Laserfiche WebLink
Special Interest Articles <br /> Neighborhood Meets <br />to Discuss Municipal <br />Water System <br /> Deer Hunt Proves <br />Successful <br /> What is Smart <br />Salting? <br /> White Bear Lake <br />Police and Fire 2025 <br />Overview <br /> Vial of Life <br /> Medicine Disposal <br /> Gem Lake Planning <br />Commission Vacancy <br /> Gem Lake Launches <br />New Website <br /> Rental License <br />Required <br /> Utility Billing Options <br /> Donations to White <br />Bear Lake Food Shelf <br /> Winter Snow <br />Regulations <br /> Applications for City <br />Scholarships Now <br />Open <br /> White Bear Press Box <br /> <br /> <br /> Gem Lake News <br />February 2026 | Volume 20 | Issue 1 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor <br /> <br />Gem Lake Approves 2026 Budget <br />Minnesota State Statutes require all cities to certify <br />their final property tax levy by December 31. That levy <br />funds each city’s operating budget (General Fund) and <br />any debt payments. If a final levy is not approved by the <br />deadline, then the previous years final levy is used. <br />The Gem Lake City Council held its “Truth in Taxation” <br />public hearing on December 16, approving a final property tax levy of $715,830, which <br />is a 0.4% decrease from the 2025 final tax levy. The tax levy consists of a debt levy in <br />the amount of $85,778 (an increase from the 2025 debt levy of $2,042) and the general <br />operating levy in the amount of $630,052 (a decrease of 0.78% over 2025). <br /> <br />The final tax levy of $715,830, is down $52,175 from the preliminary tax levy.approved <br />in September, which is somewhat typical in the budgeting cycle. By state law, the final <br />budget cannot exceed the preliminary estimate, which is used for truth in taxation <br />notices to citizens. This means that most cities do worst case scenario budgeting, while <br />they gather final budget numbers. <br /> <br />(2026 Budget continued on Page 2) <br /> <br /> <br />Neighborhood Meets to Discuss Municipal <br />Water System <br />Neighbors from a section of Gem Lake gathered on January 12 to discuss the <br />possibility of a municipal water system within the city. This system would cover <br />generally the northwestern part of the city, including Labore Road from Little Fox Road <br />to Goose Lake Road, approximately half of the distance of Goose Lake Road, <br />extending east from Labore and residents on Tessier and New Haven Lanes. It is <br />called Phase I of larger municipal water system that might emerge over the next <br />decade, covering more of the city as funds allow. <br />About 30 people were present for the meeting at Heritage Hall, including residents from <br />the affected area, as well as experts from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Public Works Director from the <br />City of Vadnais Heights. <br />Representatives from SEH (the city’s designated engineer) presented the broad <br />outlines of the plan to install a proposed water system, beginning with the benefits of <br />moving in this direction. These benefits included access to a water source that is <br />reliable and convenient, the fact that municipal water is regularly treated to remove <br />contamination, and the fact that municipal water system provided fire protection at the <br />street from regularly spaced fire hydrants. <br /> <br />(Municipal Water continued on Page 3) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />