Please help our neighbors in need UPDATED 6/27/18

The flood from last week hit home. The woman who was swept away by flood waters was a friend of the family. The kind women from Upper St. Clair have gotten together to help out the Abbott family, offering to do errands and cook meals. Restaurants are offering free meals to flood victims.

An update from Bridgeville Manager was posted on the Bridgeville Police Department Facebook page.

I reached out to the Bridgeville police department and got this response. "First United Methodist Church in Bridgeville is the central point for donations other than food (which would go to Bethany Presby). We also have people going directly to the major affected areas of Baldwin St, McLaughlin Run Rd, Railroad St and Maple St and Laurel St. Thanks again. Every bit is appreciated."

What is Mt. Lebanon doing? Mt. Lebanon Magazine is asking for help. They want photos of flood damage. Why should I expect anything else?

Update June 26, 2018 8:40 AM 

Bridgeville Police Department is feeling strong.

24 mins ·

🔴Important Flood Information:

🔴Attention motorists. Bower Hill Road is open!! Flood cleanup continues in the Borough. Please drive safely, be aware of your surroundings and obey the “Road Closed” signs!!

🔴 Flood victims needing furniture, Holy Child Church (gymnasium) is fully stocked with donated items. They are open 9 AM to 4 PM all week. I understand there still a lot of cleanup that needs to be done. If you need a place to store your items, furniture, etc. please see the attached photo for “beyond self storage”.

🔴 First Methodist Church 9-4 m-sat
Red Cross coming today 10-3. They have cleaning supplies for flood victims!!
Needs: Cleaning supplies, Mops, Pails, Brooms, Clorox wipes, Baby wipes,Rubber gloves, Masks, Bleach, Borax,
Gift cards: Dollar store, Walmart, Aldi, Giant Eagle, Suburban Laundromat
Free wash/dry for a couple of loads - soap too.

🔴Bethany Church: Food Bank!!

🔴Vineyard Church: Clothes!!

🔴Tetanus Shots Will be provided courtesy of St. Clair Hospital on Thursday, June 28 at the Bridgeville volunteer fire department. First responders will be immunized from 12 PM until 3 PM. Residence, business owners, and volunteers will be immunized from 3 PM to 6 PM.

🔴The Pittsburgh Eyecare Associates ( Dr. Strain) is a contact should your eyeglasses need repaired or replaced. Their phone number is 412-221-0112.

🔴I want to personally thank everyone who has donated, whether it be their time, money, furniture, food, cleaning supplies, appliances, etc... it’s amazing to see the generosity of people, not only from this community but from outside communities too! I would like to give a special “shout out” to Cestus Construction Gloves as they donated $25,000.00 worth of gloves to the residents, volunteers and first responders!!

Chief King

Update June 27, 2018 9:04 AM

Turf Project is Out For Bid

Remember this photo that I had on my February 25, 2014 blog posting, Commissioner Franklin has Susan's ear UPDATED 2X?

Turns out, I nailed it. Here is the Mt. Lebanon Flood Zone map, directly from the municipal website. Middle and Wildcat Fields are located in Panel 0456. Any panel highlighted in pink contains a flood zone. The blue areas are the flood zones according to FEMA.

Gateway Engineers swears that the fields have never flooded. We know better than that, right?

So, the project continues...

According to the timeline from the Turf Project Task Force Recommendations made on February 11, 2014, the Project Schedule is as follows:

Design Development –Pending Commission 

Approval February/March 2014 

Construction Documents and Specifications 

April/May 2014 

Advertise for bids May 15, 2014 

Open Bids June 4, 2014 

Award Bids June 10th or 23rd 

Issue Notice to proceed and begin construction 

July 15, 2014 

Final Completion October 21, 2014 

We now know that May 15, 2014 was JT Sauer's deadline to submit to Gateway. The following information was pulled from the "Pittsburgh Builders Exchange," which requires a paid subscription. 

TURF RFP

This would be considered as a Request for Proposal (RFP). There are "bid documents" or "plans" associated with the RFP. These often include specifications, drawings, contract language, etc. Some times, the documents are provided at no costs in electronic format. Other times, such as this instance, there is a fee associated with them. For this project, the "plans" are to be obtained directly from the engineer and include a $75.00 non-refundable fee.

I guess this would be the time to announce the important LeboALERT I received on May 21, 2014.

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. Middle/Wildcat Fields improvement update meeting is Thurs., June 12, from 7 to 8:30 at Mellon Auditorium.

Pretty big venue for such a tiny "vocal minority." This meeting will also include Dr. Andrew McNitt, from the Penn State/FieldTurf Partnership, who will give us an "unbiased" opinion concerning the safety of artificial turf.

I hope that the Turf Project Task Force can get an "unbiased" opinion from financial advisors who have partnerships with FieldTurf who will tell us that we are making a sound investment.

Perhaps there is a FEMA/FieldTurf Partnership who will assure us that flooding is not an issue.

Finally, I am looking forward to hearing from the ESB/FieldTurf Partnership expert since June 12 is the next Mt. Lebanon Environmental Sustainability Board meeting. Gee, I wonder why that happened.

Middle/Wildcat Fields 05.24.14

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

If you are interested in displaying an anti-artificial turf sign in your yard, email me at EGillen476@aol.com.

Update May 25, 2014 6:15 PM Requests to see the draft were ignored. Dan Deiseroth email to Kelly Fraasch.

And it never floods...UPDATED 2X

Don't miss the never-before-seen Bird Park runoff area with some serious raging rapids and a collapsing hillside.

May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

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May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

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May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014

Here are photos of flooding on Wildcat Field today.

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Wildcat Field Flooding 052814

Update May29, 2014 10:12 AM Please be aware that the official Pittsburgh rainfall for Tuesday 5/27/14 (I believe from 12:01 AM - 12:00 Midnight) was only 0.02 inches, and for Wednesday, 5/28/2014 it was only 1.38 inches, or a total of only 1.40 inches according to AccuWeather.com and the Tribune-Review. This is even below the 2-Year Storm Frequency standard of 2.3 inches of rainfall in a 24 hour period.

Mt. Lebanon's SALDO Section 809.4.6 requires that Municipal stormwater sewer systems be designed to handle the peak runoff from a 25-Year storm, or 4.4 inches of rainfall over a 24-hour period. Please read and become familiar with SALDO Part 8 Design Standards, Section 809 Stormwater Conveyance and Management, and Section 810 Storm Sewers and Drainage Facilities and all sub-sections. We're obviously failing to comply with our own Ordinances.

SALDO is Chapter XVI of the Mt. Lebanon Code, and has a direct link on the Public Documents page of the Municipal website. Or click here and start on page 75 of the pdf.

Update June 1, 2014 9:10 AM This was in the Trib last summer. Southmoreland tackles flood-damaged turf

Sean Stipp | Tribune-Review

Roughly one-third of the artificial turf at Russ Grimm Field at Southmoreland Senior High School was pushed into ripples by the force of flood waters.

Educational Forum on Artificial Turf Tomorrow! UPDATE Photos of trees to be removed

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

Last night, at the Commission's Dog and Pony Show, a.k.a. the Commission Discussion Session, we were told that organic infill will cost $1.57 million with an annual maintenance to include adding an additional 1/4" organic infill. We also heard that humidity will be created from the cooling system needed to keep the cork infill moist. The SAB does not want organic infill because it floats away. They don't want to admit to flood waters that affect those fields. We are being set up for toxic rubber infill. The Environmental Sustainability Board issued this statement about artificial turf at the February 11, 2014 Commission Discussion Session. Video is here.

Coincidently, an Educational Forum on Artificial Turf in Mt. Lebanon will be held tomorrow evening in the Commission Chambers, starting at 7 PM. I believe Commissioners Fraasch and Bendel will be attending the forum.

EDUCATIONAL FORUM ON ARTIFICIAL TURF IN MT LEBANON
DID YOU KNOW THAT TOWNS/CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE CONSIDERING MORATORIUMS ON TURF UNTIL UNBIASED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS AVAILABLE ON THE EXPOSURE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH? 

Learn more about the impacts of artificially turfed fields when it comes to our children’s health, water run-off & heat island effects 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30th AT 7-8:30pm 

MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE CHAMBERS

For more information please email:  healthylebo@gmail.com
Mt Lebanon Commissioners voted 3-2 to spend $750,000 of taxpayer money to add artificially turfed fields along Cedar Blvd at Wildcat/Middle Fields near the entrance of Main Park.    

In May, a decision will be made about specific design options such as tire crumb rubber in-fill vs organic in-fill.
With such a long-term and expensive investment (over $2.5 million in 8 years),  our community needs to know more about these fields including the short and long-term effects of these materials on our children, coaches and residents nearby.

Educational Forum on Artificial Turf flyer

UPDATE April 29, 2014 9:31 PM Here is something to think about when attending this educational forum on artificial turf. When Phase II begins at Middle and Wildcat Fields, these trees will be removed for the additional parking spaces.

 Broken glass from, at least, the second motor vehicle collision in this location
(entrance to the Phase ll parking "space") in the past month

"Ah! Those ever so enduring, immortal, low-maintenance and indestructible plastic fields!"

http://www.synturf.org/maintenancereplacement.html Lots to read, but here is just one example of an unhappy customer. "Flooding" caught my eye. Proponents to artificial turf would probably say that the type shown in the photo is not what is being considered.  Even so, when Cedar Blvd. floods again, all those little pellets (infill) are going to float away. School District, check out No. 76...

[No. 77] Ridgewood, New Jersey: Costly face job on artificial turf field. This is the story that keeps on giving – first the flooding, then the clean up, and now a wrinkle removal procedure for the artificial turf field that got shriveled in the face of heavy rains that reminded everyone why some places are called flood pain and not very suitable for a million-dollar artificial turf installation. For previous posts on the plight of Ridgewood, see http://www.synturf.org/waterdamage.html (Items No. 14 and 15). According to the news report in The Ridgewood News (April 27, 2011), “The final repair of the wrinkles left on new turf installed on Ridgewood High School's (RHS) Stadium Field after flooding this month [April 16] cost the school district about $21,000, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein disclosed at a Board of Education (BOE) meeting Monday night.” Fishbein stated that the cleanup was being conducted by the district's contracted custodial company, "so there's no additional costs." “However, when The Ridgewood News questioned Fishbein during the public comment portion of the [Board of Education] meeting about the cost of hiring an outside company, LandTek, to repair the turf wrinkles, the superintendent reported that the field repair in fact cost about $21,000. "I'm sorry. There was a cost for LandTek. I neglected to say that," he said, adding that he considered the repair of the wrinkles a "correction" and not a "clean-up" cost. For more, please go to Kelly Ebbels, “Ridgewood turf field's 'wrinkle release' costs $21,000,” in The Ridgewood News, April 27, 2011, available at http://www.northjersey.com/news/120734824_Ridgewood_turf_field_s__wrinkle_release__costs__21_000.html . Go to the site for a picture of the wrinkled field.

"Let Our Kids Play Even When It Rains"

Elaine (and readers): The yardsign picture was sent to me by a coworker. Apparently, over in the Arden/Virginia Manor area there are a bunch of these.

The message defies logic. "Let Our Kids Play Even When It Rains"?? HAHAHA. Yeah, because nothing says torn tendon like a wet, slick artificial surface. Brilliant.

Second, I don't know where you all grew up but when I was a kid, the only time we wanted to play any sport in the rain was under two conditions: it was a pickup game, and we were assured of getting muddy as possible (how many soccer moms will allow their mud-covered child to climb into the backseat of that nice new Lexus SUV with the beige leather interior?). But organized sports? In the rain? Hell no. So once again, it's all about the parents, not the kids.

Third, what a sick ideology. Last time there was hard rain near M/WC fields, not only did it once again flood in the non-floodplain...but there were both hail and lightning. So the message on those signs is "turf is more important to me than my child". The pro turf boys should be proud. I mean, it takes some skill to convince otherwise educated people that image counts for more than human life. I would feign shock and disbelief but at this stage, the Commission has demonstrated anything is possible...with other peoples' money...and a willful disregard for their sworn oath.

The ballfield pictures were taken at around 8:25 this evening. You'll notice the standing water. That's because the lot is paved. Same thing will happen when grass is removed and replaced with plastic and rubber. For those advocating for turf, let me explain really slowly since it seems necessary. When rain hits a natural surface, like grass or dirt, some of the water can seep deeper. There is somewhere for it to go. But when rain hits a solid surface (especially one that was obviously installed unevenly) the water can't go anywhere. K? Got it? It's science. Like second grade level stuff.

Oh, one other glaring issue with the pictures--you'll notice the electric lights and the ambient light. But guess what isn't there? Kids!... So do we really have a shortage of playing slots? Or do we just have a shortage of honesty?

I submit information and opinion to this blog since it seems to be the last bastion of open expression in our community. That said, all you keyboard commandos who like to pick on women and threaten them can save it. If my comments hurt your feelings, feel free to reach out to me. My contact info is available online. I'm happy to discuss my position on this project on the phone or in person. To date, in the last three years, one person had taken me up on the offer. Should I take that personally?

-JE Cannon III

Why we can't keep up with the Joneses UPDATED 2X

At 8:00 this morning, Steve Feller shared the Wildcat bids summary as he promised me last night at the commission meeting. Thank you, Steve, for your promptness.

I haven't had the stomach to look at the bids summary. I am still recovering from the SAB wish list which was discussed at the end of Discussion Session Part 1. John Bendel submitted the Sports Advisory Board's #1 capital improvement recommendation which is sidewalks at the Tennis Center. OK, that's reasonable. But #10 is a larger multipurpose athletic facility to include basketball/gym in a new building separate from Wildcat/Middle Fields.

During Citizen Comments last night, a resident who is involved with Mt. Lebanon Youth Sports explained why he was against the artificial turf project at Middle and Wildcat Fields. We simply cannot afford it as a community. We are not as affluent as we once thought we were. According to Pittsburgh Business Times, here are the rankings of Upper St. Clair, and two zip codes in Mt. Lebanon.

The Almanac's June 18, 2014 editorial Keep Mt. Lebanon's field turf natural suggests that "To rip up perfectly usable natural fields and replace grass with artificial turf is just another example of the current trend of local communities wanting to “keep up with the Joneses.” As pointed out last night, we are not in Upper St. Clair's or Peters Township's league. We need to look at Bethel or Dormont.

Update June 24, 2014 12:28 PM Pittsburgh Business Times does not include Mt. Lebanon's 15216, 15234, or 15226 zip codes. They did not make the top 50 zip codes with the highest average net worth in the Pittsburgh region.

Update June 24, 2014 4:50 PM I requested a copy of the Sports Advisory Board wish list. Adding a price tag of $4,000,000 for the multi purpose athletic facility brings the SAB Capital Projects Worksheet total to over $9,000,000. This does not include the Toxic Turf Project at Middle and Wildcat Fields. Or the $4,000,000 Aquatic Center. Or the High School Sports wing. Or the $74,000 trophy case. Or the future turfing of the Rock Pile. Or the High School Tennis Courts. Or the Rifle Range. Who says we hate sports?

P.S. Or the new Bocce Pools a.k.a. the Bocce Courts in the No Flood Zone