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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Vol. 9 Issue 6 October mail boy October, 2015 Volume 9, Issue 6 Gem Lake News Special Interest Articles: • Deer Hunting • Rush Line Report • City News Page 4 • Water Project Update Upcoming Recycling Dates:  October 14  October 28  November 11 Tip: put out your bin the night before for 7 a.m. pick-up. Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor After extensive discussion, the Gem Lake City Council approved permits for two bow hunting deer hunts on private properties on the south side of Gem Lake. The approvals took place at the City Council meeting on September 15. The first hunt is scheduled to take place on property owned by Tony Scornavacco on three separate weekends. (September 19-21; October 9-11; and October 31-November 2.) The second hunt is scheduled to take place on two adjacent lots owned by Tim and Sherren Heil and Roland Birkebak on Fridays to Sundays from November 7-21. Each hunt takes place with the approval and knowledge of adjacent property owners. The application process for obtaining a permit involved a meeting at the city council and required the property owners and hunters to adhere to many conditions, in order to insure safety. These conditions include not only state requirements, but also communication with neighbors and proof (continued on page 2) Bow Hunting Permits Approved Plans Ordered, Bids Requested for Water Project Progress continues on the city’s efforts to bring municipal water to the Hoffman’s Corner Business District in Gem Lake. On September 15, the City Council voted to direct the city engineer to draft final plans and specifications for a two part water project, and to request bids for the project from appropriate vendors. Part One would bring water from White Bear under the railroad tracks near White Bear Floral and then across to the area of Waldoch Mfg. and the strip mall on Scheuneman Road. Part Two would bring the water across County Road E to the area near Vera Auto Sales and then up Scheuneman Road towards Barnett Chrysler. The cost of these two parts would be about $460,000. Part 1 could cost about $290,000 and Part 2 could cost about $171,000. Final costs will be determined when bids come in from potential contractors. (continued on page 2) Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 It is projected that roughly speaking the cost of the project would be assessed at around $8,600 per acre for Part 1, and around $10,000 per acre for Part 2. For Part 1, all parcels in the business district would be subject to the first assessment. For Part 2, only those parcels that would directly benefit by being able to hook up to water as a result of the extension would be subject to the second assessment. There are currently about six businesses that would be affected by the second assessment at this time. If all goes as planned, it is thought that the bids would be accepted in the next few months, then an assessment hearing would be held, probably later in the year. Assessment amounts would take into account the percentage of the serviced area that each property owner has, and independent appraisals done by a third party as to how much the improvement would add to the value of that property. At the assessment hearing, affected properties in the business district would know the projected assessment for their property, and be able to vocalize their opinion on the cost versus benefit equation, as it pertains to their situation. If all is still a go, construction would start and would probably happen in the Spring of 2016. There are numerous steps involved in bringing additional municipal services to property owners, many of these steps are required by state law. Your input will be vital. Plans Ordered, Bids Requested for City Water Project (continued from page 1) Bow Hunting Permits Approved (Continued from page 1) that each hunter has obtained a Minnesota Bow Hunter Education Certificate. Gem Lake also requires hunters to spell out where deer stands will be located and the direction and distance of potential shots. At the meeting on September 15, the council asked property owners and hunters to identify things such as deer disposal procedures, times of hunting and other concerns. To obtain a permit, property owners must have at least five acres or must join with adjacent neighbors to reach five or more acres. Following this season’s two hunts, each of the property owners will provide a wrap up of the event, including suggestions for following years. Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 Rush Line Corridor Update because average annual daily traffic on Highway 61 now comprises about 55,000 vehicles on the section of Highway 61 that is north of Interstate 694. This traffic volume has risen about 9% since 1998 and is expected to continue to rise. “Improvements to the corridor area transit network will increase its attractiveness to commuters, and will encourage some citizens to shift from driving to transit. This could offer them consistent commute times and will support reduced commute times for everyone, as well as reduced peak congestion levels.” For more information on the Rush Line Corridor planning process, contact Andy Gitzlaff at 651- 266-2772. Sanibel Dance Studio Opens Doors in Gem Lake A new business has opened in Gem Lake as of September. The Sanibel Dance Company has opened a studio in the Hoffman’s Corner Business District in the strip m all area owned by the Waldochs at 3591 Hoffman Road. The Sanibel Dance Company will offer classes in various forms of dance, including ballroom, tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, etc. There will be some classes for children, and others for adults. Andy Gitzlaff of the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority provided an update on plans to extend light rail and/or other forms of mass transit in the northern suburbs. The project is referred to as the Rush Line Corridor Transit Study. According to Mr. Gitzlaff, community involvement in the project is very important. “Over the past few months, all potential route and vehicle options have been reviewed for the Rush Line Corridor Study.” This past September, three community meetings were held to learn more about narrowed down route options, get feedback and learn about possible next steps for such a large project. Although the project will probably not really begin until around 2020, plans are now underway to determine modes of extending transportation options. The idea of the project is to provide all day and frequent rush line service that link various suburban downtown areas with things like shopping malls, and downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, in order to reduce traffic congestion, wherever possible. Some routes now under consideration roughly follow Highway 61 north to downtown White Bear and perhaps further to Forest Lake, using a combination of transportation modes. Thinking ahead is especially important, according to Mr. Gitzlaff Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Long Time Resident Celebrates! Lorraine Birkeland, who moved to Gem Lake in the early 1930’s with her family, turned 93 years old on September 17. She began working at the family business, White Bear Floral, when she was a young lady, and continues to work there today, although she takes an occasional break now and then. Her family started the floral shop in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression. The area has seen many changes and much growth since then, much of which she has witnessed personally. Happy Birthday, Lorraine!! Ramsey County Traffic Safety Initiative White Bear Lake Police hosted the Hi-Viz DWI Saturation on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. The efforts of 12 overtime funded officers and 5 volunteer reserve officers yielded the following:  138 traffic stops  8 people booked into jail  8 DWI arrests  11 driving citations  7 vehicles towed Notes: Ramsey deputy stopped a car for erratic driving with a 911 caller following with updates on location and driving conduct. The erratic driver was arrested for DWI, had one previous DWI in May 2014 and blew .17 AC on the DMT breath test resulting in a 2nd Degree DWI with the car held for forfeiture. Maplewood officer cited 6 of 21 drivers stopped for Driving After Revocation or Driving After Suspension. State of the Water: Drinking Water in Ramsey County You are invited to attend a very important meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The seminar will be held at The Ramsey County Public Works Facility, 1425 Paul Kirkwold Drive, Arden Hills. City News Page The seminar will focus on the state of drinking water in Ramsey County and is sponsored by the Ramsey County Conservattion District. Important speakers will include Jim Bode, Production Division Manager for St. Paul Regional Water Services; Professor Timothy LaPara, from the Department of Civil Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota; and Mark Burch, P.E., the Public Works Director and City Engineer for the City of White Bear Lake. Space is limited. To reserve your spot at the session, please call Ashley Bennett at 651-266- 7272. Ramsey County to Hold Two Forums on Drug Abuse Issues This October two community forums will explore the local realities of current drug trends, root causes of addition and means of intervention. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, and Public Health Department are joining forces with “Know the Truth” and local law enforcement agencies to hold these forums at two community high schools. The forums are an opportunity for all parents, teachers and youth leaders to learn about the most current methods of talking to their kids about drug use, spotting warning signs, root causes of addition and how to seek help when needed. The goal of forum sponsors is to raise awareness and jump start community wide solutions to address the real and growing problem of drug abuse impacting familiies throughout Ramsey County. The dates and locations are as follows: Thursday, October 8—7:00 to 8:30 p.m., North Saint Paul High School, 2416 11th Avenue East, North St. Paul, MN 55109. Thursday, October 29—7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Mounds View High School, 1900 Lake Valentine Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112. Information will be available before and after the forums from local resources including Fairview Riverside, Ramsey County Children’s Crisis Response, Detoxification, Public Health, Attorney, Sheriff, and local law enforcement, counseling and rehabilitation service providers. Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 Annual Report from Sheriff Matt Bostrom SeptembMeeting To assist with the problem, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department is sponsoring several drug education forums this fall. These events will take place in October and will focus on regional and national trends in drug abuse. The events will feature education and recovery programs that are available. (See page 4 for forum information.) The Sheriff’s Department continues to sponsor a prescription drug drop off center at the Arden Hills facility, and at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center, 425 Grove Street, St. Paul. This allows any citizen to easily drop off unused prescription drugs so they can be safely disposed of. Lastly, Bostrom highlighted efforts to provide as much community outreach by officers as possible. With this in mind, the department is sponsoring several “Coffee with a Cop” events at local Caribou Coffee locations. (For instance, there was one scheduled for the Rice and 694 location on October 7 between 2-4 p.m. In terms of feedback the department has received from citizens in light of national events, Bostrom says it has never been as supportive and positive. “We have generally received more thank you’s for our services than ever betore.” For more information on any of these items, go to www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom gave a law enforcement status report at the September 15 Gem Lake City Council Meeting. He was there to provide his annual review of law enforcement goals, programs and trends. Since his election in 2010, Bostrom has been very involved in communication with the contract cities his office serves. Typically, Bostrom has been present for at least one Gem Lake City Council meeting each year. At the September meeting, Bostrom focused on subjects such as improvements in detention facility procedures, the coming of body cameras for law officers, community outreach and drug education forums. Regarding detention facilities, Bostrom said at any one time, between 300-450 people are being detained at the Ramsey County Jail. To improve the efficiency of communication to the outside world, Ramsey County detention center allows limited use of email and video conferencing between inmates and their families. Rules and procedures for the use of body cameras for law enforcement officers are now being discussed in Minnesota, said Bostrom. There is a good deal of work to be done to insure that citizen privacy needs are balanced with the public’s right to know what officers are doing and how they are conducting themselves, says Bostrom. Examples of situations that need careful planning include situations involving sexual assaults, and other sensitive matters. Bostrom feels present drafts of some of these rules need further tightening. One of the major problems facing counties across Minnesota is the spike in drug addiction problems both to legal drugs, such as prescription pain killers, and illegal drugs, such as Heroin. Bob Uzpen-Mayor Phone: 651-492-5083 City Council Members: Gretchen Artig-Swomley Phone: 651-260-9742 Rick Bosak 651-426-9695 Faith Kuny Phone: 612-718-4316 The following Gem Lake Meetings will be held at Heritage Hall for the next few months. October 13, 2015 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. October 20, 2015 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Meetings: October, November and December, 2015 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 We’re on the Web! See us at: www.gemlakemn.org CITY OF GEM LAKE 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 December 1, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. December 14, 2015 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. THIS MEETING IS CANCELLED. December 15, 2015 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. . November 3, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. November 9, 2015 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. November 17, 2015 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Jim Lindner Phone: 651-429-7597 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.