HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 Vol 17, Issue 3 May Gem Lake NewsSpecial Interest
Articles:
• MPCA Gives Update
• City Clean-Up Day is
May 20
• City News, Page 4
Scheduled Recycling
Dates:
• May 10
• May 24
• June 7
• June 21
MPCA Presents Well Update
Recently, a potential responsible party for well contamination
in Gem Lake was identified by the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency (MPCA). Concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, the
chemical found in 23 Gem Lake wells, has been found in
wastewater at a manufacturing company near Gem Lake’s
northwestern border. The Cortec Corporation is a specialty
chemical company located in White Bear Township that
focuses on corrosion solutions for metal working,
construction, shipping, electronics and other industries. They
have over 400 products and have garnered 60 patents for
their products since 1977. Since the discovery of 1,4-dioxane
on their property, they have been cooperating fully with the
MPCA to identify where the contamination originated. It has
not been fully determined that this contamination is linked to
Gem Lake’s problem; however, the concentrations are higher
than those found in our city. The company is also uphill from
the private well contamination and is a flow pattern that
potentially makes sense to the experts involved.
This news was part of the update that was conveyed to Gem
Lake citizens at a special presentation during the April 21 City
Council meeting. The presentation was led by representatives
of the MPCA and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
and included about 30 members of the Gem Lake
Community.
(Continued on page 2)
Joint Clean-Up Day, Take Advantage!
Take advantage of the first ever Joint White Bear Township
and Gem Lake Spring Clean-Up Day on May 20. This is your
chance to drop off a variety of unwanted items free of charge
to residents of the Township and the City. The spring clean-
up event will take place Saturday, May 20 from 7:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. at Otter Lake Elementary School. The address is
1401 County Road H2, White Bear Township, MN 55110.
You may be asked to provide I.D. to verify you live in one of
these municipalities.
Accepted items include: appliances, automotive batteries,
tires, mattresses, furniture, carpeting, household fixtures,
TVs, electronics, lawn mowers (fluids drained), building
materials (small quantities only), tree limbs and brush. There
will be paper shredding available from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Take advantage of this unique, free chance to get rid of
unwanted items and get your household ready for summer!
For more information, call Melissa Lawrence at
651-747-2790.
Gem Lake News
May 2023 | Volume 17 | Issue 3 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor
Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6
MPCA Presents Well Update (Continued from page 1)
Hydrologist Michael Ginsbach from the MPCA explained
the science behind how 1,4-dioxane was found at
Cortec, as well as the significant testing that was done at
sites surrounding this facility. No other traces of the
offending chemical have been found nearby as of yet. He
also explained how the chemical might travel through the
layers of sand, dirt, gravel and other materials below
ground, slowly making its way to some wells in the area.
Ginsbach and Tim Grape, Supervisor of the Superfund
Unit at MPCA, also made it clear that more testing in the
area would be required and that sites in Gem Lake would
be monitored this summer, as well as wells that are near
the contamination. “We cannot yet make a definitive link
between Cortec and Gem Lake, we are also not ready to
say this is the only source of the contamination”,
according to Grape.
During the presentation, the MPCA and the MDH
answered numerous questions about the contamination,
possible health impacts, possible mitigation strategies
and what is expected to happen this year with another
round of well test monitoring.
Citizens of Gem Lake expressed concerns about why the
investigation and monitoring process takes so long and
when definitive answers might be available. There were
also many concerns about the health risks involved and
how long those with a contaminated well might have to
rely on bottled water. To these types of questions, Emily
Hansen, Environmental Health Assessor for the MDH
provided a good deal of information. The Minnesota
Health Risk Limit (HRL) of 1 part per billion is very
protective of human health, so the MDH does not expect
health effects from drinking water that contains 1,4-
dioxane just above the HRL, like has been found in Gem
Lake wells. However, because 1,4-dioxane is considered
a likely carcinogen, MDH recommends drinking
alternative water if well water is above the HRL.
Currently no studies on humans have linked the chemical
to cancer. There are, however, animal studies that have
shown that ingestion of high concentrations of the
chemical can cause cancer in animals.
Citizens asked if there was a way to attribute future
cancers to the 1,4-dioxane in well water. Hansen said
that there isn’t a lot of information about 1,4-dioxane and
cancer but that there could be a slight increased risk of
cancer from drinking the water over a lifetime. The risk is
theoretical and one would not be able to connect the 1,4-
dioxane to any one cancer in the community. According
to Hansen, “cancer is very common - 4 out of 10 people
who live in Minnesota are likely to get cancer in their
lifetimes. Information known about risk factors and
causes vary with different types of cancer.”
The concern is for the ingestion of the water. Other
household water uses like showering, doing laundry,
washing dishes, and brushing teeth is considered safe.
Ginsbach also added that Iowa and Wisconsin have
much higher limits on the acceptable amount of 1,4-
dioxane that is considered safe to drink, and that North
and South Dakota have no standards at all when it
comes to this chemical. Gem Lake’s 23 affected wells
are showing readings of 1 to 3 parts per billion, which is
considered very small. However, the amounts are over
the limits in Minnesota and have to be investigated,
tracked and dealt with.
He stated that additional well testing will take place in
the next few months and that more answers and
information should be available at that time. The City of
Gem Lake has invited the MPCA to make its next
presentation and update report at the August City
Council meeting.
The solution to the well contamination problem has to
be arrived at by the City of Gem Lake in consultation
with its citizens. Possible strategies would be to put in a
full or partial municipal water system in which water is
brought from a nearby city, the digging of new private
wells, advanced filtration systems installed at private
residences, or a combination of these ideas.
The original problem was discovered in Fall of 2021,
when testing was being conducted in the area as a
result of pollution at the Water Gremlin facility in White
Bear Township. When the MPCA mandated well testing
was conducted in the surrounding area, the 1,4-dioxane
showed up in wells located 1-1.5 miles away in Gem
Lake. The MPCA is requiring Water Gremlin to
investigate the extent and magnitude of the 1,4-dioxane
release from their facility and based on their
investigation to date, it appears that the source of
elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane in Gem Lake may be
associated with another source.
What is 1,4-dioxane? The main use of this chemical was
as a stabilizer for the chlorinated solvent 1,1,1-
trichloroethane, which is often used for many industrial
purposes. 1,4-dioxane can also be an unintended
contaminate in the production of certain products,
including some cleaners, detergents, adhesives, inks,
automotive fluids, etc. Groundwater contaminated with
1,4-dioxane is largely caused by the historical use and
disposal of chlorinated solvents.
Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6
Recycling in Minnesota – How Does it Work?
Have you ever questioned if recycling is worth it? Short
answer: yes. Beyond saving energy and protecting
natural resources, recycling also supports vital
industries.
Recycling is the process of collecting materials that
would otherwise be thrown away and turning them into
new products. Our cans, bottles and paper are dropped
off at a local facility where people and machines sort the
recycling into material types which are sent to many
different companies:
• Paper and Cardboard are made into
newspapers, toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes
at five paper mills in Minnesota
• Cartons like juice boxes are sent to a company
in Wisconsin that make a material for new paper
products
• Aluminum Cans get turned into new cans, wire,
siding and more at plants in the South.
• Steel cans like those used for soup are made
into steel beams in Chicago.
• Plastic bottles with a number 1 like water
and soda bottles are shipped to other states to
be made into new bottles, deli food containers
and carpet.
• Plastic containers with a number 2 like milk
jugs are transformed into low-maintenance
lumber by companies like Avon Plastics in
Paynesville. They are also made into more
bottles or irrigation tubing for farmers.
• Cottage Cheese and other plastic tubs with a
number 5 are used to create food containers,
car parts, paint cans and more by companies in
other states
• Glass bottles and jars are sorted by color in
Saint Paul. Clear glass goes to Anchor Glass in
Shakopee to make condiment bottles. Brown
glass is sent to Illinois to make beer bottles.
Our recycling is wanted by many companies in our state
and across the country. Help support local recycling
business:
• Stick to the basics: Recycle the items listed on
the left.
• Keep it loose: Empty recycling into your bin – no
plastic bags.
• Check with your recycling hauler or Ramsey
County (RamseyRecycles.com/AtoZ or
651-633-3279) for everything else.
Don’t Feed The Deer That Hang
Around Your Yard
Okay, sometimes they are cute and gentle, but those
deer are also wild animals. The Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources has feeding and attractant bans in
place across the state to prevent concentrations of wild
deer in areas with a higher risk of disease. This includes
Ramsey County. These bans are precautionary steps the
DNR took when deer that tested positive for chronic
wasting disease (CWD) were found in both wild and on
deer farms. Feeding bans encompass wider areas
because food sources can concentrate deer and allow for
close contact—one of the mechanisms for CWD.
Deer feeding includes placement or distribution of grains,
fruits, vegetables, hay and other food capable of
attracting deer.
Deer attractants are natural or manufactured products
that are capable of attracting or enticing deer, including
salt or food scents.
People who feed birds and small mammals must do so in
a manner that prevents deer access, such as placing
food at least six feet above ground level. Food placed as
a result of normal agricultural practices is generally
exempt from the feeding ban. For more information go to:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwd/feedban.html
Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6
City News
Sealcoating of Roads
Streets in Gem Lake are getting a sealcoat this summer,
as part of our overall street maintenance plan. The target
start date is July 17 and the target completion date is
August 18, subject to weather delays, of course.
By proactively treating road surface with sealcoat (an oil
and rock application) on regularly scheduled intervals (3-
5 years), a street’s useful life can be extended. This
recommendation by our Public Works experts at White
Bear Township is based on current road research.
Temporary no parking signs will be posted at least 24
hours before operations begin. Included in this project are
Summit Farm Lane, Big Fox Road, Little Fox Road,
Haven Lane, Scheuneman Road (North and South) and
Hoffman Road.
Water System Funding Update
The City of Gem Lake’s application for federal funding for
a partial municipal water system has been selected to
advance to the next stage in the U.S. House
appropriations process. The City received the official
notice of nomination on April 11 from the office of U.S.
Representative Betty McCollum.
Under the rules designated by the Republican Majority,
each member of the U.S. House of Representatives was
limited to nominating 15 projects for funding this year.
This year, McCollum’s office nominated projects that
appear to have the highest probability of being chosen for
funding based on the criteria previously outlined. There is
significant competition for limited dollars available for
Community Project Funding and this nomination to
advance is not a guarantee of funding. More information
will be shared when it is available as the City’s application
progresses through the process.
Prevent Spring Flooding – Check Your
Culverts
Because Gem Lake does not have an extensive
stormwater system, we rely on other ways to make sure
water flows properly in our city. Most of our roads lack
curbs and gutters and we have a lot of driveway culverts.
In most cases, the care and maintenance of the culverts
are the homeowner’s responsibility. First, what is a
culvert? It is a ditch that runs along or under a road or a
driveway.
Keeping an eye on that culvert is really important.
When they aren’t maintained, they can cause problems
that can cause havoc on roads and driveways nearby.
Over time, those culverts get clogged up with twigs,
leaves, weeds, grass clippings, you name it. It is
sometimes called “yard lint.” It is going to build up, but it
is important to make sure the culvert doesn’t get
plugged up with all this stuff. The general rule of thumb
is to make sure that yard lint doesn’t reduce water flow
in your culvert more than 20%.
It’s time to take a look at your driveway culvert, if you
can see it through all the snow. Once the melt starts in
June or July, will water be able to flow through it? It
might be as simple as raking it out a bit when the
culvert is finally more accessible. If things are really
clogged and no maintenance has been done for years,
more extensive work might be needed.
Several years ago, during the winter of 2018-2019,
there was also an unusually heavy snowfall. This event
clashed with several very clogged culverts in one area
of the city. As a result, it complicated the spring snow
melt and resulted in flooding issues.
Be a good neighbor and just go check that culvert when
you can. It isn’t glamorous. It isn’t even fun, but it’s
needed.
Charitable Gambling Donations
A donation of $1500 was approved by the Gem Lake
City Council in April to be given to the White Bear Area
Food Shelf. This donation comes from charitable
gambling receipts that result from pull-tab and bingo
sales within city limits.
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 focuses 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!
Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6
Two Noteworthy Souls Leave Us
Two very noteworthy people who had an impact on Gem
Lake have passed away. One was a long-time resident
who served on the Gem Lake Planning Commission,
another was an individual who worked at a Gem Lake
business for over 60 years.
Dick Garner
White Bear Floral recently lost a beloved member of
their team with the passing of Richard “Dick” Garner.
Dick started his career with the floral shop when they
were looking for help in 1958. In his 65-year career
there, Dick did literally everything, rarely missed a day of
work and helped build the shop into what it is today,
according to owner John Birkeland. He was still working
every day almost until the day he died at age 86.
Dick was born in 1936 and grew up on a farm in the
White Bear area. He was the oldest of nine children.
Dick began working at the age of 14 for Gem Lake’s first
mayor, Henry Hoffman, doing construction work. When
he began his job at White Bear Floral, he became a
much needed “jack-of-all-trades.” Dick did everything
from flocking Christmas trees, starting bedding plants,
making holiday wreaths, waiting on customers, and
taking charge of “back-room operations.”
He loved to work and almost never deviated from his full
work-day. This February, he apologized profusely for
missing out on some of the Valentine’s Day work. Few
realized how ill he was.
According to John Birkeland, “Dick was a godsend. Just
what we needed at the time.
Along with my Mom and Dad and my Aunt Esther, he
helped to build the operation into what you see around
you today. He was a fixture, a teacher, and such a hard
worker.”
Dick died of natural causes on February 17. He is
survived by a son and two daughters, as well as two
brothers and two sisters, nine nieces and nephews, three
grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many
friends. A very well attended Celebration of Life was held
in his honor at White Bear Floral. He will be greatly
missed.
David Kenneth Gardner
David Gardner was a resident of Gem Lake for decades
and also had a home in Tucson, Arizona, where he spent
most winters in recent years.
David was born in 1940 in Huron, South Dakota and
graduated from Harvard College in 1962. He was known
as a brilliant man and enjoyed a 31 year career in
Institutional Equity Sales for Merrill Lynch, where he
demonstrated a passion for financial investments.
He was also known as an avid outdoorsman and lover of
nature. He enjoyed roaming the outdoors with his
beloved dogs. He had an innate curiosity and was a
student of everything, according to friend and former
Gem Lake city clerk, Fritz Magnuson. “I am proud to have
had him as a friend.”
David was the chairman of Gem Lake’s Planning
Commission in the 1990’s. He came in after Judson
Bemis and before Jack Hoeschler, both of whom also
chaired the Planning Commission, according to Fritz. He
provided much needed guidance on beginning to plan for
future growth.
Dick passed away last September and is survived by his
wife of 61 years, Leslie Gardner, as well as a son and
daughter and two grandchildren. Neighbors remember
him as a warm and wonderful person, full of interesting
knowledge and a love of nature.
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: May and June 2023
The following Gem Lake
meeting will be held in the
months of May and June.
All meetings are held at
Heritage Hall unless
otherwise indicated.
See also the Gem Lake
web-site for more
information.
May 8, 2023
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
May 9, 2023
Planning Commission
Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
May 16, 2023
City Council meeting at
7:00 p.m.
June 12, 2023
City Council Workshop is
CANCELED
June 13, 2023
Planning Commission
Meeting at 7:00p.m.
June 20, 2023
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