Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2012 Gem Lake Newsletter mail boy September, 2012 Volume 6, Issue 8 Gem Lake News Special Interest Articles: • Night to Unite Held August 7 • Mystery Solved: Why the Chicken Crossed the Road • City News Page 4 • Crime Wave? Upcoming Recycling Dates: September 19 October 3 October 17 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor Neighbors had a chance to meet each other at the 29th Annual "National Night to Unite" which was held on August 7 throughout the United States. Gem Lake participated with a community gathering at Heritage Hall that evening. "Night to Unite" is designed to generate participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police- community partnership, and heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. Last year's "Night to Unite" campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities. In all, over 37 million people participated in the 2011 event. It is anticipated that even more people took part this year. In addition to meeting each other, Gem Lake residents had the chance to gather crime fighting information and enjoy some wonderful refreshments. Thanks for coming! More Neighbors Meet Each Other th What is "Hatching" in Gem Lake? Fresh eggs may soon outnumber residents in Gem Lake, due to a new ordinance covering the keeping of chickens and other fowl in our fair city. After extensive discussion on everything from noise pollution, bad smells, cackling, crowing and overcrowding, the Gem Lake City Council passed the ordinance at the city council meeting on August 21. The rules cover such things as how many chickens you can keep, or better yet, the size of the chicken coop required for various numbers of chickens. Basically if you want to keep chickens, you need to apply for a city permit and then build an appropriate chicken coop, that will provide adequate space, ventilation and shelter for your new fowl friends. Contact Kiki Sonnen at Heritage Hall for more information, or see the website for a copy of the ordinance. Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 The Gem Lake City Council approved an initial General Fund Budget for 2013 of $368,994 at its council meeting on August 21. The General Fund budget includes a proposed general tax levy of $312,996 and a debt tax levy of $52,000 for the fiscal and calendar year of 2013 and is based upon best estimates of costs for running the City of Gem Lake next year. The total proposed property taxes for the General Fund are $90,824 more than the 2012 levy amount. This would represent the MAXIMUM levy for 2013 and would be refined before final adoption in November, 2012. Last year, the city made the decision to decrease its healthy general fund balance a bit and to use those revenues to fund part of its 2012 operating budget. This kept the general tax levy low. (The total tax levy last year was $273,472.) . 2013 Initial Budget Approved for Gem Lake Here are a few notes on the 2013 budget: *Charges for services are consistent with the 2012 budget *Miscellaneous revenues are consistent with last year *The General Government line items within the expense budget were decreased in 2013 to reflect what was actually spent this year. You can get a copy of the budget at Heritage Hall All Politics are Local, Right? It seems there is some sort of election this year..Yes, there appear to be a few people running for office on a federal, state and county level. But, don't forget those all important local elections. This year, Gem Lake has three positions open. One is the position of mayor, the other two are city council positions. Although there was not an extensive line of individuals who had filed for election by the county filing deadline, we do find ourselves with candidates for each spot. For the position of mayor, Bob Uzpen, current mayor, has filed for re-election. Bob has served as mayor for the 3+ years. For the two spots on the city council the candidates are as follows: Jim Lindner, current council member and former Planning Commission Chairman, is running for re-election. Faith Kuny, current Planning Commission Chairperson, is running for the other open position on the Gem Lake City Council. Just in case you don't answer your phone or listen to TV or radio, Election Day is November 6. Heritage Hall is the voting place for Gem Lake residents. Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 City Crime Wave in the Gem Lake Business District The Gem Lake Business District has been the center of a crime spree during the last few months. Nearly every major business in the area of Hoffman's Corner has suffered from some kind of crime, including everything from break-ins to employee theft. Here are a few examples: An outboard motor was stolen at Nelson Marine on July 22 after a hole was cut in the fence near their showroom. There was an attempted burglary at Barnett Kia on July 16. A fence was cut on the lot and a wire cutter was found at the scene. The following week, a woman was arrested for DWI at the same location. There were a significant number of "theft from vehicle" incidents in mid-July at Tousley Ford. Aftermarket stereos were stolen from ten cars. It was unknown how entry was made into the fenced in area. Forgery was reported at AM-PM Auto Repair on Scheuneman Road on July 6. Nine business checks were stolen and forged for thousands of dollars. A theft from vehicle incident occurred at Dan's Auto Clinic on Scheuneman Road on July 27. A Cadillac in the lot was broken into and various items were stolen. An employee working on the cleaning crew at Touslely Ford had her phone stolen on July 31. Clearly, these incidents and their now frequent occurrence, has business owners in the area on edge. c Candidate Photos: November 6 Gem Lake Elections The three individuals pictured below are running for office in Gem Lake. Faith Kuny, pictured at left, and Jim Lindner, pictured in the middle, are running for the two open positions on the Gem Lake City Council. Bob Uzpen, pictured at right, is running for the position of mayor. Jim and Bob are incumbents to their Council positions. Faith is currently the chairperson of the Planning Commission. Novembe r 6 is election day. See you then! Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Huge Local Power Line Project to Begin 2014 A large project to rebuild transmission lines in our area will begin on or before the second quarter of 2014, according to a fact sheet issued recently by Xcel Energy. The project will encompass an area within an existing railroad right of way, beginning south of Interstate 694 in Maplewood and running three miles north to the Goose Lake substation, which is located approximately at the intersection of White Bear Parkway and Otter Lake Road in White Bear Township. According to Xcel, the project is needed to ensure reliable power delivery to the area. Approximately three miles of existing 115 kV of single circuit transmission line will be removed and replaced with a new 115/115 kV double circuit line in much the same alignment. The majority of new double circuit structures will be steel poles with a vertical davit arm configuration, an average height of approximately 90 feet and an average span of 300 to 500 feet. Existing structure are an average height of 75 feet and are often made of wood. Some new right-of-way acquisition is anticipated along Otter Lake Road at the north end of the project and adjacent to the Bruce Vento trail at the south end of the project. For more information, contact Sage Tauber at Xcel Energy, 612-330-2909. City News Page MS-4 Report Ready to Be Reviewed By Public A state mandated report on storm water management, called the MS-4 Report has been completed by council member Jim Lindner and submitted to the State of Minnesota. Jim spent countless volunteer hours trudging all over Gem Lake to document and photograph inflows and outflows in our city, as required by the report. The document is now on display at Heritage Hall for anyone who wants to read it. As mandated by law, it will be on display for 30 days to allow for the expected throngs. Just in case you don't get a chance to stop by, we are holding a public hearing on it, also required by state law. The public hearing will be held September 18, during the September City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall. Our thanks to Jim Lindner for taking on the task of completing this very detailed report. Money Available for Landscaping Projects The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) has a cost share program to assist property owners with landscaping projects that help with water quality. Types of projects that are eligible include raingardens, shoreline restoration, permeable paver patios or driveways, and other projects that reduce water runoff and erosion. VLAWMO can give up to $1000 to a project to cover 50% of the costs of materials and contracted labor. Applications must be approved by VLAWMO before work can begin. Additionally, this year VLAWMO has a separate Rainbarrel Cost Share program to entice more people to purchase them. VLAWMO will help pay for two rainbarrels per property. VLAWMO will pay 50% of the cost of each rainbarrel (up to $125 maximum per barrel.) The approval process is easy and quick for this program. To qualify for these cost share program s, you must live within the VLAWMO boundary. A boundary map is located on the website at www.vlawmo.org. If you are interested in either of these programs, more information can be found either at the website, or by calling Kristine Jenson at 651-204- 6070. Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 Goose Lake Fish Study Produces Interesting Results A fish survey was conducted on East and West Goose Lake during mid July. The study was conducted by the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO), in conjunction with Blue Water Science Company. Both basins of this lake are on the state impaired list for nutrient overload and most of the loading is coming from within the lake. The last survey done on Goose Lake was in 1986 by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Both basins were full of bullhead fish, with a few suckers, but no game fish found at that time. These type of rough fish stir up lake sediments searching for food, which in turn release nutrients into the water column, causing the major algae blooms, as well as pea colored water. To the surprise of the surveyors, the fish populations in both basins are pretty good and healthy. Great population of bass, crappie, perch and bluegill are present, and are doing very well eating the young bullheads. This suggests that some, if not all the game fish present have been stocked within the last few years, due to the abundance of nine to ten inch bullhead and little evidence of younger bullhead. The DNR stocked bluegill a few years ago but there are no public records showing any other stocking. Private stocking records may solve the mystery of where the other game fish came from. Water quality in both basins of Goose Lake has been improving over the last few years, but is still far from meeting state standards. Steve McComas of Blue Water Science believes that the water quality improvement over the last few years may well be contributing to the growing game fish populations in the lake. The fact that there was only one sucker sample in the nets during the survey and that almost all of the bullhead sampled were nine to ten inches long, could mean that all the young bullhead that have hatched over the last few years have become fish food, slowing reducing the number of rough fish stirring up sediments. Even with the current population of game fish, Goose Lake is still unsightly, extremely impaired, and continues to maintain a large population of bullhead. This bullhead population is still stirring up the sediments and suspending the nutrients in the water column. McComas believes that if you can get the current bullheads out of the lake, you will continue to see an improvement in water quality. A full report will be coming in the next few months. In the meantime more information can be found either at the website, or by calling Kristine Jenson at 651-204-6070. The website address is www.vlawmo.org. Story courtesy of VLAWMO. Bob Uzpen-Mayor Phone: 651-492-5083 City Council Members: Gretchen Artig-Swomley Phone: 651-260-9742 Rick Bosak 651-426-9695 Jim Lindner Phone: 651-429-7597 The following Gem Lake Meetings will be held at Heritage Hall for the next few months: September 18, 2012 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. October 2, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Meetings: September and October 2012 Meeting Dates Your Gem Lake City Council 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: gretchenas@comcast.net Kiki Sonnen: 651-747-2790, or Kiki.Sonnen@CO.RAMSEY. MN.US To report incidents for the Neighborhood Watch program or for information on that program contact Block Captain Chuck Watson 651-653-8319; Charles.Watson@bdk.com We’re on the Web! See us at: www.gemlakemn.org CITY OF GEM LAKE 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 October 9, 2012 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. A list of potential goals for the city for 2013 will be discussed at this meeting October 16, 2012 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Tom Rasmussen Phone: 651-426-8854 For more information on meetings, city ordinances, recent events, permit procedures, etc. please consult the Gem Lake web-site. The address is www.gemlakemn.org Each Gem Lake Newsletter is also posted on the web-site under the news section. Please email your ideas, comments and suggestions. See box at left for detailed contact information.