There is no conduit going in at Middle and Wildcat Fields, according to Bend it With Bendel. Funny, that is what is in the bid documents. There are no other phases, according to Bendel. John did send me this late this afternoon:
The commitments by the Sports Associations are as follows:
Soccer: $50,000
Baseball: $40,000
Lacrosse: $20,000 (lacrosse parents another $28,000 on their own and sent to the Endowment)
Softball: $7,500
Football: $6,500
Field Hockey: $1,000
The summary of contributions is attached. For some reason, I can read it with no problems on my iPad, but on my Mac laptop, it is junked up. Just a heads up. The title of the document is:
Non-municipal sources Initial Project Cost
98% Committed
The bottom line totals, in case you can't read it, are
Cash $101,879
Pledged $143, 250
Total $245,129
Here is the email that I never received. John sent it to me after the meeting, with an apology.
Sorry, I don't know what happened. I thought it went through
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
Note: I asked for corporate sponsors and public donors.Elaine,Yes, the June 12 meeting will be video recorded.
The Commission established that the non municipal funds be in hand before we award the contract, not when we accept the bids. The emails from David Donnellan and me confirm that. As far as the $5,000 from a corporate donor that will be available in December, the Commission will need to decide if we are willing to make an exception to the cash in hand requirement for a firm commitment for a relatively small amount.The contributions made to the Endowment were primarily made by individuals. I do not believe the Endowment would release the names of contributors nor do I think they should. Moreover, I don't know why it matters who the individuals are that donated to the project.I am aware of the concern regarding surface temperatures on turf. Our speaker, Andy McNitt, will address this issue at the June 12 meeting.John,
Will the Mellon presentation be video recorded? If not, will there be an audio recording?
Please explain why the words "artificial turf" are never used in any of the LeboALERTS, or any other municipal announcements such as what is on the municipal website.
I would also like to confirm with you that the non-municipal funds (cash in hand) will be released to the municipality prior to the bid being accepted. Here is the email exchange. that you had with Dave Franklin and David Donnellan clarifying Dave Franklin's statement.Also, the $5000 being donated in December should not be considered as cash in hand.
At the SAB meeting last week, Pam Scott asked about contributions made to the turf project. Dave Franklin asked Pam to specify which contributions by asking "Private?" She said yes. Who are the corporate sponsors and /or public donors and how much are their contributions?During the SAB meeting, Kimberly Schevtchuk was on the defensive before she could even speak. She tried to share her research with the SAB but was fired questions from all angles. Many were the same questions that were asked of her previously. One of the issues that came up at the SAB meeting was turf temperatures. A Lebo Citizens reader shared his findings on my Lebo Citizens blog. I hope you consider reading this post.Elaine Gillen
Shortly after I received John's email, Kristen sent me a confirmation that the meeting will be video recorded.
Well, that's all she wrote tonight. Good night.
Update June 11, 2014 1:09 AM I lied. I'm still up. A WTAE camera person (gender neutral, thank you) was filming residents during Citizen Comments. I wish I had taken a picture of the commissioners. They were white as ghosts. They had no idea what was going on. Are they doing a story on the Newcomers' Tax or are they going to write about how the community is getting screwed over the MWC turf project? We will know for sure in July. :)
Update June 11, 2014 4:30 PM Independent expert?
Andrew McNitt's Overview
- Current
- Professor of Soil Science/Turfgrass at Penn State University
- Past
- Associate Professor of Soil Science/Turfgrass at Penn State University
- Education
- Connections
- 500+ connections
- Websites
Andrew McNitt's Experience
Professor of Soil Science/Turfgrass
Penn State University
Educational Institution; 10,001+ employees; Higher Education industry
2012 – Present (2 years)
Associate Professor of Soil Science/Turfgrass
Penn State University
Educational Institution; 10,001+ employees; Higher Education industry
2006 – 2012 (6 years)
Andrew McNitt's Projects
Divot resistance and tensile strength of Kentucky bluegrass sod as a function of mowing height, nitrogen fertility and sand topdressing
- September 2012 to Present
Many professional sports fields are re-sodded annually, especially in the NFL. Because these fields are resurfaced so often, what happens at the sod farm can be almost as important as what the turf manager does at the stadium. The use of thick-cut sod is common when the field must be resurfaced during the season, but no scientific research has examined this process.
The goal of my master's...more
Andrew McNitt's Skills & Expertise
- Agronomy
- Horticulture
- Soil
- Turf
- Golf Courses
Andrew McNitt's Education
Penns Valley High School
Andrew McNitt's Additional Information
- Websites:
- Interests:
- Athletic Field Construction and Management, Sports Fields, Synthetic Turf,
- Groups and Associations:
- STMA, KAFMO, Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, PSU Turfgrass AlumniUpdate June 11, 2014 7:07 PM At last night's meeting, Charlotte Stephenson offered to locate a toxicologist for tomorrow night's meeting. Here is the email exchange she had with the commissioners and manager today. It is a little confusing to follow, but start from the bottom of the Google Doc.
- Note: Steve Feller contacted Dr. Johnson on Monday afternoon!
31 comments:
Yay! The summary of contributions that is attached seems to look OK in Google Docs.
Elaine
$5,000 short today...$5,000 paid in December...adds up to $10,000 short !
Yes, that's how I see it, 1:21 AM. But Bend it With Bendel said that "the Commission will need to decide if we are willing to make an exception..."
Yeah, right. Like there is any doubt how that will go down.
Good night!
Elaine
Elaine so if I'm short of say... $5000 when I pay my property taxes the commissioners will give me a pass? And WHY is softball giving a dime? They will NEVER see a second of playing time!
2:47 AM, that depends. If you are a Turf Board member, it will be considered. If not, no soup for you!
Softball? Here is my theory. I believe that the YSA was collecting $12 per player. Perhaps the remaining funds were funneled into this project. We will never know.
Elaine
First, we were told that this would be $1mm project, paid with "extra" money. Now it's a much more expensive project, and likely will raise our taxes. Who couldn't see this coming???
Relevant to this discussion:
Sports should be CHILD'S play
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/opinion/sports-should-be-childs-play.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0
Why was the commission so concerned about WHO the expert is since they failed in their own attempt to find a pro-artificial turf toxicologist. It should come as no surprise to them, based on what they already know, that there is no qualified expert, who does not have an economic conflict of interest, who is pro-atrificial turf. They should stop trying to censor the truth and start listening to the warnings of clear present and future dangers.
I emailed the commissioners this morning wanting to know who is on the panel for tommow. A commissioner mentioned last night that one of the issues to be discussed tomorrow evening is stormwater. My guess is our unbiased municipal engineer will be addressing that issue. You know, the guy who was the first to donate to the turf project and was quoted as saying that the fields sit higher than Cedar Blvd., therefore, never flood.
Elaine
Elaine: Questions of such economic conflicts of interest should be raised tonight. Especially so in light of Mrs. Linfante's open concern for such conflicts when an expert was offered by Charlotte Stephenson. We will see who has the tainted evidence.
Football is our most expensive sport and they only gave $6,500. Het Dale can you afford it?
About the storm water, is there any information in the bid package regarding the required filtration of the run-off?
Thank you
I don't have the bid documents at the moment, but off the top of my head, I seem to remember reading about some Add Alternates.
Elaine
4 of the Commissioners need to just be honest. They are making themselves look worse by trying to make this all look on the up and up.
A main reason presented for this project was the use of the fields in bad weather. From commissioner Bendel's ppt there is noted the assumption that there will be 3% rain outs on turf. Over the 18 week season this comes out to 3.8 rain days.
Knowing our pgh weather, it is clear to meet this that the fields will have to be used during rain events.
So then learning about the filtration requirements will give us a good idea of what our kids will be ingesting while playing on the fields in the rain.
While the run-off works its way to the drain what quantity of crumb rubber remains suspended? What is the chemical make up of this run-off? Is it safe to ingest? If so, in what quantity?
If the run-off is to be filtered, are we then saying that what is not safe for our sewer system is safe for our kids to ingest?
If our commission does not have answers to these questions then would it be responsible to hold off on the work until they do? -or perhaps consider an alternative?
Thank you
If they reject this Add Alternate, then they would be poisoning our kids and our sewer system. Nice.
Elaine
The municipality will have to provide a "Post Construction Storm Water Plan" which lasts forever. It includes and identifies all costs for long term maintenance beyond actual yearly field maintenance. Beyond that, the final permit required will be a "Pollution Prevention Plan". This is an environmental disaster waiting to happen!
Constance Spicuous Consumption
That is what they want -- this is a rally, not a fact-based informational meeting. No ideas will be exchanged, the Turfies will just brow-beat any opposition. Tax dollars for propaganda.
I have posted many comments on this blog and have stated my position on the turf situation on numerous occasions. It ticks me off when people make assumptions and post them anonymously. So, here are the answers to some of the assumptions made previously:
2:47 AM—Are you a vampire or agoraphobic? You need to get out and about when the real world is stirring. The MLGSA plays about 80 games/season on the WCM complex. Drive by on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays and you will see softball played on Middle. The field schedules for this year and next are unchanged meaning that nothing has been ceded to other sports groups. This may change, but at this time there is no knowledge of any different scheduling arrangements.
The only change will be the user fees. Softball will pay about $30.00/game for the use of the WCM turfed field, if it ever comes to fruition.
Elaine—Once again, I remind you that the baseball association has been a great caretaker of the fields in general and on WCM& D in particular. Last season, the baseball association upgraded the scoreboards on both Middle & Dixon. They also provided the lean-to dugouts that can now be found on Middle. There were also improvements made to the concession stand in the form of plumbing upgrades and fresh paint. This was an out-of-pocket expense for baseball.
As a good partner, the MLGSA voted to help baseball defray these expenses with a contribution. The end result was that the Board voted an amount of $7500 be sent to baseball as our share of the upgrades. At the request of the baseball folks, this $7500 was pledged to the turf project in lieu of reimbursement. At this time, I am not sure if the check has been sent to the MLCE, but I can check on it.
No further amounts have been authorized or pledged by the MLGSA at this time.
10:42 AM—The last time I looked at the field schedules, the football group was not allocated time on te WCM complex.
Random, anonymous speculation and outrageous statements are not the way to make the argument against the turf project.
No doubt a toxicologist's input would be helpful. But since we don't have one let me ask this please:
On the multipurpose turf field, how will goals, for example, be secured into the turf? Could someone please enlighten me as to how this is done without damaging the turf for other uses?
Thanks.
At last night's meeting, Charlotte Stephenson offered to locate a toxicologist for tomorrow night's meeting. Here is the email exchange she had with the commissioners and manager today. It is a little confusing to follow, but start from the bottom of the Google Doc.
Elaine
I emailed the commission at 9:20 this morning with this:
John and Kristen,
Thank you for answering my question about taping tomorrow's forum. Since one of you mentioned that other issues will be addressed, such as stormwater, I was wondering about the rest of the panel. Besides Andy McNitt, who else will be on the panel?
Elaine Gillen
I have not heard back from anyone.
Additionally, another resident has found a speaker from Green Building Alliance, specifically Green & Healthy Schools Academy, who would be willing to speak at tomorrow evening's turf forum. Another suggestion was Nancy Alderman out of CT, one of the best national heath experts on turf, could possibly speak over the phone. That would never be acceptable to Brumfield, Bendel or Linfante. They have said that Environment and Human Health Inc. is biased. http://www.ehhi.org/turf/
The commission has had many opportunities to secure a toxicologist; however, none would say what they wanted to hear. It is a safe bet hiring Andy McNitt, since he has a partnership with FieldTurf.
Elaine
Why would someone not have contacted the Allegheny-Erie Chapter Society of Toxicology?
The Chapter was established to "1) education of the lay public on toxicology and risk assessment.
This would have been my first call to find and unbiased expert... if 'someone' were really interested in finding an unbiased expert!
"History of A-E SOT
The A-E SOT regional chapter was formed in 1988. The groundwork for the local Society of Toxicology was laid by the Pittsburgh Toxicology Club. With the creation of a regional SOT chapter, the club had the opportunity to provide enhanced professional status to its members and a greater opportunity for national impact.
The first two committees met in 1990 to address 1) education of the lay public on toxicology and risk assessment and 2) animal welfare and regulatory issues pertaining to the animal rights movement in our region. The chapter aimed to develop a strategy concerning our role in public education and animal welfare issues in our region."
Seems discussing the impact of turf would be right up their alley according to their web page on Outreach: http://www.toxicology.org/isot/rc/allegheny/educationaloutrch.asp
"Educational Outreach Pamphlet
Toxicology is the study of the effects of chemicals (drugs, contaminants of food, water, air, and soil etc.) on biological species, and the definition of exposures that are safe versus those that are harmful.
The more that we understand about toxicology the better we can manage our lives to make rational decisions concerning the risks of chemical exposure.
The Allegheny-Erie Chapter of the Society of Toxicology (A-E SOT) offers resources to improve knowledge of toxicology".
Two things could be deduced since no one offered that this contact had been tried. 1.) They knew the result or 2.) no one is into in-depth research. That is- they really don't want to know.
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1002239/
"Evaluating and Regulating Lead in Synthetic Turf
Gregory Van Ulirsch1, Kevin Gleason2, Shawn Gerstenberger3, Daphne B. Moffett1, Glenn Pulliam4, Tariq Ahmed4, Jerald Fagliano4"
"Background: In 2007, a synthetic turf recreational field in Newark, New Jersey, was closed because lead was found in synthetic turf fibers and in surface dust at concentrations exceeding hazard criteria. Consequently, public health professionals across the country began testing synthetic turf to determine whether it represented a lead hazard. Currently, no standardized methods exist to test for lead in synthetic turf or to assess lead hazards.
Objectives: Our objectives were to increase awareness of potential lead exposure from synthetic turf by presenting data showing elevated lead in fibers and turf-derived dust; identify risk assessment uncertainties; recommend that federal and/or state agencies determine appropriate methodologies for assessing lead in synthetic turf; and recommend an interim standardized approach for sampling, interpreting results, and taking health-protective actions.
Discussion: Data collected from recreational fields and child care centers indicate lead in synthetic turf fibers and dust at concentrations exceeding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 statutory lead limit of 300 mg/kg for consumer products intended for use by children, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lead-dust hazard standard of 40 µg/ft2 for floors.
Conclusions: Synthetic turf can deteriorate to form dust containing lead at levels that may pose a risk to children. Given elevated lead levels in turf and dust on recreational fields and in child care settings, it is imperative that a consistent, nationwide approach for sampling, assessment, and action be developed. In the absence of a standardized approach, we offer an interim approach to assess potential lead hazards when evaluating synthetic turf."
You mean no one thought to call Elaine Labalme at Penn Future?
Wouldn't they have a list of toxicologist to discuss The risk of chemicals on the environment?
Hey Chuck, good to see you on the blog!
I am neither a vampire or an agoraphobic as you suggested to 2:47 AM, but I happen to be up late tonight. The line to use the computer at my house was a long one this evening!
I do agree that outrageous statements do nothing to solve this. There has to be a way to help the sports groups with the field issue without dumping on Cedar and Vee Lynn neighbors. That's what doesn't sit right with me. With so many unknowns regarding the turf project it's not fair to go forward. Why does this have to be a fight? Why can't our leadership foster a spirit of cooperation with the community rather than divisiveness? For starters, including those residents in the process and other interested people would have been much better than keeping them out of it. Perhaps a better solution would be on the table now had that been the case.
Who can blame those people living on Vee Lynn and Cedar for worrying about living next to such a development? Why do other community members feel that those people aren't entitled to piece of mind?
I have never heard anyone say that they don't support sports and I remember talking with you about how much the baseball volunteers do to make the sport possible.
In any case, this isn't exactly in response to your post but it just got me thinking...
-Charlotte Stephenson
Chuckle Have fun playing ball WITHOUT pitcher mounds! Or is it that the two baseball/softball fields are never going to be included? The lacrosse parents are laughing on how all the sports are helping to build a NEW LACROSSE field. So my $17500 in combined taxes will allow one son to tear up his body playing lacrosse on turf and the other son that plays baseball can play on a crappy field deemed unfit for lacrosse and soccer. Wonder if Scott allows our kids to join their sports?
It is funny how those who care about the health of the children and the welfare of the larger community are now somehow "anti-sport." This is not only a leap of logic, it is just plain name-calling of the lowest order to avoid dealing with the real problem. When people resort to such tactics it is a pretty good indication that they are wrong on the merits, and know it.
2:57 AM, softball does not use pitchers mounds.
9:33 PM, exactly!
10:49 PM, yes, Kristen could have called her bestie.
12:07 PM, a storm filtration system IS an Add Alternate. See the cover page of the bid documents photo in my post, "A monument to self-aggrandizement"
Elaine
7:50 My wife played softball at Arizona State for 4 years and made the US National team. She wasn't a pitcher. But your comment that softball doesn't use a mound made her laugh. She wants to know what you think that bump was? An ant hill? We don't have kids. We live on the other side of Mt Lebanon. But if they raise taxes after the stupid pool and this turf crap we'll be pissed. Our taxes are way too high now. Return that "extra" money Brumfield! It is NOT yours. You didn't earn it... We did!
2:24 AM, I am 7:50 AM. That was brought up at the June 5 SAB meeting. This occurred during Citizen Comments, when they were tearing into one of the women. This is the kind of crap we are hearing from these boys!
Elaine
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