HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Vol 18, Issue 3 June Gem Lake NewsSpecial Interest
Articles:
• Congresswoman
McCollum visits Gem
Lake
• Gem Lake Scholarship
Award Recipients
• Gem Lake Loses
Lifelong Resident
• City of White Bear Lake
Activities
• Spring Yard Care
• City News, Page 7
Scheduled Recycling
Dates:
• June 5
• June 19
• July 3
• July 17
• July 31
Gem Lake Receives Visit from Congresswoman
McCollum
The City of Gem Lake was honored to receive a visit
from U.S. Congresswoman Betty McCollum, on
Monday, May 13. McCollum represents Minnesota’s
4th District, which encompasses Ramsey County and
most of Washington County.
She and several colleagues stopped by Heritage Hall
to tour Gem Lake’s facilities and to learn more about
ways she could help the city with major infrastructure
goals. The Congresswoman was instrumental in
helping the city obtain its first federal grant to help
pay for costs of a potential future municipal water
system. The city was awarded about $950k in 2023
by the federal government, which is approximately
14% of what is needed to build phase one of a water
system.
(Continued on Page 2)
Two Graduates Awarded Gem Lake Scholarship
Gem Lake residents and high school seniors, Dov
Nathanson and James Marier were recently awarded
scholarships for post-secondary education through
the Gem Lake Scholarship Program. This eleven-
year-old program is funded by charitable gambling
receipts and has helped several dozen students with
educational expenses since its inception.
Nathanson is regarded by his teachers and
counselors as a highly motivated student who holds
himself to high standards. He achieved an Academic
Letter as a senior, as well as Honor Roll status and
Student of the Month in middle school. As a deaf
student, Nathanson has identified barriers and then
helped to problem-solve solutions.
In terms of extra curricular activities, Nathanson has
been involved in wrestling from 8th to 12th grade, as
well as several years’ experience as part of the
Academic Bowl team, football and trap and skeet. He
achieved a Gold Medal from the World Deaf
Wrestling Championship in 2023. He also coached a
youth wrestling program for deaf and hard of hearing
children from 2022 to 2024.
(Continued on Page 2)
(Dov Nathanson)
(James Marier)
Gem Lake News
June 2024 | Volume 18 | Issue 3 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor
Gem Lake News Page 2 of 8
Gem Lake Receives Visit from
Congresswoman McCollum
(continued from page 1)
Recently, the city applied for additional funds from the
2024 federal budget. McCollum pledged her support to
coordinate federal and state efforts to try to bring funds to
the city for a municipal water system, which will cost
around $6.5M.
Congresswoman McCollum has a long history in public
service, most recently with the U.S. Congresswoman.
She was elected to this position in 2000 and now serves
as a senior member of the House Appropriations
Committee, as well as top Democrat on the Defense
subcommittee. She is only the second woman to serve in
such a position since Minnesota obtained statehood in
1858. Prior to this McCollum served in the Minnesota
Legislature from 1993-2000.
Her experience is also local. She served on the North
Saint Paul City Council from 1987-1992 and feels that
experience was very beneficial. We are very grateful for
McCollum’s help and support and appreciated her visit.
Graduates Awarded
Scholarship (continued from page 1)
White Bear Lake Area High School teacher and
Department Chair Kelly Knutson had nothing but praise
for Nathanson. “As a student Dov (Nathanson) is self-
motivated and dependable. He takes his studies
seriously, completes high quality work, and advocates
for himself. His leadership skills go beyond the
classroom as he is actively involved in football, wrestling
and community service projects. He is a role model for
others, including Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals. It has
been a pleasure having his presence in the classroom,
as he a young man who leads by example.”
Nathanson’s goal is to work in the field for aerospace
engineering. He intends to attend the Rochester
Institute of Technology.
Marier has been an Honor Roll student at White Bear
Lake Area High School for the past four years.
According to school counselor Jennifer Johnson, Marier
excelled in the area of math, taking high school courses
in junior high. In terms of extracurricular activities,
Marier spent five years in Theatre as an actor, three
years in Choir and one year in Cross Country skiing.
White Bear Lake Area High School teacher Debra
Hibbard says she wholeheartedly recommends James
Marier for the scholarship. “I have had the privilege of
witnessing his remarkable growth, both academically
and personally. James has consistently demonstrated
an exceptional level of creativity, care, and dedication to
our district community. Whether it was through his
involvement in extracurricular activity, volunteering
efforts, or within the classroom setting, he has always
shown a genuine commitment to making a positive
impact on those around him.”
She went on to add that “James’s most outstanding
quality is his character. He embodies integrity, empathy,
sympathy, and a strong sense of responsibility.”
He intends to go to Minnesota State University in
Mankato and obtain a degree in computer science. After
college he wants to use in skills and training to work in
the cybersecurity field.
Each student has been awarded $1000 that will be
forwarded to the schools of their choice.
Gem Lake News Page 3 of 8
Conduit Debt Financing
Approved for Montessori
School
A financial arrangement between the City of Gem Lake
and the White Bear Montessori School was approved
following a public hearing on May 21, 2024. The
arrangement is called Conduit Debt Financing. The City
of Gem Lake allows the school, which is located in Gem
Lake, to use its tax-exempt status to get a better rate on
bonds for a planned expansion of the school. In
exchange, the school pays a fee to the city to cover all
administrative costs. Once the initial financing is closed,
the city has no liability for the bonds.
Conduit Debt Financing was used in 1998 when the
school first moved to Gem Lake. It was also used about
15 years ago when a major expansion was done for a
Mahtomedi based nursing home.
A significant expansion of the White Bear Montessori
School has been planned over the course of the past
several years to accommodate rapidly growing
enrollment rates. The school has outgrown their space
and plans to spend about $3 million dollars on new
classrooms, a storm shelter area, additional office space
and a Home Economics Kitchen, along with some other
features. This will help the school navigate through their
high retention rates and ever-expanding student wait
lists.
In March of this year, the Gem Lake City Council
reviewed details of the arrangement and voted to
advance the project to the public hearing phase, which
happened at the May city council meeting. Premier
Bank, which handled the 1998 remodel, will also be
handling the financing for the current project.
Improvements Planned for
Gem Lake Open Space
Several projects will be conducted this summer to
enhance Gem Lake’s small trail and open space area,
which is located in the southwestern section of the city.
Between 14-16 new trees will be planted, primarily to
replace older trees that have died in the western and
northern sections of the public property. In addition, an
agency that plants free trees on public land intends visit
Gem Lake and remove and replace about a dozen trees
they planted several years ago.
Lastly, Prairie Restorations, a company that manages
wildflower gardens, will begin a two-year project to
reseed the large wildflower plantings on this property.
This project will begin with removal of invasive species
that have moved into the area, followed by an overspray
of native grasses. It is planned that a complete reseeding
of wildflowers will happen in 2025, as budget allows.
Gem Lake News Page 4 of 8
Fridays with Firefighters
Want to get outside and have some fun with your Fire
Department? There will be three opportunities this
summer to join the White Bear Like Fire Department at
the south Fire Station, located at 2240 County Road E for
fun and safety education! This is a great event for parents
and their young children.
The three opportunities are:
• Friday, June 21 – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Friday, July 19 – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Friday, August 16 – 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Donuts & Coffee with a Cop
Kickoff the first Friday of the Farmers’ Market and join the
White Bear Lake Police Department for donuts, coffee,
juice, and conversation with a cop at the Farmer’s Market
in White Bear Lake near 2nd Street and Clark Avenue on
Friday, June 28 – 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
White Bear Lake Manitou Days
Manitou Days is a three-week summer festival
showcasing the great lakeside community of White
Bear Lake. For 50+ years this annual summer ritual has
been a favorite of locals and visitors. This year’s theme
is “All Bears Unite”.
The fun kicks-off with Marketfest, June 13, and ends on
the Fourth of July with a spectacular fireworks display
to music over the lake. Festival highlights include the
Grande Parade, the Beach Dance, Medallion Hunt,
Kiddie Parade, Community Garage Sale, and more.
Build a sandcastle. Enter a fishing contest. Shop
Downtown White Bear Lake. Hunt for a medallion.
Dance under the stars. Watch fireworks on the beach.
With 50+ events, this is something for everyone!
White Bear Lake Marketfest
Shop 130+ merchandise and food vendors in
downtown White Bear Lake. Visit marketfestwbl.com
for more information. Meet Police, Fire and EMS on
July 11 and attend the Environmental Resources Expo
on July 25. There is no cost to attend. The festival is
located just east of Highway 61 between 3rd Street and
4th Street.
Marketfest will take place rain or shine on Thursdays,
June 13 – July 24, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
There is a mix of parking lots and on-street parking in
downtown White Bear Lake. Guests may park
anywhere outside of the Marketfest perimeter, as long
as it is not posted in a “No Parking” area.
Gem Lake News Page 5 of 8
Spring Yard Care for Water Conservation
While this spring felt like it was drawn out into one
mega-season, June is still one of the biggest months for
plant growth and a key time to be working on the yard
care. Whether or not you’re one to rise up early in the
morn’, now’s still a great time to set-up some water-
minded yard habits that can last for the rest of the year.
Our lawns can take a heavy toll on municipal water
resources, but they can also support water conservation.
So how will we use our community’s water all the live-
long day?
Start with the basics: Mowing height
• Maintain a mowing height of 3” or more, especially
early in the year. This will encourage robust root
growth that will reduce the need for irrigation later
in the year.
• Deeper roots have a better ability to withstand
drought, retain moisture, and access nutrients
when they’re needed most (especially in hot, dry
months).
• Taller grass also shades out weed seeds and
keeps soil cooler. This is great for soil health and
urban heat island effect.
• When short turf hardens due to sun exposure, a
hard crust can form on the soil surface. This
creates an ongoing struggle for turf, as the crust
will resist water when wet conditions return,
requiring even more maintenance, re-seeding, and
higher water use to repair the lawn. Thankfully,
this can be prevented with higher mowing heights.
Irrigation: Don’t just pass the time away
• “Set it and forget it” is not a water-friendly method.
If you have an irrigation system, consider updating
to a smart irrigation that adjusts watering
according to rainfall.
• Conventional turf only needs about 1” of water per
week. Try using a paper cup to estimate water
depth from a sprinkler, or a rain gauge to keep
track of precipitation.
Other tips:
• Avoid “weed and feed” lawn treatments, as these
don’t apply herbicide or fertilizer in ways specific to
what the lawn needs. This leads to excess product
in the form of wasted nutrients and a higher risk of
exposure to pollinators. The best practice is to
apply treatments according to a soil test, and to err
on spot treatment rather than blanket treatment.
• Grass clippings are full of nutrients. On soil this is
great, but in water these excess nutrients become
a type of pollution. Keep grass clippings off of
pavement and always sweep or blow them back up
to the lawn. This keeps valuable nutrients in your
soil instead of losing them and needing to replace
them with a treatment later on.
• Periodically change the direction of your mowing to
promote upright shoot growth. This also helps
reduce soil compaction, which helps the soil take in
air and water.
Links:
• If working with contractors, consider hiring a
contractor certified in Turf Maintenance Best
Practices through the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency.
• Check out VLAWMO’s water stewardship at home
page for more tips and resources on yard care and
yard waste disposal.
• Check out the U of M Extension’s Mowing
Practices for Healthy Lawns” page for more tips
and specifics.
• Check out VLAWMO’s soil health grant for potential
funding to install bee lawns, alternative turf,
raingardens, and even rain barrels.
• Apply for a Lawns to Legumes grant for support in
installing a pocket prairie, pollinator lawn, pollinator
meadow, or targeted trees and shrubs.
New yard routines take time and teamwork, kind of like a
railroad. Next time you find yourself doing yard work, be
inspired that even a small yard adjustment can make a
big difference for the watershed.
Gem Lake News Page 6 of 8
Gem Lake Loses Lifelong Resident
Very few people can lay claim to living their whole lives
in Gem Lake. Larry Kuehn was one of them. He was
born in 1939 to Anna Braun. At that time, Gem Lake was
a sleepy little village, filled with truck farmers and horse
trails. By the time of his recent passing on March 21,
2024, Gem Lake had morphed into a green oasis in the
middle of a busy urban area, surrounded by freeways
and commercial businesses.
Larry grew up and worked on the family farm located at
1400 Goose Lake Road, with his grandparents Adam
and Lucy Braun. After high school he enlisted in the U.S.
Navy and married Viola Olheiser. Over the years, the
couple raised six children, Pam, Julie, Larry, Scott,
Cheryl, and Mary. His years in the Navy ignited his love
of travel. He was stationed in Hawaii, out of which his
ship the U.S.S. Helena, sailed the oceans and seas.
After his military career, he returned to Gem Lake and
moved across the street from the family farm after it was
sold and engaged in several business ventures to
support his family. He started Kuehn Excavating out of
his Gem Lake property, growing it into a successful
business over the years. He retired in 2004.
Larry’s love of travel inspired him to become a pilot. He
was a proud bush pilot for most of his adult life, flying all
over the United States and Canada. He said he was most
a peace in the skies. He would attend the Reno Air
Races annually and enjoyed flying into the bush in
Canada to go fishing. Many trips were made with his
children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.
Many family trips were made to his favorite location,
Custer State Park. Larry’s love of a challenging, albeit
short, runway was ever present. Airports were optional.
Larry was a magic enthusiast, who brought playing cards
to every family gathering, where he would entertain
everyone with card tricks.
Larry lived a full and adventurous life, mostly in the City
of Gem Lake. His love of travel and adventure was
passed onto his family, who miss him immensely. He was
preceded in death by his mother Anna, special aunts
Elizabeth and Lucille, son Scott, and grandsons Owen
and Brian. He is survived by children Pam Frisk, Julie
Wrich, Larry, Jr., Cheryl Hagen, and Mary Carroll, as well
as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and
even two great great grandchildren.
Gem Lake News Page 7 of 8
City News
Upcoming Meeting Presentations
The June 18 City Council Meeting will include a
presentation of results of the 2023 City of Gem Lake
audit.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has been
invited to do an update on well testing and related water
matters at the July 16 City Council Meeting. This
presentation has not yet been confirmed and may be
moved to August.
2024 City Clean Up Day is a Success
For the second year in a row, the City of Gem Lake
partnered with White Bear Township during their City
Clean Up Days. Citizens of both municipalities
participated in this free event on May 11 and May 18,
dropping off everything from paints and fluorescent
bulbs to electronics and appliances.
The event was well attended on both dates, with people
dropping off literally tons of furniture, building materials,
solvents, tires, and other items. Otter Lake Elementary
School was the official drop of site. A total of 18 Gem
Lake households participated in this event, versus 12 a
year ago. Our thanks to White Bear Township for
sponsoring this event and allowing Gem Lake to take
part in it.
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 $1000 and $1500 were approved by the
Gem Lake City Council in April and May 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 June 19 for Juneteenth
National Independence Day and July 4 for Independence
Day. The office will also be closed July 1 beginning at
10:30 a.m. – July 3.
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: June and July 2024
The following Gem Lake
meeting will be held in the
months of June and July.
All meetings are held at
Heritage Hall unless
otherwise indicated.
See also the Gem Lake
website for more
information.
June10, 2024
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
June 11, 2024
Planning Commission
Meeting is at 7:00 p.m.
June 18, 2024
City Council Meeting is at
7:00 p.m.
July 8, 2024
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
July 9, 2024
Planning Commission
Meeting is at 7:00 p.m.
July 16, 2024
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:
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