Through a Right To Know, a photo copy of the checks presented to the municipality ear marked for the turf project has been provided. Unfortunately, there is no copy of the $4000 check from Gateway as discussed in the January Sports Advisory Board meeting.
The photo copies are available here. I redacted the account numbers on the checks before publishing them. I have not taken the time to reconcile the amounts of the checks. Please note that the $1000 donation from The Saloon was issued in two checks.
If my addition is correct the 13 checks total $256,733.73.
ReplyDeleteWe were told early on that Gateway made a $4,000 donation. If they did then the total is $260,733.73, unless the Gateway contribution is buried in the Community Endowment or under one of the otyher large contributions.
Either way a Gateway donation that helps to assure the turf project proceeds would seem to be an ethics violation in my mind.
There also doesn't seem to be any donation from field signs? Where does the sign revenue go and who is handling it?
Thank you to all the contributors for their donations. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all the teams and players who use the fields.
John Ewing
1:06, I asked Mr. Feller this same question back in May, his reply is below:
ReplyDeleteNick M.: Mr. Feller, when someone purchases signage for advertisement purposes at the Cedar Blvd. fields, where specifically will those proceeds go?
In other words, into whose bank account do those funds get deposited into? Also, how specifically will those funds be used/applied?
Mr. Feller: When an organization purchases a sign, the check is made payable to Mt. Lebanon and deposited in the municipal account.
It is my understanding that the direction from the Commission was that in the future, the funds for signs at this location would be applied to the "non-municipal share" of the installation and maintenance costs.
In summary, the funds will go into the municipal account and fund a municipal asset, but they will count towards the "non-municipal share" portion of the installation and maintenance costs.
Nick M.
So they are "renting out" municipal space and the municipality is getting a rent check from the advertisers, but they're going to call the rent money non-municipal.
ReplyDeleteWow! I wonder if the IRS allows the advertisers to write-off their sign fee as a donation?
The sign fee probably gets charged to the advertising account rather than the charitable donation account and is never reviewed by the government.
ReplyDeleteMISTER EWING, may I direct your attention to the heading School Board Update specifically @ Elaine's 10:23 entry. The sources of the donations iare suspect. The sports organizations' funding methods are arguable. The $800,000 balance? From fleecing you, me and our neighbors.
ReplyDelete- John Q. Public
12:20: Amen! I thank you!
ReplyDeleteMr. Ewing ONlY lacrosse will use that field! The other sports were just useless idiots used for their $$$s. And in case you haven't heard Cool Springs is building multiple fields for THEIR leagues. Mt Lebanon will lose many of their players.
ReplyDeleteCool Springs, a perfect example of private business doing it bigger and better than government.
ReplyDeleteThey evaluate demand, raise their own capital and "Git 'er done!"
Our "business savvy" elected officials bought $3 million worth of wooded lots under the guise of expanding sports fields and here we are years later enhancing an already existing field.
What great business acumen! Buy stuff at inflated prices that are a continual drain on the public coffers while providing no value and pretend like they don't exsist.
Speaking of charitable contributions, Mr. Ewing, has that Capital Campaign for the school district working out.
ReplyDeleteHas it covered all the expenses and new chairperson cost yet and contributed any meaningful money to the education of students yet?
Yeah, I know we're in the silent mode.
Same silent mode as the private mode for private contributions to the McNeilly purchase.
'Don't ask and we won't talk about it.'
While we're on the subject of MTL recreation projects cruise on over to Fakelebo and read the comments about our wonderful new $4 million pool.
ReplyDeleteNot quite the same line being put out by the PIO.
The question I have to ask is how the hell do these groups get that amount of money? By over-charging kids to play sports they could be playing on their own.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are the suckers paying the bill.
--Tom the Tinker
John Q. et. al.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you afraid to say thank you for donations?
John Ewing
Wonder how much The Saloon donates to funding of those DUI check points the police department sees a need for?
ReplyDeleteNot John Q, but how about because -
ReplyDelete#1. Almost $1,000,000 of taxpayer money is being spent on this unnecessary turf.
#2. approximately every 8 years taxpayers will be forced to pony up $500,000+ to replace the turf. A municipal expense that didn't exsist.
#3. we have two very expensive properties sitting idle and draining municipal resources that many of these "donors" said they were going to help pay for and they aren't!
Perhaps we should be like the Animal House pledge and say "Thank you sir, can I have another!" as he gets his tail whacked by the pledgemaster.
8:08 and your point is??????
ReplyDeletehow much do you donate to the blog in which you see a need to make inane comments?
How much does the municipality spend on DUI enforcement 8:43?
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying that if The Saloon has a lot of extra cash lying around, perhaps a $1,000 would be better spent on a donation to MADD or to the DUI Task Force instead of toxic turf.
John, you exhaust me. Do you understand that in order to get those donations, Mt. Lebanon had to spend $800,000+? And it's just like a drug habit. Once you start, you can't quit. We will be paying for their dependency FOREVER. And like addicts, they will want more turf. And more turf. We haven't gotten into the safety aspect or the environmental aspect.
ReplyDeleteShould we thank the drug dealers who get our kids hooked on drugs? It is so bad, that the donors' identities are being withheld. We already know that Gateway is one of them. Nick M. and I spoke to Dan Deiseroth on April 24, before the not for the general public public meeting and he explained why Gateway donated. Now, all paper trails are gone.
Seriously, John. You exhaust me.
Elaine
The other thing Mr. Ewing, didn't the donors wish to remain anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI'd take that to mean they didn't expect thanks.
Hey John....how's the $6 mill District/MLFE/Pursuing Ketchup boondoggle fundraiser going ? Have you donated your limit yet ? The silence is deafening and has gone on beyond a year. Is Deluca still in charge ? Are you going to recommend the board give Dr. Timmy a bonus for overseeing this fiasco ?
ReplyDelete8:43 here's how inane my thinking is.
ReplyDeleteBut first, let me say the Saloon is free to do with its profits whatever it sees fit... it is a free country.
I just suggest that perhaps you ask Blaise what is one of the biggest problems in our community. Reading the police blotter, I'd say underage drinking and DUIs.
I'm pretty confident he wouldn't say a few youngsters missing a rain-out sports game occassionally was a huge problem that needed a million dollar fix.
So in my inane way, I was just recommending that The Saloon donating to ed programs on underage drinking and drunk driving would be a much better contribution to the community.
Hell, it'd be great if they bought a huge field sign (at a turf or unturfed field) advising parents (especially the ones that need margaritas to sit thru a youth sports game) not to drink and drive.
But I guess I'm just inane as you say 8:43.
How about a huge field sign-
ReplyDeleteThis field isn't the place to drink, but after the game The Saloon is a great spot for wings and a beer.
Elaine, You and your anonymous band need to give credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteJohn Ewing
Gee, John, I would if I could, but I can't. Why don't you find out who we should all thank through the Endowment?
ReplyDeleteWe can't thank Gateway anymore.
Elaine
We are, John.
ReplyDeleteWe're reminding people that we're proud owners of a piece of property reassessed at $500,000 for which we paid $2 million that sits vacant and no one wants to visit.
Thanks sports people!
Oh, and John, don't play that anonymous card anymore. I will start calling you out every time you do the same.
ReplyDeleteElaine
John, tells us all - whom do we thank for this?
ReplyDeleteThe McNeilly property bought for sports fields at $2 million and now assessed for around $500,000 is no longer on the tax rolls because it is owned by the municipality.
In 2013, had the property still been in private hands the cummulative tax revenue from the muni and SD millage rates (27.12 mills) would have been $13,560.
The school district last year alone lost over $11,000 in tax revenue because we had to have that property for a sports field!
At the 2014 millage rate of 23.15 they lose $11,575.
And John, add in the 8 year $500,000 turf replacement and you'll see we now have an annual municipal budget hole of $62,500 ($500,000/8 years) that taxpayers will have to fill to replace the 'crown jewel" rug.
ReplyDeleteWho did you say we should thank?
Elaine, Use your energy to get future contributions for future projects. It works and you will help the community to understand they need to donate if they want new additions. Your efforts have produced $250,000 that would not have been there if you hadn't kept this blog. Congratulations, Elaine, for helping the community to take the first fund raising step.
ReplyDeleteWe will need donations in the future to finance the wants of a few. Some may not like it but that is Lebo and has been for years. You are helping to change that.
Granted the first step was smaller than the whole amount but if you support fund raising we can get to the point where we can finance projects if full if we take a long-term approach.
Granted some don't want recognition, I'm fine with that. Who wants their name on a blog criticizing a fund raising project? I don't. Contributions from me will be anonymous because I don't want the attention your blog brings donors. I believe there are others who feel the same way so if you want contributions to offset taxes the community can't afford you will need to be a more positive force - otherwise the community will pay 100% of the price in taxes.
John Ewing
I'll join John's band and say, "Thank You".
ReplyDeleteExcept my thank you goes to the unsuspecting parents who, for years, donated to what they thought was field time, uniforms, and other various fees for their kids to play sports.
The great majority of those parents had no idea that their donations would be used to fund a project to which they object. Yes, the majority of the memmbers of the boards of the various sports organizations supposedly did approve of this use of funds but I can tell you for certain that I was not notified that this would come down this way. I was asked repeatedly to donate.
My math shows only some $15,000 was raised privately (outside Gateway of course who has a vested interest). The rest of the money was raided.
Anonymous at 11:48,
ReplyDeleteYou ask a very good question. What is your solution to that behavior?
John Ewing
Oh, I'm so sorry, John. I will try to do better. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Guess I missed the whole "a donation will offset your taxes" pitch from the Daves. Obviously, that would have changed the entire conversation. No, what we got is "a donation will be made with your taxes and increase them".
ReplyDeleteMr. Ewing, well the first solution to that behavior that I would suggest is that our selected commissioners listen to the boards that they actually appointed.
ReplyDeleteRemember the big speech by-- was it Linfante or Brumfield -- that proclaimed they had the three votes and didn't need to listen to anyone.
You also tell Elaine that more donations will be needed in the future and that has been the history of life in Mt. Lebanon.
I'm sorry, but I don't seem to remember a history of our school district panhandling for major capital projects.
Sure we had gift wrap sales, car washes, hoagie sales etc., but nothing that I can remember soliciting for Capital Improvements.
Yes, we did have a planetarium donated by a generous benefactor and there have probably been other donations, but I don't remember a history of very well paid district employees whose sole responsibilty was hitting people up for cash.
Excellent point 12:18!
ReplyDeleteNow that our various sports organizations have competition from Cool Springs, it'll be interesting to see how parents vote with their wallets.
Mr. Ewing, you wrote: "...so if you want contributions to offset taxes the community can't afford you will need to be a more positive force - otherwise the community will pay 100% of the price in taxes."
ReplyDeleteThere is a big flaw in your logic. If we don't buy or build things like over-priced and so far useless properties and buy unneccessary items like artificial turf taxpayers don't have to foot 100% the bill or rely on contributions.
The community already had $800,000 in the bank that would've made WCM into a very nice natural grass field with plenty left over for its and other fields maintenance.
Now we have something we're going to have to find ovee half a million dollars more in taxes or contributions to replace every 8 years.
Mr. Ewing, another solution to that behavior was exhibited by Commissioner Fraasch.
ReplyDeleteShe proposed a solution that could have unloaded McNeilly, which wold have free up money for MORE fields and the clean up of a community eyesore.
By know our myopic majority wanted to ignore one problem and create another.
Dear Mr. Ewing,
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea what Elaine's blog has accomplished.
Sincerely,
Clued-In
1:26 good point!
ReplyDeleteThe donations totalled almost $257,000. $7,000 thousand over the mandated $250,000.
We didn't see the taxpayers' contribution of $750,000 go down to $743,000, did we Mr. Ewing? Actually the taxpayers contribution went up so that kind of blows a big hole in your premise doesn't that donations save taxpayers money, Mr E.
Don't try & make sense of Ewing. He scored some really potent stuff with Evans.
ReplyDeleteGive a fool enough rope, they eventually hang themselves!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 5:18,
ReplyDeleteI don't know who Evans is or what you comment means.
John Ewing
A famous quality quality professional named Crosby once said, "Quality is free. It isn't easy, but it's free."
ReplyDeleteJohn Ewing and I have proposed many ideas to the community that were not received very well. Granted, the easy out is to tax and spend; and apparently it is the will of the voters who elected our present Commission.
So, I will simply leave all of you with one thought - - -
I've never heard of a community ever going broke for receiving charitable contributions. I've heard of communities going broke because they spent too much money; but I never heard of a community that went broke because they received gifts from contributors.
Good night,..
PS: Elaine, I have an email from Laura Lilley to Susan Stroyd dated Tuesday October 26, 2010 at 12:48PM. I think that it would make an interesting conversation piece, particularly in light of Mr Evans Letter to the Editor... ;)
Mr. Kendrick:
ReplyDeleteNo. 1
There is no free lunch
No. 2
Even with more money donated for turf than required, the taxpayers portion went up.
No. 3
If you've learned nothing from the elementary, high school and pool renovations, Mt. Lebanon public construction seldom - if ever get completed for the amount approved.
Just wait for the change orders and capital improvements coming at Wildcat/Middle.
Are there Sweeps months in blogging? If so, I need to coordinate with a couple of people. Any time Dave Franklin writes in or his nemesis, now BFF, John Ewing writes in, hits sky rocket. You two are quite the characters. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJohn Kendrick, I attended Philip Crosby's Quality seminar in the 80's when I was with J & J. "Do it right the first time." Can that be said of any construction job that Mt. Lebanon taxpayers were stuck paying for? Not only is the pool paint peeling off on a job that opened to the public on Father's Day, now there is something wrong with the pool filtration system.
John Ewing, you might want to check with your buddy about a statement that is on the Mt. Lebanon Endowment website for the "Field Improvement Project Fund." It says, "All donors will be recognized for their contributions." Doing my part to promote the cause, John, here is the link. Contributions When and how will donors be recognized for their contributions?
Now that they have raised the funds, does this account close, John? Check with your friend, Dave Franklin. Thanks, John!
Elaine
Also check the comments on Fakelebo regarding the new pool.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the cleaning is beginning to slip already.
Wonder how long it'll take before it turns back into a cesspool.
How are public funds considered "charitable contributions"? That's just dumb and dishonest.
ReplyDeleteThe Daves and the Jo(h)ns need to stop spinning this disaster. You can put lipstick on a pig but in the end, it's still a pig.
Well, I don't want to see them turf the field, but that boat has sailed and there is little that can be done to stop it.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone is really that concerned about the public money that was spent on this project, then focus your efforts on getting control of the Commission and then sell the field to a private concern who can maintain it and lease it back to Mt Lebanon.
The private contributions have ensured that the sale price will be far enough under the project price that it is very likely that all of the public money can be recovered.
As far as the leasing cost goes - give the bill to the athletic supporters who will use the field and benefit the most.
I am suggesting privatization of the asset and a user fee for those who want to use it.
It's entirely up to you if you all want to continue to fight this battle, but your efforts may be better spent on winning the war.
And why did the Basketball association donate? Is it a downpayment on a new arena?
ReplyDeleteElaine, If all donors will be recognized at the MLCE why the fuss about not knowing their names on this blog?
ReplyDeleteWhy are you allowing anonymous posters to pillory certain donors for making contributions?
It is unfortunate that your blog has become a personal attack machine for those who think differently. In short you and your anonymous posters have become bullies.
Good luck in any future endeavor you may choose in any future community to which you may move. I truly hope you learn to get your facts straight in the future on fundraising. It is painfully obvious that you and your support group do not understand this issue.
John Ewing
And you do Mr. Ewing of course better than everyone else.
ReplyDeleteDonations or not, the community is spending $800,000+ on turf that it is debatable as to whether it was truly needed or not.
Not only are we spending $800,000 that might have gone to better things or saved someone from having their house liened on ifthey weren't taxed for it, we have increased municipal expenditures by $500,000 in 8 to ten years.
Are your donors going to cover $250,000 of that expense Mr. Ewing or will they already be demanding another sports project the taxpayers will cover?
How's that PK fundraiser going?
On pace to reach $6 million?
Let's see...
We have $43,000 to PK
$85,000+ to a new school district staffer
$15,000 for software/training
$4,000 for a consultant
....and PK's cut of any donations.
So where do we stand now.
Yeah, I know no one understands that issue.
My understanding on fundraising is a hefty portion should be in by now, here in the silent phase to stmulate and inspire the more reluctant givers.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/the-foibles-follies-of-donor-conversion/
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with the 2nd and 3rd paragraph in the Post Script at the end of the above article.
But the author and I of course do not understand, right Mr. Ewing. Keep forcing artificial turf and expensive land for vaporware sports facilities on people-- that's the ticket..
Yeah right Mr. Ewing, we anonymous bloggers are forcing people to buy things they don't feel they need or think it is good for the environment - real bullies we are!
ReplyDeletePlus regarding the SD Capital Campaign, I didn't get a 7% raise, more vacation time and my summer Fridays off. Plus I pay all of my health insurance and my retirement plan ain't so great.
I'll think about donating more than I already have to the district when I see who's leading the giving. After all - it's for the children.
John, there are bullies on this blog who sign their names. In fact, this is why I have blocked your emails on my personal email account, in case you haven't figured that out. I had asked you repeatedly to stop emailing me, yet you continued. I am glad to see that you have finally stopped calling me.
ReplyDeleteI seem to think there is a conflict of interest for Gateway to be donating to a particular fundraiser when Gateway is being paid for the same project. Dan Deiseroth knows it. Dave Franklin knows it. Brian Auer knows it. That is why they are using the Mt. Lebanon Endowment to launder Gateway's donation. I know that you are the expert on fundraising and I am the village idiot who you would like to see move to another community in the future, but I find it fascinating that you don't consider it to be an ethics violation. I don't care who the personal donors are, but when money is being exchanged for goods or services, that is a problem for me.
Elaine
"3:15 PM," as I had told John Ewing, this is not the silent phase for the turf project. The $250,000 has been raised. We passed the silent phase months ago. The money was due by the July 8 meeting when the contract was awarded. Unless the original commitment of 25% of the total cost is honored, the Turf Project Task Force has met their commitment for the toxic turf project. Once the project begins, costs will exceed the $1+ million. I am reasonably sure that will also come out of the municipal budget.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing that those opposed to the turf project either hate kids or are called obstructionists? We are concerned for our children's safety, the environment, and/or the economics of the project and are ridiculed for our beliefs.
Elaine
It makes no sense whatsoever that any municipalities, towns , or communities, continue to keep spending the public taxpayers money on frivolous projects(keeping up with the Jones mentality), keep raising taxes, and that anyone with commonsense would go along with that! Given PA's pension crisis, low job opportunities, etc..., what sane individual would even think of not only flirting with bankruptcy, then to continue on that tract. It is illogical thinking. Just because something has become a trend doesn't mean that everyone HAS to do it. Seems to me that some people in this town do not have a conscience!
ReplyDeleteThe silent phase was regarding the school district fund raiser which became part of theconversation when Ewing and Kendrick seem to suggest that is the smart way to run MTL going forwarded.
ReplyDeleteAs for the turf, I seem to remember discussions that there will be continuing solicitation efforts to help defray the cost of turf replacement.
It will be interesting to watch that fund build over the next 8 years!
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteAny idea why Gateway's check wasn't in the ones provided? If you can get it, I'll file an ethics complaint against Gateway with the PA State Registration Board for Professional Engineers. I sent an email to all of their leadership, including their BOD questioning the conflict in their role with the Municipality vs. their contribution to the private fundraising, but not surprisingly, got no response (yes, I did sign my name). Two of their leaders did check me out on Linked In though...
What about basketball?
ReplyDelete5:23PM
ReplyDeleteKendrick doesn't really care weither the turf is installed or not because Kendrick won't be using the turf and Kendrick wants to see the money spent on items that benefit all of us, not just a fraction of the community.
To reiterate: Kendrick is more concerned about HOW our money was spent and Kendrick doesn't like to see municipal money spent on a project like this when it could be spent on projects that are more critical to the operation of our community, like: improving the streets and sidewalks, street light replacement on the Washington Road Business District, storm water management, etc.
But the truth is that few others feel like I feel, the voters voted, this battle was lost with the last election and there is little that I, or anyone, can do now except watch the construction.
That's not to say that the battle is over... Kendrick also feels that there is a potential privatize the result, recapture the money, spend it on what government needs to spend it on (like roads, sidewalks, lighting, police services, a new fire truck, etc)- and then in the future Kendrick wants to see greater participation from the athletic community and other special interest groups to finance these projects themselves through private contributions.
Kendrick doesn't feel that government should be spending our hard-earned tax dollars on projects like this, but the people who voted elected the Commission and they are making these decisions.
By the way Mr Evans, did you notice that I said that we should spend on police services? You can ask Coleman McDonough about his first day of work in Mt Lebanon. Coleman will tell you that he and I were both lost looking for the Commission meeting. I spoke at that meeting asking that police funding not be reduced.
I didn't think of this, but someone pointed out to me today that Gateway could have just as easily written a check to any sports association as they could to MLCE.
ReplyDeleteI think you may have answered your own question, 7:21 PM.
Elaine
The January 9, 2014 SAB video at 00:12:41 shows Dave Franklin informing the SAB about Gateway's initial donation in 2013 with a possibility for more in 2014.
ReplyDeleteAt the 00:16:46 time stamp, Dave Franklin shared that he and Dan Deiseroth (Gateway) met with Audrey Bode, from Mt. Lebanon Community Endowment. Gateway was involved with fundraising!
I hope Steve Feller reads this, and rethinks his decision about not having the SAB submit Statements of Financial Interests.
Elaine
I recommend that readers click on Agenda Item 5, Turf Project Update. It runs about 45 minutes.
ReplyDeleteAn update about the grant writer. John Bendel said that her contract was renewed for 2014. She is no longer working with the Municipality.
Dave Franklin also spoke of a matching program with the Endowment. How much has the Endowment contributed to this project?
Elaine
12:02 AM, just to clarify, the municipality brainwashes the Boards and Authorities. I am finding that they are afraid of their own shadows. Why do we have them? The commission liaisons, on average, do not keep their boards in the loop. Think ESB, PAB, Traffic, Historic Preservation, Planning... Kristen Linfante is a classic example. Perhaps these volunteers' efforts would be better served pulling invasive weeds in the parks. Their time is being wasted serving on the Boards.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Q:
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know—
when the Twin Hills and McNeilly properties were being looked at for potential sports fields did the municipality get advice from Gateway on the practicality and cost of putting fields on either one?
We know Gateway undersetimated the improvements for Brafferton Field and the pool renovation estimate wasn't even close.
It also seems that there wasn't a lot of thought put into the food area at the pool after reading Fakelebo comments, though not sure what roll Gateway played in the design specifications.
I can agree with many of you that our commission spends money on projects we don't need and they vote large cost over runs on those projects at the expense of needed infrastructure repair that would make Mt. Lebanon a more desirable place to live.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that spending, in my mind, strengths the need for fund raising in our community.
Take the case of the turfed Field House the district wants to build on the rock pile. When that was first proposed a public/private partnership was suggested by the athletic boosters. The boosters wanted to take ownership of the rock pile, build the Field House with donations from a public private partnership and then return the ownership to the school district. This information was found in e-mail revealed through a RTK request.
Has anybody heard of a public private partnership being proposed by the District? I haven't.Instead it is buried in the Capital Projects Budget and the District is considering how to raise assessments so they can dump the cost on residents. In short the Board made a deal with the sports devils to over tax folks who live here so kids can practice indoors when it rains.
If the sports devils want an indoor Field House let them fund raise the entire cost before we approve the padded school budget.
John Ewing
Mr. Ewing, the point you are overlooking is the question of do we really need an indoor field house?
ReplyDeleteAs for utilizing the Rock Pile for one by way of a public/private partnership -- why even consider it?
If the sports cabal wants one so bad why not rent them the McNeilly lot at the cost of the bonds borrowed to buy it?
When the bonds paid for continue the lease for $1 a year.
It won't happen because the "private" sports people know they can't make a go of it so they want the taxpayers to be left holding the bag.
Nothing lasts forever, and all governments, be they large or small, eventually collapse under their own weights. When the "sports devils" are all dead and gone, and some sports fads are gone as well, the residents who will be residing here and dealing with the wreckage of artificial turf will wonder just what in the hell people were thinking back in 2014.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ewing, stop for a minute and think about what you wrote.
ReplyDelete"I can agree with many of you that our commission spends money on projects we don't need and they vote large cost over runs on those projects at the expense of needed infrastructure repair that would make Mt. Lebanon a more desirable place to live."
The Commission spends money for projects we don't need, they approve large cost overruns and they don't make needed repair to infrastructure.
So, in yhe next paragraph you write: "However, that spending, in my mind, strength[en]s the need for fund raising in our community."
So we need to support wasteful spending of our hard-earned tax dollars by digging deep into our pockets and donating even more money to their spendthrift ways?
And please don't tell me you want corporations and private busineesses to do the donating!
For the water company, The Saloon, Gateway to write donor checks they need to make a profit. To make a profit they need to mark up what they sell so we consumers pay either way, or in Lebo's case... both ways as taxpayer and patron.
John Ewing is correct - and for those of you new to this discussion or Mt Lebanon, there was a discussion [and I am putting that politely] between certain interested parties and the school district concerning a joint public-private partnership where "certain interested parties" gestured to donate $8,000,000 to the building of the facility.
ReplyDeleteThe facility was built, the $8,000,000 never materialized and all that remained was silence, finger pointing and a building that was furnished at taxpayer expense.
The problem, as John Ewing points out, is that this expenditure benefitted a very small percentage of the community.
It's not really popular to advocate spending our hard-earned tax dollars on streets, sidewalks, sewers, lighting, etc when a beautiful and fun ballfield is an alternative - - - at least until the roads become impassable, the streets flood, your house floods because a city storm water system fails, a crime is committed on dark streets, police and fire trucks can't respond quickly enought due to delapitated infrastructure, etc.
As adults, we all need to ask ourselves what is most important - providing recreation or focusing on what is essential first?
The people voted in the last election and they elected the leaders who made these decisions. There is very little that we can do until the next election.
I happen to agree with Elaine - if you want to help with community service, grab a shovel, put on some gloves and pull some weeds. Mt Lebanon's Commissions and Boards are all facades - they have no value except to promote the careers of aspiring young attorney's who want visibility within their firms. These Commissions and Boards are all useless and should be dismantled.
... and while I am on the subject of law and attorney's, I want to reiterate that our community publication, Mt Lebanon Magazine and the entire Public Information Office should be closed and the employees terminated. Everyone should read some of the emails from Susan Stroyd, Laura Lilley and particularly Merle Jantz. In my opinion all that these three individuals have accomplished is to create a hostile environment in the community.
On the magazine issue Mr. Kendrick I would agree. There is absolutely no reason why the municipality should be in the magazine publishing business especially now that there is a perfectly good private venture putting out a MTL magazine for free.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem, Mr. Kendrick, is low voter turnout. When a tiny percentage of eligible voters decide (and it is a decision) they are too busy to exercise a fundamental Constituonal right, they are yielding authority to others.
ReplyDeleteI do take issue with your assertion that since the current commissioners were elected, it is tanamount to carte blanche in taking any and all legislative action those five people desire. Part of democracy, and in our republic specifically, is being responsive to the wants/needs of those an elected or appointed individual represents. In the case of the turf, there was a tiny group of advocates who pushed the idea. They certainly didn't expect the pushback they've seen. No matter, though, since they and four of the five commissioners had already adopted your stance"we got elected, we'll do whatever we want". It's a dangerous and, I daresay, destructive attitude that undermines democratic principles.
But again, the commissioners have only as much authority as the voting body allows. I would encourage people who comment often to prod their neighbors to become more educated on the various issues, get more involved in the process and, at the very least, take the whopping ten minutes twice a year to go stand at the voting machine.
Plus, it would be a helluva lot cheaper to buy an insert in the InMTL magazine with the essential info like community calendars, garbage pick-up schedules etc.
ReplyDeleteWe could eliminate the high salaries, pension, employer taxes, healthcare and office space/expenditures required to run a magazine.
12:51 you can see it happening before our eyes.
ReplyDeletePeople with money are escaping from our little investment bubble and heading for USC, Peters, North & South Fayette and Cranberry.
The difference between the Nos. 1, 2 or 3 or even 10 aren't great enough to justify buying into our bubble.
If it were the TOD development over the T stop would attract private developers.
Once again, for those who missed— the canary in the coal mine.
ReplyDeleteFrom a PARealtors study of Mt. Lebanon's population shift.
It states:
"Since 2000, we have seen a significant shift in the profile of consumers. The multicultural consumer has grown both in population size and in buying power. The findings of this study paint a complex, yet insightful picture of the Multicultural community. Given the rapid growth rate of Hispanic, Asian, and African-American population, the Gonzales Group examines Mount Lebanon, utilizing data compiled by the U.S. Census to identify the overall market potential within the multicultural segments.
Overall, the total population of Mount Lebanon is expected to decline by 4.46% between 2010-2015. The Hispanic population will experience the largest growth, growing by 98.00%.
From 2000 to 2010 Mount Lebanon saw the Hispanic and Asian population increase by 39.16% and 15.19%, respectively, while the African-American population increased by .96%. The traditional White non-Hispanic population decreased by 10.04%.
Population Growth by Ethnicity
Over a 15 year period between 2000-2015, the population shifts in Mount Lebanon are projected to be profound with the overall population decreasing by 13.04% and the Hispanic and Asian population increasing by 52.09% and 19.95% respectively while the White non-Hispanic population is expected to decrease by 14.51% and African-American population is expected to increase by 4.46%.
Median Household Incomes
While the population growth in Mount Lebanon shows significant shifts in demographic profile, household median income does not necessarily track with population trends. Median incomes are the following:
White $73480
Black $79,348
Asian $53,598
Hispanic $46,250"
So, what we're seeing is that the tradition White population with a median income of $73,480 declining by 14.51%, while the Asian and Hispanic segment with median incomes of $53,598 and $46,250 growing by 52.09% and 19.95%
So Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Ewing, do you truly believe that those growing segments in the $46K to $53K median income bracket are going to replace and donate more than the stagnant or shrinking $73K to $79K median income sector? Especially at a time when rapidly escalating property taxes are stressing their household budgets more and more!
Elaine:
ReplyDeleteWho said that they would strong-arm the sports associations during the 01.09.14 SAB ?
I believe it was He Who Shall Not Be Named. He had warned me at the not for the general public public meeting on April 24, 2014 that no one messes with him.
ReplyDeleteElaine
I went back and watched the meeting again (oh joy!) The person who said that at 00:47:40 was He Who Shall Not Be Named.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Elaine ANY chance to stop this? I live within eye sight of these fields and at this point I'm ready to sell and leave this F-up community but who would want to purchase a home across from a toxic waste site?
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is the commission meeting. Maybe someone will ask about the status of the project. IMore anti-turf signs were stolen last night. It must not be over yet. Email me.
ReplyDeleteElaine
These sports bullies are overgrown children suffering from arrested mental development. They won't confront their opponents in the light of day, and sneak around in the middle of the night to steal lawn signs and do other nefarious things; typical of Mafia thugs from which some of them can trace their genetic line. And you Mt. Lebanon people hold them up as role models and intrust your children to their care!
ReplyDelete"..and intrust your.."
ReplyDeleteMake that "..and entrust your.."
Oh no 8:30, that just can't be... sports/turf proponents sneaking around in the middle of the night stealing signs, no way!
ReplyDeleteLarry Evans told us, "The pro-turf people (grateful jocks mostly) were very nice while the anti-turf critics got rather testy." the pro-turf people are very nice and the anti-turfers are the testy ones.
How could it be any other way, may be Larry's sex-crazed deer stole the signs!
You know who is conspicuouly absent from the donors' list?
ReplyDeleteThe high school field sports coaches and athletic director whose reputation and careers will profit from the advanced skills their players will have picked up from all that extra field time!
You think they'd show some appreciation... after all... it is for the kids, right?
Reminds me of a certain SB member who lived next door to a former Superintendent. I always imagined them going in each other's backdoors for the hidden agenda to plan to bully, manipulate people and situations, and to scapegoat a particular person as their target. In doing so, an abusive and hostile environment was deliberately created. The scapegoat was blamed for this environment and their reaction was then labeled as unprofessional conduct. Poof! The scapegoat was ejected out of their job. My, my, my. We desperately need better role models that have integrity, profession ethics, a sense of decency towards All people!!!
ReplyDelete2:24 PM,
ReplyDeleteIf your demographic projection comes about I don't believe you can count on the average/lower income folks to donate enough money to pay for peoples wants. You will need to count on fundraising to maintain Mount Lebanon's egalitarian nature.
John Ewing
First off they're not MY demographics numbers, Mr. Ewing.
ReplyDeleteNumber two, whom do you suppose you'll approach for fundraising. As Mt. Lebanon becomes just another Dormont, Bethel, or Castle Shannon what's in it for the donors? To run a community on the hopes that charitable people or businesses will give enough to keep us in the black is foolhearty. Why don't you just send the Treasurer out to buy lottery tickets every week? At least that way seniorsgets some of there money back in senior transportation.
Whatever happened to self-relience and fiscal prudence?
Mr. Ewing, for all the time, effort and money put into the Capital Campaign how much money has it yielded towards the high school renovation?
ReplyDeleteAnd your planning to fulfill Mt. Lebanon's egalitarian nature by this means? Seriously?
Mt. Lebanon's egalitarian nature... riiiiggggghhhhhhttttt!!!
ReplyDeleteWho is going to fundraise for the 2.4 million leaf operation at McNeilly, as discussed last night?
ReplyDeleteFiscal prudence was alive and well in the 1995 and 2001 contracts, Anonymous. 3.55% and 3.65% were reasonable at those times. This year we have a 4.59% contract increase in the teacher contract plus a 5% increase in healthcare. Pensions get special consideration.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what happened to the 7% state debt service reimbursement on the debt service we are paying? That is 7% x $11,835,496 = $828,484.72. Where does that money come from when the state doesn't pay it?
You might be right about charitable people but I believe we can succeed.
Have a good evening.
John Ewing
PAYRLTTC, 5:34!
ReplyDeleteOtherwise known as - Pay As You Rake Leaves To The Curb.
Mr. Ewing, where does any of the money come from from for any of it?
ReplyDeletePeople's pockets! It doesn't matter if it comes from local taxes, Harrisburg orcharitable donations from corporations, the money originates from someone's labor.
You never answered how much of the renovation has been covered by the Capital Campaign.
Leaf operation at McNeilly???
ReplyDeleteI thought that site could only be used for recreation as per the grant restrictions?
At the risk of being scolded again by you, John, this is not about the school district 1995 or 2001. This is about the municipality. They provide public safety services and maintain infrastructure. For that we pay high taxes, are assessed a stormwater fee, and shortly, will be paying for our garbage to be hauled away and pay as you rake. The Ewing plan is to fundraise on top of that. You say that my anonymous friends and I are the bullies. Who's the bully now?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Somehow I remember reading in the local paper that according to Plan Con C, that there are numerous school districts in the state that are in line for reimbursement for school construction. Mt. Lebo is in that line-up. It will take, probably another 3-8 years for the district to be reimbursed by the state. I don't know all of the infinite details, but, it's really STUPID to keep spending millions of dollars and presume that some charitable person/people will bail out the district and the municipality. The turf cronies are living in fantasy land. Oh, I just realized.....they have a Cinderella Complex!!! Ughhhhh!
ReplyDeleteIt used to be in the bubble that residents contributed to extraordinary activities through car washes, hoagie sales, gift wrap, cookie and coupon book sales, raffles and Spaghetti nights and left the construction maintenance and infrastructure rehabilition to taxes that they thought were earmarked for such purposes.
ReplyDeleteNow not only do we do all of the above, we're going to go out and panhandle like common beggars for our luxuries.
Why don't we just station lids at all the Leboland entrances with a tin cup and sign.
Amazing!
6:13 PM, Kelly Fraasch, our solicitor and Steve Feller went to Harrisburg and using Gateway's numbers of, I believe, $250,000 to work out the McNeilly/Robb Hollow swap.
ReplyDeleteBut in the usual Gateway style, they bid too high on projects they don't want. Remember, the SAB has McNeilly on their list of capital projects. So Numero Uno Donor comes back with a plan that is through the roof and that squashes the swap idea.
The three commissioners were a little ticked with Gateway last night.
Elaine
Which three commissioners?
ReplyDeleteItis a little dingenuous for the commissioners (including absentees- Linfante and Brumfield) to be ticked with Gateway since they have been complicit in the flawed Gateway plans.
ReplyDeleteRemember, it was Linfante that told residents the commissioners had access to a lot more information than the residents did. So, if Gateway did anything that ticked them off, they partially let it happen.
Maybe Gateway deserved it! If one makes a dirty bed, one needs to lay(lie) in it. Stupid is as stupid does!
ReplyDelete10:10, of course Gateway deserves it, but so do the parents (commissioners) that don't advise them the sheets are dirty.
ReplyDeleteCome on Elaine.
ReplyDeleteThat meeting was a middle finger to Kelley Fraasch for not backing the turf project and giving everyone a hard time.
She has been working on that swap for years Steve Feller and Dan Deiseroth just threw her the bird.