A new law allows property ownsers to stave off potential floods without municipal authorities. Senate Bill 1255, which passed in May, allows property owners to implement stormwater management practices to stem the flow of runoff and the debris often carried in it. Communities such as Scott Township and Upper St. Clair have recently looked to their local governments for help, but have been tied up with months-long investigations--leading any potential solution to come next summer storm season.
Stormwater law frees homeowners to build infrastructure
"PennFuture spokeswoman Jennifer Quinn also said softening the landscape is a good approach.
ReplyDelete“When you can plant a green roof, a rain garden, permeable pavers, it's mimicking this natural cycle,” explained Quinn. “It greatly reduces the amount of water that's flowing into our sewer systems and into our streams and rivers. It also adds a lot of value.”
“It's all about reducing the impact of stormwater,” said Quinn. “Cleaner water for Pennsylvanians. That means more places for us to fish, swim and boat. For us, that's a big success right there.”"
Yeah right... now PennFuture is going to worry about clean water, permeable surfaces and such... what hokum! Where were they, PennFuture's Communication Manager (and Linfante pal) Elaine Labalme on the artificial turf issue? Not a peep! Not a submission to Lebomag, nothing.
" This allows property owners to be free of any charges or fees from any water management authority that springs up because of the fed requirements."
ReplyDeleteSo does this mean the stormwater fee will be unlawful and done away with?
Good question 12:29!
ReplyDelete12:29 PM, yes, it is a good question. Should it be coming out of, oh, I don't know, maybe unassigned funds perhaps?
ReplyDeleteElaine
No! That find is Brumfield's slush fund and won't go anywhere. We need more lacrosse fields... So shut up and pay your taxes with a smile! And for you Republicans in Brumfield's area... It was a REPUBLICAN that got him to run for office. Helped him get elected. Now the a$$ is eyeing his next office. Miller and Smith are BFFs.
ReplyDeleteWonder if our PA State Sen. Matt Smith was a sponsor or even voted for this new law? I'm sure we cannot depend on him for support.
ReplyDeleteElaine, do you know if any of the commissioners or
ReplyDeleteSteve Feller have been e-mailed this new law to them?
Dave Brumfield supported the stormwater fee.
ReplyDeleteElaine
3:42 PM, I have no idea what has been emailed to Steve Feller or the commissioners. If you are asking if I have, no I have not emailed them.
ReplyDeleteElaine
If you are emailing them, 3:42 PM, you might want to email the municipal planner Keith McGill and the municipal engineer Dan Deiseroth while you are at it. Maybe the building inspector Joe Berkley should know. And the fire chief, since he is always called when there is flooding. He could identify the flood prone areas. I don't think you can count on our manager to spread the word.
ReplyDeleteElaine
One thing you cancount on— that if our PIO does and indepth story on it half the article will pertain to her or some member of her family.
ReplyDeleteI still think a better name for lebomag.com would be "It''s About MEagazine.com."
Brumfield going after St. Bernards? "St. Bernard's is an example of the entities we wanted this to apply to," Brumfield said." That takes guts.
ReplyDeleteAnd who is St. Bernards?
ReplyDeleteWhy only a congregation of residents/taxpayers that will end up having to tithe more to keep everything.
Good little.. er, ah Democrat that he is... sees everyone and everything as a bank for his spending.
Who is going to pay the new stormwater fee for the turfed field?
ReplyDeleteIf St Bernard's has to pay thousands, maybe Dave Brumfield can pay for his new turfed historic field.
Stick it to the Churches Dave.
ReplyDeleteStick it to the Taxpayers Dave.
Stick it to Baseball Dave.
Whatta guy.
Check out a Penn States's CINE Golden Eagle Award winning documentary regarding green solutions to the water blues (flooding, pollution & scarcity):
ReplyDeletewww.waterblues.org
Hold the phone here: Is Gateway responsible for educating the community about storm water initiatives? Elaine, are they contracted with you, since you appear to be keeping the public up to date on storm water legislation? Isn't public education mandated as part of their storm water permits?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if 2 million has already accumulated within the Mt Lebanon storm water fund, why can't I find a single rain garden in this town? Maybe Mr. Deiseroth needs a field trip to East Liberty to learn what the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership service is doing with rain gardens. Gees, and I don't even think they make thousands attending a meeting.
10:04, there is a rain garden at main park, but it is right next to a leaking water pipe in the parking lot. PAWC has neglected the leak, wasting thousands of gallons of water.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of the rain garden if the water pipes are leaking everywhere?
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2012/08/30/Mt-Lebanon-s-rain-garden-to-promote-sustainability/stories/201208300373
http://www.mtlsd.org/markham_elementary/mespta/raingarden.asp
Did the school district put in a pervious parking lot to stop water runoff? NO. They put is cheap parking lot construction and ignored an environmental solution. Who made this momentous decision? The Master design Team led by Elaine Cappucci who has a Masters Degree in environmental science.
ReplyDeleteAnd that new law the legislature passed - how long do you think it will take the communities to tell people they can do their own storm water management without municipal approval or monetary support? Just Pay As You Flood!