsSpecial Interest
Articles:
• 2025 Budget Approved
• New Member to City
Council
• Planning Commission
Vacancy
• Plastic-Free Challenge
• Online Payment Portal
• City News, Page 7
Scheduled Recycling
Dates:
• January 2
• January 15
• January 29
• February 12
• February 26
Gem Lake Approves 2025 Budget
Minnesota State Statutes require all cities to
certify their final property tax levy by December
31. That levy funds each city’s operating budget
(General Fund) and any debt payments. If a final
levy is not approved by the deadline, then
whatever a city approved as their preliminary
budget number in September becomes the
official budget.
The Gem Lake City Council held its “Truth in
Taxation” public hearing on December 17,
approving a final property tax levy of $718,736,
which is a 3.11% increase from the 2024 final
tax levy. The tax levy consists of a debt levy of
$83,736 (an increase of $2,182 over 2024) and a
general operating levy of $635,000 (an increase
of 3.16% over 2024).
The final tax levy of $718,736 is down $15,021
from the preliminary budget estimate, which is
somewhat typical in the budgeting cycle. By
state law, the final budget cannot exceed the
preliminary estimate, which is used for truth in
taxation notices to citizens. This means that
most cities do worst case scenario budgeting
while they gather final budget numbers.
(Continued on Page 2)
City Council Gains New Member
Joshua Patrick was elected to the Gem Lake
City Council on November 5 and will be
assuming office as of January 1, 2025. He has
been a resident of the city since 2020 but has
been working in the city since 2011. Joshua is a
building/boiler engineer currently working as a
caretaker for an estate owner within the city.
He describes himself as an “avid outdoorsman
who loves bow hunting and fishing.” Joshua has
been a member of the Gem Lake Planning
Commission for four years, two of those serving
as Chairman. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with
my other commissioners, helping to shape and
fine tune our city’s land use ordinances. I feel my
time on the Planning Commission has prepared
me for serving on the City Council.”
(Continued on Page 2)
Gem Lake News
January 2025 | Volume 19 | Issue 1 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor
Gem Lake News Page 2 of 8
Gem Lake Approves 2025
Budget (continued from page 1)
Here are some changes that were made between the
2024 and 2025 Gem Lake Budget:
1. Based on the 2015 Refunding Bond schedule, the
debt levy for 2025 is set for $79,711. In addition, in
2018, the City issued bonds for the improvements
on Scheuneman Road and the 2025 debt levy for
this issue was $4,025. The two of these debt
levies makes up the city’s 2025 debt levy of
$83,736.
2. City Council wages increased $9,000 to reflect a
stipend increase approved earlier this year.
3. The City Council contingency was left at $9,000.
4. City Clerk/General Government budget includes
$63,000 for wages and $11,550 for health
insurance coverage.
5. The Planning and Zoning budget was increased to
$6,950, based on past expenditures.
6. The Police budget was increased 13.85% to
$147,402, based on the budget provided by the
City of White Bear Lake. It includes $133,089 for
police services and $14,313 for the new public
safety building.
7. The cost of fire services has increased 8.54% to
$52,827. It includes $8,181 for fire marshal
service, and $9,346 for the new public safety
building.
a. Overall, the City of White Bear Lake is asking
the City of Gem Lake to pay $23,659 per year
for the next 19 years to cover the cost of the
new public safety building.
8. The Road Maintenance budget includes $20,000
for road maintenance and repair and $8,000 for
trimming boulevard trees.
9. The budget for salt/sand was reduced $4,000 to
$8,000, and the snow plowing budget was left at
$14,000. Both these numbers were based on past
expenditures.
10. The Heritage Hall budget includes $10,000 for
building improvements and repairs and $10,000
for other improvements.
11. A budget of $7,000 has been set aside for
maintenance of Gem Lake’s walking trail in the
southwestern area of the city.
12. The 2025 budget includes $20,000 for future
improvements.
13. Revenue and other expenditure line items were
adjusted based on past history.
These changes result in the City proposed final tax levy
of $718,736.00 for 2025. This compares to 2025
preliminary levy of $733,757.00 and 2024 final levy of
$697,081.00. Using a 2025 property tax levy of
$718,736.00 and the City’s 2025 tax capacity
($1,809,157.00) and median valued home ($443,750.00)
for Gem Lake, that median valued home, would pay City
property taxes of $1,680.37 in 2025 compared to 2025
preliminary levy of $1,725.55 (a decrease of $45.18) and
the 2024 final levy amount of $1,529.81 (an increase of
$150.56).
A complete copy of the 2025 City of Gem Lake budget is
available at Heritage Hall or on the City website.
City Council Gains New
Member (continued from page 1)
Joshua says “It was a tough decision on my part to run
for the council, but I want to continue serving our
community in a more hands on role. My goal on the
council is to help lead Gem Lake to a positive,
sustainable future, while ensuring that our heritage and
small-town feel is not forgotten. I am a huge advocate in
the preservation of our natural spaces, that seem to be
disappearing all around us at an alarming rate.”
Joshua will be sworn in, along with the several others, at
the next Gem Lake City Council meeting on January 21,
2025. Welcome, Joshua!
Ramsey
Co., 36.0%City of
Gem Lake,
29.2%
School
Dist.,
26.9%
Misc., 7.9%
Where your property taxes go
Gem Lake News Page 3 of 8
Become a 2025 Plastic-Free Challenge Partner
Kickstart your plastic-free journey: Take the Plastic-
Free Challenge.
With so many single-use plastic items in our lives,
avoiding them may feel overwhelming! Fortunately,
there is a lot we can do to help create a world with less
plastic. Are you up for the challenge? Join the Plastic-
Free Challenge (tcplasticfree.ecochallenge.org) to
explore what’s possible.
During the one-month challenge, you can focus on
learning about plastic recycling, making plastic-free
swaps, and advocating for changes in your community.
As part of a community acting together, see how our
individual actions add up to a big impact!
The problem with plastics
Worldwide, plastic production has skyrocketed since the
1970s, and a lot of the growth has come in the form of
packaging and single-use plastics.
Most plastics are made from oil and gas – fossil fuels
that contribute to climate change. About 4% to 8% of the
world's oil production is for plastics, and most plastics
are thrown away after a single use.
Since packaging and single-use plastics are used for a
short period of time and then discarded, they contribute
significantly to the increasing amounts of plastic waste
and litter. Recycling can be a good option for certain
plastic items. However, many types of plastics are hard
to recycle.
Unlike items made from natural materials like plants that
can be composted and returned to the soil, plastics don’t
go away. Instead, they break down into smaller pieces
of plastic. These microplastic pieces are now found
almost everywhere, including in our air, water, soil, and
our bodies.
Joining the Plastic-Free Challenge helps you be part of
the solution. You will increase your understanding of
plastics and plastic waste, uncover opportunities to bring
less plastic into your home, and be connected with
opportunities to advocate for change in your community.
About the Plastic-Free Challenge
The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting
February 1 to reduce plastic consumption, especially
single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle.
The challenge has over 80 actions to choose from in
eight categories. Sign up opens on January 1, and the
challenge runs during the month of February. Once you
sign up and create your profile, you can browse the
categories and actions, check off the actions you already
take, and select up to five one-time actions and five daily
actions to make progress on during the four-week
challenge.
You can also create a team to take the challenge along
with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Or
encourage an organization, business, or community
group you are a part of to become a Plastic-Free
Challenge partner.
Once the challenge starts, you will report what actions
you take, see the impact of your actions add up, connect
with others, and support your team members to keep
them motivated and accountable.
Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties are
working together to reduce plastic waste as part of their
efforts to increase recycling, reduce waste, and achieve
their climate action goals. Encouraging residents to take
action is critical to success. The online Plastic-Free
Challenge is hosted on the EcoChallenge platform.
Learn more, sign up, and get ready to kickstart your
plastic-free journey at tcplasticfree.ecochallenge.org.
Gem Lake News Page 4 of 8
Gem Lake Election Results
An impressive 94% of registered voters in Gem Lake
cast their vote on or before Election Day this year
(November 5, 2024). Of the 401 registered voters as of
7:00 a.m. on Election Day, 376 voted, including 91
absentees, mail-in and military ballots. A total of 21
registered to vote on Election Day.
There were three positions open on the City Council,
including Mayor and two regular city council positions.
For each of these three spots, there was only one
candidate. For the office of Mayor, Gretchen Artig-
Swomley received 260 votes. There were 16 write-ins.
For the positions of City Council Members, Ben Johnson
received 230 votes and Joshua Patrick received 217
votes. There were 5 write-ins for these positions. The
election results were certified at a special City Council
meeting on November 14.
Vacancy on the Gem Lake
Planning Commission
Are you interested in serving your community? If so,
take note. There is at least one position open on the
Gem Lake Planning Commission starting on January 1,
2025. Being a planning commissioner involves tasks
such as evaluating development requests that come
before the city, helping to draft new or improve existing
city ordinances, and generally all matters pertaining to
planning and zoning.
The Planning Commission relies on expert help from a
professional city planner and has staff support from the
city clerk. Duties involve attending monthly meetings
and reading a monthly meeting packet in advance of the
meeting. To serve on the commission you must be a
resident of Gem Lake.
If you are interested in serving on the Planning
Commission, contact Melissa Lawrence at Heritage Hall
or download an application from the Gem Lake website.
See page 8 of the newsletter for contact information.
Get your NOAA Radio at 50%
Discount!
Gem Lake residents can get a high-quality NOAA
weather radio for 50% off through a new program
approved by the Gem Lake City Council in November.
This program is the result of an initiative happening at the
county level to help citizens be more prepared for
emergencies. Ramsey County recently completed work
on a draft of an encompassing plan to identify and
prepare for various emergencies, such as flooding,
severe weather, pandemics, etc. The Ramsey County
Hazard Mitigation Plan assigns each city with several
goals to do their share of preparation. For Gem Lake two
of these goals are to consider installing a whole building
power generation system (such as a Generac), and to
encourage the widespread use of NOAA weather radios
in Gem Lake households.
NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Agency. NOAA is a science based federal agency within
the Department of Commerce that works to understand
and predict changes in weather, oceans, coasts and
climate. The NOAA weather radio is an automated 24-
hour network of FM and VHF weather stations in the U.S.
that broadcasts weather information directly from nearby
National Weather Service stations. Each radio is then
programmed by the owners to provide urgent weather
alert that are relevant only to the owner’s living area.
NOAA weather radios are invaluable for alerting residents
to approaching severe weather.
If you are interested in getting one of these radios, simply
call Melissa Lawrence at Heritage Hall and put your name
on the list by JANUARY 31. They will be ordered in bulk,
and you will be alerted when they are ready to be picked
up. The radios cost $40.00, of which the city will pick up
$20.00 and the homeowner will pay $20.00.
Gem Lake News Page 5 of 8
Thank You to Laurel Hynes-
Amlee
The Gem Lake City Council wishes to thank departing
council member Laurel Hynes-Amlee for her years of
service to the City of Gem Lake. Her current term ends
this year.
Laurel was first appointed to the council in 2020 to fill a
vacancy that happened when the late Bob Uzpen, then
Mayor, died and another council member, Gretchen
Artig-Swomley automatically became Acting Mayor.
Later that year, Laurel ran for election and won a seat on
the City Council for a four-year term.
Prior to this, Laurel had spent a year serving on the Gem
Lake Planning Commission. She is a long-term resident
of the City and has worked in various capacities at White
Bear Floral for many years. As a member of Gem Lake’s
business community, she brought a unique and
important perspective to matters pertaining to business
owners.
Thank you, Laurel!
Scheduled Office Closures
Heritage Hall will be closed the following days in January
and February.
January
• 01/01/2025 – New Years Day (Wednesday)
• 01/13/2025 – City Clerk Training (Monday)
• 01/20/2025 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday)
February
• 02/12/2025 – City Clerk Training (Wednesday)
• 02/13/2025 – City Clerk Training (Thursday)
• 02/17/2025 – President’s Day (Monday)
All other hours remain the same.
Recycling Reminders for 2025
A reminder from Republic Services regarding the proper
placement of carts in the winter.
By now you all should have received the 2025 Recycling
Collection Schedule from Republic Services. This
schedule can also be found on Gem Lake’s website
under Resources & Information → Trash and Recycling.
2025 Blue Week Recycling
Collection Schedule
Holiday – Service is delayed one day Recycling
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Gem Lake News Page 6 of 8
Smart Salting Tips for Gem Lake Residents and Businesses
Smart salting is a concept that refers to being thoughtful
about your use of winter salting in order to maintain
groundwater quality and help the environment.
According to the Vadnais Lakes Area Water
Management Organization (VLAWMO), one teaspoon of
rock salt is enough to pollute 5 gallons of water! Once
salt is introduced into our lakes and wetlands, it’s stuck
in that water as it moves along to larger rivers and lakes.
This changes the aquatic environment and harms our
water resources over time. In addition to posing threats
to water quality, salt causes damage to concrete and
asphalt, potentially causing it to heave or crack.
What can you do to create smart salting good habits?
• Use tools first: Shovel, scraper, or broom.
• Disperse salt or other de-icers evenly without piles.
The goal is not to form a blanket, but to break the
bonds of ice/compacted snow.
Once salt crystal infiltrates the ice/compacted snow, a
scraper can chop and scrape the surface. Shoveling off
the ice chunks reduces the need to re-apply.
Salt that’s diluted with meltwater becomes less
effective: refreezing occurs and raises the risk for
falls.
• More product doesn’t mean faster results: The
chemical reaction depends on temperature.
• Excess product remains in meltwater and runoff
• Never apply de-icers to dry pavement or loose snow
• Sweep up extra salt and sand.
Gem Lake News Page 7 of 8
City News
Online Payment Portal is Here
Gem Lake’s online payment portal, InvoiceCloud, is now
available. This online payment portal can be used to pay
quarterly utility bills, annual septic maintenance
inspection bills and for homeowners and contractors to
pay for permits online!
More information will be sent out in a letter to all
residents and business owners with directions on how to
make your utility payments online or how to setup
automatic payment each quarter. You will need your
account number to do this. If you need help finding your
account number reach out to Melissa Lawrence at
Heritage Hall.
You can find the online payment portal by going to the
City of Gem Lake website and clicking on the Utility
Billing tab or by clicking on the Permits tab.
At this time the city has decided not to charge residents
or contractors any fees related to the use of
InvoiceCloud to help encourage the use of online
payments. The City Council will revisit the topic on fees
in June 2025.
Liquor and Tobacco Licenses
Approved
Annual Liquor and Tobacco Licenses were approved for
2025 by the Gem Lake City Council at their council
meeting on December 17. This included the following:
1. Tobacco licenses were approved for the Country
Lounge (3590 Hoffman Road West) and for the
Smoke Den Tobacco and Vape (1599 county
Road E East) for 2025.
2. Liquor Licenses were approved for the Country
Lounge (for off-sale, on-sale, optional 2 a.m.
closing, and Sunday liquor sales) and for the Gem
Lake Hills Golf Course (for on-sale and Sunday
liquor sales.) Gem Lake Hills is located at 4039
Scheuneman Road.
3. An edible cannabinoid license was approved for
the Smoke Den Tobacco and Vape.
The licensing process follows state mandated rules that
include an application and background check.
Gem Lake Has a Facebook Page
Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence has designed and
published a Facebook page for the City of Gem Lake.
The address is: www.facebook.com/CityofGemLakeMN
The Facebook pages focus primarily on special
announcements and news items, events, etc. It is
intended to compliment rather than replace the city
website. Please check it out and “like” and “follow” the
page. We are also looking for a few appropriate Gem
Lake photos. Your feedback is welcome!
Charitable Gambling Donations
Donations of $1500 were approved by the Gem Lake City
Council in October, November, and December 2024 to be
given to the White Bear Area Food Shelf. These
donations come from charitable gambling receipts that
result from pull-tab and bingo sales within city limits.
The City’s regular donations help fund the food shelf’s
daily war on food-insecurity in the community. The city
has also helped fund operations at the Food Shelf’s new
Community Market, which is located at the intersection of
County Road F and Bellaire Avenue in White Bear Lake.
Winter Parking Regulations Now in
Effect
Winter Parking Regulations are in effect November 1
through April 1.
• No parking on any road or street between the hours
of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• No parking after a snowfall of 1” (one inch) or more
until plowing and snow removal is complete
• On trash & recycling days, place containers at the
end of the driveway and behind the street edge, not
in the street
• Keep your mailbox clear of snow
• Please keep a clear path to the fire hydrants in your
neighborhood
Your neighbors, Public Works Department, Mail Carriers,
and Trash and Recycling Haulers appreciate your
cooperation this winter.
The City of Gem Lake
Phone:
(651) 747-2790
Fax
(651)-747-2795
City Hall Address:
4200 Otter Lake Road
Gem Lake, MN 55110
General E-mail:
city@gemlakemn.org
Newsletter E-mail:
Gretchen.artig-
swomley@gemlakemn.org
This newsletter is also posted
on the city’s website under the
“Documents” section and the
“News and Updates” section.
www.gemlakemn.org
After Hours Public Works
Emergency Number:
651-755-9828
(For water main breaks, main
city sewer back up, collapse of
manhole, etc. Or call 911)
Meetings: January and February 2025
The following Gem Lake
meeting will be held in the
months of October and
November. All meetings
are held at Heritage Hall
unless otherwise indicated.
See also the Gem Lake
website for more
information.
January 13, 2025
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
January 14, 2025
Planning Commission
Meeting is at 7:00 p.m.
January 21, 2025
City Council Meeting is at
7:00 p.m.
February 10, 2025
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
February 11, 2025
Planning Commission
Meeting is at 7:00 p.m.
February 18, 2025
City Council Meeting is at
7:00 p.m.
Your Gem Lake City Council
Mayor:
Gretchen Artig-Swomley
Email: gretchen.artig-
swomley@gemlakemn.org
City Council Members:
Joshua Patrick
Email: joshua.patrick
@gemlakemn.org
Len Cacioppo
Email: len.cacioppo
@gemlakemn.org
Ben Johnson
Email: ben.johnson
@gemlakemn.org
Jim Lindner
Email: jim.lindner
@gemlakemn.org
You can also reach each
city council member by
calling 651-747-2790. After
hours you can follow the
prompts for the city council
directory.
CITY OF GEM LAKE
4200 Otter Lake Road
Gem Lake, MN 55110