HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Vol 18, Issue 1 February Gem Lake News
Special Interest
Articles:
Gem Lake Final 2024
Budget Approved
Gem Lake MS4 Permit
Audited
Recycling in Gem Lake
White Bear Lake
Annual Report
Smart Salting
City News, Page 7
Scheduled Recycling
Dates:
February 14
February 28
March 13
March 27
Gem Lake Final 2024 Budget Approved
The 2024 Final Gem Lake Budget was approved on
December 19, following the city’s required “Truth in
Taxation” hearing. The city council approved a final
property tax levy of $697,081, which is a 7.042%
increase from the 2023 final property tax levy.
However, it is a decrease of almost $20,000 from the
2024 preliminary budget of $717,742 that was
approved in September. By State law, cities must
establish a preliminary budget by the end of
September, while final figures are being worked out.
Cities can decrease the final budget numbers, but
can’t go over whatever they establish in September
as their preliminary budget. State law also mandates
that the final property tax levy must be established by
each city by December 29.
Gem Lake’s final levy of $697,081 consists of a debt
levy of $84,418 (an increase from the 2023 debt levy
of $2,094) and the general operating levy of
$612,663 (an increase of 7.693% from the 2023 tax
levy.
(Continued on Page 2)
Gem Lake’s MS4 Permit Audited
Gem Lake’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4) permit was recently audited by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The
MPCA routinely audits every MS4 throughout the
state on a random basis, so it was not a matter of if,
but when, Gem Lake would have its turn.
The audit consisted of a review of the approximately
75 items identified on the permit. Most items concern
various “best practices” intended to safeguard
against discharging chemicals or other toxins into the
public water system. Since storm drains transport
storm water directly into rivers and lakes, there is no
treatment process involved. The permit emphasizes
preventive measures such as construction site
inspections, or physical berms or retention ponds that
are designed to filter water before it enters the main
storm sewer network.
(Continued on Page 2)
Gem Lake News
February 2024 | Volume 18 | Issue 1 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor
Gem Lake News Page 2 of 8
Gem Lake Final 2024 Budget
Approved (Continued from page 1)
Here are several notable items in the 2024 budget:
The budget includes $20,000 for road maintenance
and repairs and $10,000 for trimming boulevard
trees.
Based on 2023 expenditures, the salt/sand budget
was reduced $3,000 and the snow plowing contract
was decreased $3,000.
The City does no longer qualifies for small
government aid, which reduces revenues by
$7,000.
The police budget from the City of White Bear Lake
was increased 12.38% to $129,466. This includes
$115,877 for police services and $13,589 for debt
payments on their new public facilities building.
The fire service budget from the City of White Bear
Lake increased 43.04% to $48,669. It includes
$31,982 for fire services, $7,746 for fire marshal
services and $8,941 for debt payments on their new
public facilities building.
It is notable that the City of White Bear Lake is
asking the City of Gem Lake to pay $22,530 for the
next 20 years for their new facilit y.
The Heritage Hall budget includes $12,000 for
building improvements and $12,000 for an irrigation
system.
The City Council contingency budget item was left
at $9,000.
Using the 2024 property tax levy of $697,081 and the
city’s tax capacity ($1,760,258), combined with the
median valued home ($429,600) for Gem Lake, that
median valued home would pay city property taxes of
$1,530.99. This is an increase of $80.04 from the 2023
final levy amount.
Gem Lake’s MS4 Permit
Audited (Continued from page 1)
Gem Lake’s city engineers, representatives from the
firm Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH), along with
councilmember Jim Lindner, the city’s designated MS4
contact, met with two members from MPCA and
reviewed several pieces of documentation submitted
prior to the audit. While Gem Lake did not have a
flawless audit, the deficiencies cited were limited to
cases of staff training documentation and the need for a
formal snow and ice policy, a draft of which is already
scheduled for the upcoming January city council
meeting.
While audits are never fun, and can be a bit intimidating,
Gem Lake’s first-ever MS4 audit was relatively painless
and all participants managed to remain awake
throughout the process. Now that the city knows what to
expect, it’s anticipated that future audits will proceed
without anxiety.
Gem Lake News Page 3 of 8
Recycling in Gem Lake
An online challenge is being hosted by Hennepin,
Ramsey and Washington counties to engage residents
in learning about plastic and committing to actions that
help reduce plastic use. This year’s challenge will take
place during the month of February 2024 and
registration opened in January.
Kickstart your plastic-free journey: Take the Plastic-
Free Challenge
Plastics can be a hassle – they create clutter and can be
confusing to recycle – plus they contribute to litter, harm
water and wildlife, and have largely unknown health
impacts for us. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do to
help create a plastic-free world, from learning more
about plastic waste and recycling to making simple
swaps to advocating for changes in your community and
sharing your story with others.
Be part of the solution to reduce waste, protect water
and wildlife, address climate change, and look after the
health of ourselves and future generations by joining the
Plastic-Free Challenge (tcplasticfree.ecochallenge.org).
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 and have the most impact on reducing your
footprint. Businesses, organizations, and community
groups can also join the challenge as Plastic-Free
Challenge partners.
The challenge runs during the month of February 2024.
Sign up opened on January 1.
A reminder from Republic Services regarding the proper
placement of carts in the winter.
By now you all should have received the 2024 Recycling
Collection Schedule from Republic Services. This
schedule can also be found on Gem Lake’s website
under Resources & Information → Trash and Recycling.
Gem Lake News Page 4 of 8
White Bear Lake Fire
Department Presents Annual
Report
Key representatives from the City of White Bear Lake
provided the Gem Lake City Council with a
comprehensive overview of fire services and related
matters for 2022-23 at the Gem Lake City Council
Meeting on November 21.
Gem Lake contracts through White Bear Lake for both
fire protection and law enforcement services. According
to Fire Chief Greg Peterson, 80% of Calls for Service
from Gem Lake to the fire department are medical related
and 20% are fire/rescue related. In 2022 the fifty calls
broke down as follows:
Emergency Medical Service (Ambulance) 40
Lift Assist 3
Alarm Sounding 3
Commercial Building Fire 1
Brush Fire 1
Rubbish Fire 1
Natural Gas Odor 1
For all their contract cities, the top five types of medical
call, in order of occurrence, are sick person in general,
falls, breathing problems, unconscious person, and
psychiatric issues. The call volume for White Bear Lake’s
Fire Department service area has grown substantially
since 2017, when they responded to 3,599 requests for
service. In 2022, that call volume had grown to 5,283.
The Department serves a 35 square mile area,
encompassing not only the City of White Bear Lake, but
also Dellwood, Birchwood, White Bear Township and the
City of Gem Lake. The total population of this area is over
40,000.
The White Bear Lake Fire department has 16 full-time
Firefighters/paramedics and 19 part-time employees,
although they feel they need 21 part-timers.
White Bear’s Fire and Police Departments are currently
engaged in a major building project at their new and
remodeled Public Safety Facility, located on Highway
61 next to the White Bear Lake City Hall. This multi-
million dollar project includes the replacement of the fire
apparatus bay, addition of a police garage, interior
remodeling to support current and future operations,
addition of secure staff parking and needed building
updates. Phase One of the renovation is complete, with
final completion expected in late summer of 2024.
Cadillac Dealership Holds
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Luther Cadillac of Vadnais Heights and Gem Lake held
its official ribbon cutting ceremony on December 7. The
open house gave the public the chance to view the
Cadillac dealership’s new showroom, which opened its
doors on August 7 of last year.
The project is unique for several reasons. First, the
dealership has rolled out a beautiful new template for
their dealership buildings that features a spacious
service area, and comfortable waiting and car
preparation areas. This showroom design will be
gradually rolled out across the nation. Second, the
project is unique because this dealership spans the
borders of two cities. The bulk of the property, including
the building itself, is located in the City of Vadnais
Heights. The northern portion of the parking lot is
located in the City of Gem Lake. The Dealership’s
general manager Perry Feavel says he is looking
forward to working with the surrounding community in
the years ahead.
Gem Lake News Page 5 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 infiltrate 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 6 of 8
Fee Schedule Changes
Minimal changes were made to the Gem Lake fee
schedule for 2024. These changes were made at the
December 19 Gem Lake City Council meeting.
Changes included the following types and categories:
The commercial rate for demolition of a structure
was changes from a flat rate to a fee based on
valuation
A Fire Protection section was added
Sewer and water connection fees were updated for
consistency
City sewer charges were increased by $5.00 per
quarter to match metered rates
An edible cannabinoid license fees was added
The staffing/cleaning rental fee for Heritage Hall
was changed from a flat fee of $30 to a per hour
fee of $20 per hour for residents and $25 per hour
for non-residents, with a two hour minimum.
A copy of the complete fee schedule is available on the
Gem Lake web-site.
Have You Licensed Your Dog?
Dog license renewals were due by January 1, 2024.
Gem Lake Ordinance No. 140 requires the licensing of
all dogs who reside within city limits. All residents were
sent a letter outlining the requirements and provided the
application form to get the job done. It’s quick and easy
and costs $10. You will need to include your current
rabies certificate. In return you will get a dog tag with a
number on it. This could come in handy if your dog ever
relocates itself.
You can mail in the form with payment, or call the office
to arrange for credit card payment. Call Melissa
Lawrence at 651-747-2790.
Just a reminder: if you are keeping chickens, driving a
golf cart along city streets or have a rental property, you
also need a license. Call for more information.
Pet Ordinance to be Updated
Gem Lake’s Domestic Animal Ordinance Number 140 is
undergoing an update. The city council plans to look at
subjects such as the number of domestic animals that
any city household can have, whether cats should be
licensed, how commercial kennels might be handled, and
related topics.
A first draft of a revised ordinance will be presented at the
February 20 City Council meeting, which will begin at
7:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to be present to
provide feedback. It is expected that the revision of this
ordinance will take place over a number of months.
Gem Lake News Page 7 of 8
City News
Edible Cannabis Products License
Approved
Gem Lake’s first license for the sale of edible cannabis
products (also known as cannabis gummies) was
approved by the city council at the December 19 City
Council meeting. This license went to C & C Enterprises,
DBA Smoke Den, located at 1599 County Road E. East
in Gem Lake for 2024.
The City is authorized to issue such a license due to
changes in State Law and after establishing an interim
city ordinance on the sale of edible cannabis products at
the November City Council meeting. The licensee then
filled out a city license application form, submitted to a
background check and otherwise met all the
requirements set forth by the City and the State of
Minnesota.
Winter Parking Regulations Now in
Effect
Winter Parking Regulations are in effect November 1,
2023 through April 1, 2024.
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
No vehicles shall be parked on the streets and
boulevards until plowing and snow removal is
complete
On trash & recycling days, place garbage cans 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.
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 December 2023 and January 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.
Heritage Hall Holiday Office Closures
Heritage Hall will be closed February 19 for President’s
Day.
All other hours remain the same. Have a safe holiday!
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: February and March 2024
The following Gem Lake
meeting will be held in the
months of February and
March. All meetings are
held at Heritage Hall
unless otherwise indicated.
See also the Gem Lake
web-site for more
information.
February 12, 2024
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
February 13, 2024
Planning Commission
Meeting is at 7:00 p.m.
February 20, 2024
City Council Meeting at
7:00 p.m.
March 11, 2024
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
March 12, 2024
Planning Commission
Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
March 19, 2024
City Council Meeting at
7:00 p.m.
Your Gem Lake City Council
Mayor:
Gretchen Artig-Swomley
Email: gretchen.artig-
swomley@gemlakemn.org
City Council Members:
Laurel Amlee
Email: laurel.hynes-
amlee@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