This is an important notice from LeboALERT.
Wildcat/Middle fields improvement project to resume by May 26, if weather cooperates. Read report at: http://mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=2199The May 7, 2015 Project Status Report is available here.
Baseball has requested substantial completion by July 4, 2015. A start date of May 26, 2015 will allow this date to be met according to the contractor “if all goes well”, meaning weatherFake Lebo is wondering, "Is it me or did the municipality hire the construction company from Hotel Tyvek to work on Wildcat and Middle fields?"
In other news, Canon-McMillan is redoing their turf field at a cost of over $1 million. Temporary fix to Big Mac Stadium turf considered a failure
A couple of updates:
CPSC no longer stands by safety of artificial turf
There are two new field signs at Dixon Field. The Saloon and Oxford Landscaping have wrinkled plastic signs on the outfield fence next to the Concordia sign. They're more of vinyl banners than signs.
Update May 9, 2015 7:10 AM Through a Right To Know, invoices for work performed at Wildcat Field.
 |
| May 9, 2015 |
When rubber from tires was originally considered for re-use as crumb rubber, it was well known by government officials there would be legitimate health concerns. They decided to go forward with promoting its use anyhow and even went to far as to provide incentives through grants and other sources of funding.
ReplyDeleteThe original schedule for turf completion was Oct. 31, 2014 - then the Muni got caught cheating on calculations for storm water controls by the County, which with extra work required at an added non-budgeted change order expense of $86,000 meant the project would halt over the winter and restart in March, 2015. That didn't happen either, and they are now hoping, hoping mind you, to be able to resume work by May 26, 2015 for a maybe completion about 6 weeks later on July 4, 2015.
ReplyDeleteThey have screwed up all the field sports and rec program spring schedules, but you hear nary a word of complaint do you. Maybe we don't need Wildcat and/or Middle fields at all?
There may be a connection between the turf contractor Vasco and the deer culling "expert" Benner we hired that totally conned the idiots running this sorry government.
ReplyDeletehttp://greenhorizons.net/blog/2015/01/the-controversy-over-the-use-of-artificial-turf-heats-up/
ReplyDelete"California Bill Hopes To Ban Artificial Turf In Schools And Public Parks:
In Dec of this past year Senator Jerry Hill introduced the The Children’s Safe Playground and Turf Field Act of 2015, SB 47. The Children’s Safe Playground and Turf Field Act would ban the contracting for the installation of a new field or playground surface made from synthetic turf containing crumb rubber from used tires in public or private schools or public parks until Jan. 1, 2018. In that time the state would conduct a study to determine possible health risks. http://goo.gl/q28elR
“The Los Angeles Unified School District and city of New York have already implemented complete bans – this is just a temporary moratorium until a thorough analysis can be conducted,” says Senator Jerry Hill.
Artificial turf has been used in the United States years before Canada, which may be why we are seeing more studies and red flags coming from south of the border. What is clear is that we don’t know what the long-term effects are and more independent studies are needed.
Artificial Turf Is Not A Cheaper Option:
The reason we see so many schools, sports venues and parks going to artificial turf is the misconception that it is cheaper to maintain. The University of Arkansas found in 2009 that “it is a myth that synthetic fields require less maintenance than natural turf grass fields.” http://goo.gl/BBi8yJ"
Like the deer issue, it looks like the commissioners are going to wind up with egg on their faces once again.
I wonder if that California mom that admonished the school board "to be more like California on the high school project will be showing up at commission meetings to say the same thing? Isn't she a spokesperson for Penn Futures or something?
Plus once the turf is in, do you think they move future Lebo Earth Day Celebrations to the new field? Seems appropriate.
I'm with you 7:17, where are the complaints about the lack of game slots? Meanwhile all our other fields like Brafferton are still crap because the brainiacs focused all their attention on the "Crown Jewel."
Even by the standards of the municipal staff, Dave Donnellan and Gateway Engineering are completely incompetent. How very sad that we have lost much of an entire field sport season due to their ineptitude. I am often asked by friends from USC, Peters, and Bethel what the heck is going on? All they see on their drive through Mount Lebanon is a big pile of mud for months on end. How pathetic! Who is managing the contractors? The Municipal Manager overseeing this project has to go.
ReplyDeleteIt's one F-UP after another, and on top of them, we have to pay way over estimates.
ReplyDeleteThe municipal manager has fallen down that slippery slope of dishonest and fraudulent business practices. Once this sort of regime sets in, things decay. I doubt he could pull anything off effectively at this point.
ReplyDelete7:17, I firmly believe that Gateway Engineers is mostly to blame for this whole fiasco. Their job is to properly advise...and they didn't. They should have had the NPDES permit in hand prior to the bidding process...and they didn't. Dave Franklin and Dave Brumfield want us to believe that the fault with the delay lies with the anti-turf folks. Dave and Dave...really?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Yeah and the failure of the corral and kill deer fiasco lies with the protesters.
ReplyDeleteRight got it. It's never because of their ineptitude.
9:49 Nick - There isn't one bad guy. You reap what you sow. Gateway is in it with Mt Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteThe toxic turf and the deer killing programs are two of the best examples of extremely bad and dangerous judgments made by this Lebo Commission.
ReplyDeleteI was distracted during most the toxic turf battle, but I can't understand why the Commissioners didn't decide on the side of caution, when there was considerable controversy about the safety risk for children. It's just incomprehensible.
If I had a kid in that age group I would never allow him to play on those fields. Maybe I missed it, but where were the parents whose kids are going to be required to play on those fields? If all the parents refuse to allow their kids to participate in Lebo sports because of this danger, I can't imagine how this could have been approved.
Again, with the deer issue. When there are proven non-lethal and safe solutions to reduce deer-human conflicts, i.e. like planting deer resistant flowers in Lebo's 30 public flower islands and 22 public garden areas, and simply asking residents to plant deer resistant flowers and plants, why do they refuse to implement these common sense and cost effective solutions? Instead, they turn this lovely community into a private hunting club and shooting gallery with AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifles, that threatens the safety of all Lebo families.
These are critically bad decisions that affect the health and safety of Mt. Lebanon families and children.
Maybe even more disturbing is their refusal to admit being wrong and making a mistake. Refusing to admit to an error may be worse than the error itself. People who refuse to admit mistakes do not belong in a leadership position.
I guess they feel that they are too far down the wrong road on the toxic turf to turn back now, but they have a redo with the deer issue, but from my observations, they seem to be stupidly heading down that same disastrous deer killing path again in the fall. Again, incomprehensible.
And the majority of the voters, who are too busy with their self-absorbed lives, allow these incompetent politicians with personal agendas put the entire community at risk.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/02/11/2-investigators-crumb-rubber-turf-could-pose-cancer-risk/
ReplyDelete"We asked the lab, Microtrace, to test the samples to see what chemicals were being released. Company Vice President, Dr. Chris Palenik, gave us the results.
“The major components were benzothiazole compound and polyaromatic hydrocarbons,” said Palenik.
Chemicals found in the crumb rubber have the potential to cause health problems.
Dr. Robert Cohen, from Northwestern Medicine, says the problem is there has been a lack of significant, long-termtesting to find out whether there is a health danger.
“We know some of these chemicals do cause cancer,” said Cohen. “I think the frightening thing is that we just don’t have the information we need.”
Inadequate testing of products like this is a continual problem in the U.S. says Nancy Cowles, who heads watchdog group Kids In Danger.
“Unfortunately a lot in our product safety system is backward,” said Cowles. “In Europe… you have to prove something is safe before you can use it. Often in the U.S., instead, you get to use it until it’s proven unsafe.”"
Speaking of getting things backward, ours leaders are pros at doing that. Hope they aren't playing Russian Roulette with our kids health.
As per 4:40am: Who was at the commissioners meeting when I asked them to reflect on their decisions and have an opportunity to admit mistakes - as per Newcomers Tax, Toxic Turf, and Deer Slaughter?
ReplyDeleteWhere is that tape I would love to see it.
In summary, they all admitted the Newcomers Tax was a mistake. Only Kelly thought the other ones were a mistake, which was easy for her, since she was the only vote in the opposition.
It was the first time I had heard Steve Silverman talk in a meeting.
- Jason M.
11:17, I know that Gateway isn't the only bad guy here but when you're company (Gateway) is being paid over $2 million of taxpayer monies in a years time for their work all over Mt. Lebanon, we should have a much higher level of expectation and professionalism. I was not in favor of the turf project because it catered to the third party non-profits who have no association to this municipality in addition to certain individuals who feel we need to keep up with the Jones's but for heavens sake if you're in the business of obtaining permits and you've been doing it for many years, how can you not know that you need a specific permit to begin the process of a major project such as this? And for Dave and Dave to have the gull to blame it on the anti-turf folks? Do they think we're stupid or something?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Call me crazy, but with all the underage drinking and DUI citations and the huge need to fund raise for Outreach isn't there something absurd about hanging a Saloon sign at Dixon Field?
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started about the landscaping sign next to a field being prepped for plastic grass.
Nick M., yes they do think we are stupid and yes they are right.
ReplyDeleteJust look at how often we keep re-electing the incumbents.
Nick-gateway knew they needed the permit. They just weren't ready to be honest. Usually permit applications aren't even examined. They let FELLER green light projects. This time, the DEP took a look and found a lot of problems.
ReplyDeleteTh Huffington Post update seems to suggest that sand is an alternative to crumb rubber infill on artificially turfed fields, but read the article on Canon-Mac's fail turf fix.
ReplyDeleteWhy not just use a properly Created and maintained natural grass field?
I agree with 8:57. That would send a wrong message to our youth.
ReplyDeleteThe only sign we should have is a warning sign to parents informing them of the toxicity of the rubber crumbs.
One of the TV commentators for last night's Pirate vs St. Louis game was asked by the other commentator what was the hottest stadium he played at as a professional Pirate. Although St. Louis was the hottest, more interesting was his response that the stadium, the name of which I forget, with artificial turf for the most uncomfortable because of the heat transfer to the feet. That response was from a professional athlete. Why can't the commissioners and their associated sports supporters understand basic science?
ReplyDelete10:49---how about a natural GAS field? :)
ReplyDeleteWhy 11:22, because they are myopic.
ReplyDeleteThey'll hold and publicize big Earth Day celebrations, yet 100 yards from the celebration venue they'll be trucking in tons of plastic grass and tire crumbs (that the EPA dictates we handle carefully when they are used tires) and think they are leaders in being green!
Then certain commissioners will push the PAYT agenda in hopes of cutting down on how much plastic we individually recycle.
People buy into this nonsense, it is so unbelievable.
12:18 the commissioners should be selling the gas rights from the commission chambers- there's a gold mine.
ReplyDelete12:18---I am laughing so hard that I am crying. Thank you.
ReplyDelete12:44---This is 12:18. When I said that I was laughing so hard I was crying it was because of your comment, not mine.
ReplyDeletehttp://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/10794
ReplyDeleteUnder fonts - "Please consult your sales representative for final approval before ordering the sign to be created."
Who is the sales representative?
Oxford Landscaping has a white background -
a no-no.
I suggested to Elaine to put up a Lebo Citizens blog sign. Anyone else want to pitch in?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
I'll chip in $5-10. What a marvelous idea.
ReplyDeleteNow we need a good tag line.
How about:
"Things to Think About"
courtesy of your neighbors
Lebocitizens.blogspot.com
or
"What to Read When You Can Handle the Truth!"
or
"We Look At Lebo Life From Both Sides Now"
I love all of those, 2:40 PM!
ReplyDeleteOh, so many possibilities.
"Wash your hands vigorously when you get home."
"Our tax $$ are paying for this toxic turf."
"Don't blame us if you get cancer."
"We tried to warn them."
"It really does flood here."
"Hot feet? Thank your commissioners."
"We bought a sign. You're welcome."
Elaine
$10 to the Lebo Citizens sign from me as well.
ReplyDelete- Jason M.
How much are signs and is the fee yearly?
ReplyDelete"We bought a sign,
ReplyDeletebecause we do care
about our children"
You're welcome! (in italic)
(Lebocitizens logo
and blog address)
I'm in for $50.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tax right-off, c'mon folks!!
Nick M.
You guys got it all wrong. I say that on the sign we place a head shot of Brumfield, chewing on a big piece of crumb rubber.
ReplyDelete3:09, who the heck knows what the policy is for this year. We have no Dixon or Wild Cat field to place any signs on. THANK YOU GATEWAY!!
ReplyDeleteNick M.
3:09 here's the cost breakdown per year.
ReplyDeletehttp://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/10794
Costs:
$750/year
A one time $150 initial set up fee is also required.
How much do you want to bet, if a Lebocitizens sign does go up it'll be the first one vandalized?
Sorry, I meant Middle and Wild Cat, not Dixon and Wild Cat. Maybe we can ask for a discount for Dixon.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Nick, look at the last page of the link offered by 4:56.
ReplyDeleteIt's $750 for a sign at Wildcat, Middle or Dixon.
A good question for the commissioners is does all the money for a sign go into the municipal account or is someone/group taking a cut or commission?
4:56 PM, for that reason, it might be better to go for naming rights. That was sarcasm, Folks.
ReplyDeleteI'm still hoping for contributions to offset my $81.25 fee for the Dark Side RTK .
Elaine
The turf supporters raised $260,000 in a few months. Good luck with the $81 Elaine. The vocal minority has trouble putting its money where its mouth is...
ReplyDeleteAs for naming rights, the taxpayers already paid for them.
ReplyDeleteI, for one, am not ready to whore out our public places or leave the rights up to a bunch of temporary elected officials to out someone just because they have money.
This great community, at least at one time, could afford all the things we desired without pan handling.
You're right 5:48, but the YSA had trouble holding up their end of the old Field Maintenance Agreement with the school district and municipality didn't they?
ReplyDeleteZzzzzzz 6:01. There hasn't been a YSA agreement for several years. Keep banging that gong. Maybe that will stop the project.
ReplyDelete5:10, according to the terms the signage runs from April 1st thru March 31st. Because Middle and WildCat won't be ready until late June, maybe later, weather permitting, I was wondering if the township would offer a discount if you only have a sign up from July thru March. BTW, what is the benefit of having a sign up during the Winter months when no one is using the field? $750 seems like a lot for at most 8 months of usage, especially for a small business.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Then don't buy a sign Nick. It's really pretty simple.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting perspective 5:48 considering that taxpayers ponied up about $1,000,000 without any say in the matter and will be on the hook to the tune of about $80,000/year for annual maintenance and a $750,000 turf replacement in about 8-10 years.
ReplyDeleteHow many game slots did you say we'd pick for all this investment? How many game slots have we lost to date?
Enough 5:48/6:10 ! As a parent of children in Field Sports, you cleaned out our accounts to raise $260,000 !
ReplyDelete6:23 what accounts? Did you attend any association meeting and voice an objection?
ReplyDeleteThat's funny 5:48-- the "turf supporters" came up with $260,000.
ReplyDeleteYou fail to mention that parents either paid the participation fees that went into the sports organizations' treasuries or their kids didn't play. There was no out and out turf supporting by most parents, otherwise there would have been a check off box on the participation forms stating 'I want to donate $xxx for artificial turf?'
6:23 looks like about half of the money came from associations (after a vote) and the other half came from other donations. But the false rage may stop the project.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mtlebanon.org/documentcenter/view/10381
Don't answer that, 6:23 PM. There are consequences when you are open and honest. I learned that recently.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Chip say at an SAB meeting that he would provide the muscle for donations? How can you voice an objection when you hear things like that, 6:26 PM? I learned not to mess with him on April 24, 2014, 6:26 PM.
Elaine
5:48 PM, you write, "The vocal minority has trouble putting its money where its mouth is..."
ReplyDeleteTwo things, 5:48 PM. When you say vocal minority, are you saying that you, like Barbara Logan, have a survey saying that 90% of Mt. Lebanon residents are in favor of a turf project? I love how we are always considered "the vocal minority."
Second, I have been blessed with kind, supportive, and generous readers who have reimbursed me for my expenses. I appreciate all that they have done for me.
Elaine
Fear not, 6:36 PM, nothing will stop the turf project. Like the LeboDeer women, you have the commissioners in your hip pocket. The commissioners are all about turf. And killing deer.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Woo hoo!!!! So why insist on debating it? Move on.
ReplyDelete6:23, what the heck are you talking about? When time permits look up some of the Form 990's on Guidestar and tell me how the accounts were cleaned out. Some of these so called "Field Sports Associations" are hoarding money. Any intelligent parent would be asking why these sports associations need so much money in their bank accounts and at the same time keep raising registration fees.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
You'd like that wouldn't you 7:38?
ReplyDeletePray tell where are the Howard Hanna and other realty firm field signs. Aren't they suppose to be one of the biggest benefactors of the " Crown Jewel" sales tool?
Correction for 8:28 comment.
ReplyDeleteBeneficiaries not Benefactors
elaine- i know the talk of turf and deer is not your choosing - this is what our commission has decided to make its priority. but, it makes me laugh at the sheer stupidity of it all when we have a heroin epidemic here in the south hills. not only are people dying, but they are using while driving and endangering other people. this epidemic translates into the serious problems.
ReplyDeleteyes, heroin is a white suburban addiction and it has taken over as the #1 cause of death among adults in PA. but commissioners, you geniuses should continue throwing money at turf and deer because that reflects your long-term planning capabilities and consideration of the community's best interests.
9:22 PM, sadly, I am well aware of the heroin epidemic. We lost someone two years ago. I wrote about our kids dying here. I spoke at commission meetings about it. That is why I brought up the Drug Task Force during my interview for the Ward 3 commission seat. Another example of my eyes being opened.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, 9:22 PM. Our brilliant commissioners say yes to artificial grass and no to artificial tulips. That is what is most important to our commissioners.
Elaine
Elaine, another important issue is suicide. I read in the obituaries this past week of a 17 year old taking her life. Another big problem which does not get addressed!!!!! Very sad!!!
ReplyDeleteElaine, I appreciate the thread about advertising LEBO CITIZENS signage at the baseball fields; however, it's way too expensive.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought would be to have a nice banner made that could be displayed in the stands with an appropriate message on it, and your URL link. And volunteers could take turn attending games and holding the banner, and passing out safety warning handouts.
In addition, I think it would be a good idea to check out pricing to advertise LEBO CITIZENS blog in The Almanac, to get more Lebo citizens aware of the blog and participation.
I think there is a free section for community activities too, and so maybe you could put some notice of the Blog in there too.
The more residents that participate and read the blog, the more powerful and influential the blog becomes.
Your blog is the Real News in Mt. Lebanon. The Mt. Lebo Mag. is a propaganda tool for the Lebo admin. and Commission. They use our tax dollars with Lebo Mag. to spread misinformation and lies to get public buy-in for their controversial programs. You could advertise your blog as "Pulling the Curtain Back", and the "Real News".
The Almanac gets delivered to almost every Lebo home, and so if you advertised, you would likely get a major increase in readers.
So please check out Almanac advertising pricing, and post to your blog, and see if you can raise funds for advertising your blog in The Almanac.
http://mtlebanon.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1950
ReplyDelete"[Brumfield] "added that recreation is very important to a community, and often essential when people are searching for a house. The placement of turf on a field will be one more community asset for prospective residents."
Recreation is so important to people searching for a house that none of the realty companies chose to advertise on field signs down on Cedar Blvd.
One would think if Brumfield's claim is accurate, Howard Hanna, Keeler Williams and others would be climbing all over each to get up advertising to reach those potential home buyers.
After all, according to Dave, what better place for a realtor to reach clients... sellers as well as buyers.
I wonder who made this prediction on Lebocitizens?
ReplyDelete"AnonymousFebruary 10, 2014 at 8:12 PM
February 10, 2014 at 3:42 PM
by this time next year every realtor in Lebo will drive down Cedar and show off the Crown Jewel. We will see an increase in new people moving in that want turf because they want playtime. Robb Hollow might be a good plan with fields but it must be done after WCM. A lot of people have put time and money toward WCM and no one will turn back now. This is a good thing for the whole community to have such a jewel. I am not quite sure why this is all so hard to comprehend. Twin Hills isn't a field. McNeilly isn't a field."
Uh Mr. 8:12, it is more than one year after your prediction and the "Crown Jewel" looks like a pile of shit!
People [Dave or Dave?] like you are always critical of anonymous post, how about owning up to your's and apologize for misleading residents and being so damn wrong.
Guess you - 'don't have the balls!'
Based on the dearth of realtor field signs we can assume every realtor in town doesn't want to associate their name with this boondoggle either.
Isn't funny that with their home field torn up and unplayable since last August, the MTLSD Baseball Team is still predicted by the PG to win the WPIAL AAAA Championship.
ReplyDelete"Class AAAA
Top seeds: Mt. Lebanon is first, Plum second, Seneca Valley third, Hempfield fourth.
The winner will be: Mt. Lebanon. Yes, the Blue Devils lost to Seneca Valley, 11-1, Wednesday, but you can never put much stock in late-season, non-section games. The main reason to pick Mt. Lebanon is pitching. The Blue Devils team ERA was 1.66 before the Seneca Valley game. Senior Austin Kitchen (Coastal Carolina recruit) is one of the WPIAL's best pitchers. And the way the playoffs are scheduled, he can pitch often in the postseason."
Guess the field surface isn't as important as some sports dads will have believe. Good athletes will always prevail regardless of the fields they play on.
Look at Pelé, Polamalu, they grew up playing on terrible fields.
Isn't it funny we regularly get comments like the following—
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
The turf supporters raised $260,000 in a few months. Good luck with the $81 Elaine. The vocal minority has trouble putting its money where its mouth is...
May 9, 2015 at 5:48 PM"
"Vocal minority," but who is the scapegoat when deer culls, turf projects and school renovations go massively over-budget and behind schedule.
Why yes, it's those pesky vocal minority people that told them in the planning stages that they'd up exactly where they do.
Maybe for a change you'd think they'd change their tired sing-song from "it's your fault" to "hell, if we had only listened."
Amazing the power that Elaine's blog has. Was it one of the Dave's that a while back said only 7 people or so read and contribute to Lebocitizens?
The overly aggressive artificial turf installation policy, which is both environmentally unsound and costly, could have as an outcome the awarding of more college athletic scholarships, in lieu of academic college scholarships, as a result of increased practice time. Just looking for a justification, no matter how tenuous.
ReplyDeleteReally? Athletic scholarships are dependent on whether the athletes played on turf or natural grass?
ReplyDeletePlease 1:39 show me the research that supports that ludicrous claim?
How much did Baseball contribute?
ReplyDeleteSo 1:39, if I'm reading your comment correctly, you're making the claim that taxpayers are ponying up $1,000,000 for installation of the turf and about $80,00/year from here on out so that a "few" athletes can get athletic scholarships?
ReplyDeleteExactly how many Lebo kids get these athletic scholarships and how much does it add up to?
And what impact does the increase in taxes for turf have on the less than stellar athletes and families that must pay their own way for a college education?
2:52, the check from the baseball association for the turf project was for $50,000. As far as how much of the $50,000 came from the baseball association itself nobody knows. There may have been donations made payable to the baseball association for the turf project that we don't have information on.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
So which parents, public officials pushed artificial turf on taxpayers because they're looking for scholarships to pay for their kids college degree?
ReplyDeletemaybe for another post, elaine:
ReplyDeletecheck out this youtube of fox puppies from a mt lebanon backyard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWPO36u4lFA
we found a nest of tiny newborn bunnies in ours yesterday. we aren't touching it.
just praying we don't have a fox or rabbit cull anytime soon...
somebody ought to lend the videocamera man a wildlife camera to keep those foxes safe!
2:52 PM believe it may have been as much as $50,000. Specs from one of the turf manufacturers indicated that the turf grass height for baseball should be lower or shorter than that for football, soccer & lacrosse. The Wildcat/Middle turf is spec'd for football, soccer & lacrosse. Lots of luck baseball = I think the 3 Dave's threw you a curveball sucker-pitch !
ReplyDeleteRegarding your "Update May 9, 2015 7:10 AM" posting of bills for payment to date submitted by Gateway from Vasco - please recognize that these are construction costs only, otherwise known as *hard costs* of a construction project. To *hard costs* must be added what are classified as *soft costs*, which together, become the total project costs.
ReplyDeleteSoft costs associated with this turf project were detailed by Gateway in a memo to Feller in May, 2014 and were posted on this blog on May 15, 2014 under the topic heading "Gateway is billing us $1,000 per meeting! Updated 4X". The Gateway estimated soft costs for turf project budget purposes amounted to $100,997 back then. A RTK is suggested to see what the actual costs have been and amounted to currently.
Project costs will likely exceed original budgeted costs - they already have in construction (hard) costs because of the $86,694 change order caused by engineering errors - more coming.
What a deal-- Gateway contributes $4,000 to the private turf donation thus helping to assure they make over $100,000 on the soft cost.
ReplyDeleteYeah no conflict of interest there.
6:53, you bring up a good point. As written in the home rule charter:
ReplyDelete"The Commission may appoint a municipal Engineer, on a full-time or part-time or retainer basis, for an indefinite term. The municipal Engineer shall be an official of the Municipality and shall hold office until the Engineer’s appointment is terminated by the Commission."
"No Commissioner, nor any other municipal officer or employee, shall participate, directly or indirectly, in the making of any contract on behalf of the Municipality for goods or services in which any such person is financially interested to any appreciable degree, except for the services for which the person is specifically retained."
Nick M.
6:53 & 8:40 PM don't let them claim that it was the corporation, Gateway Engineering, that made the $4,000 turf contribution, not the individual, Deiseroth, Muni. Engr. and official. Deiseroth is the Sr. V.P. of Gateway, a board member and a major shareholder. Sounds ludicrous and is but a typical response to the public by this warped government.
ReplyDeleteThis matter should be submitted to the PA Ethics Commission for an Advisory Opinion with all the supporting facts and documentation.
Everyone knows Allegheny County does not meet federal guidelines for air pollution, right?
ReplyDeleteWell, one of the two greatest sources of toxic air in the South Hills is the GE Glass Plant in Bridgeville. Perhaps, the most environmentally hazardous activity that is conducting onsite is grinding RUBBER TIRES.
For this rubber tire grinding, they require an operating permit, documentation, special air filter systems to contain emissions, etc.
See pages 87-88
http://gasp-pgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/GE-Lighting-Bridgeville.pdf
For more information about other industrial sources of pollution in AC, which likely includes more crumb rubber, see:
http://www.publicsource.org/investigations/check-out-major-sources-of-industrial-air-pollution-pittsburgh-allegheny-county#.VVATM0J--9Y
10:08, I don't think we're absolutely positive that Gateway made a contribution even though talk of that has surfaced. I believe the only folks who would know for sure is the Community Endowment...and they aren't talking. Does anyone have any hard facts or knowledge that Gateway did make a contribution?
ReplyDeleteNick M.
Nick, do a search on this blog. It is in the SAB meeting minutes. It was mentioned in the meeting video by Dave Franklin too. Don't forget our conversation with Dan at the picnic table on April 24, 2014.
ReplyDeleteElaine
What would be the purpose of deceiving the public on a donor to the private turf contribution.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI did find this, thank you:
"He indicated that fund raising was underway and the following commitments for the project were made: Gateway Engineers ($4,000.00), baseball association ($25,000), football association ($5,000.00)."
I do remember the conversation at the picnic table but when I questioned Dan about the donation he shrugged it off...then got up and left. I must have rubbed him the wrong way.
Nick M.
Nick, check out Sections 163 & 164 on Ethics and Violations of the Mt Lebanon Code.
ReplyDeleteOf course all of Mt. Lebanon's public employees and officials are subject to Pennsylvania's Ethics Law.
I'd say 'IF' Gateway (or the municipal engineer) did indeed make a contribution to the private turf funds (whether directly or through the MTL Endowment) it looks to be a violation of PA's Ethics Act.
But what do we do about it if not one of our commissioners - male or female - will ask for a legal review on the donation?
http://www.ethics.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/ethics/8995/restricted_activities_under_the_act/540220
"(b) No person shall offer or give to a public official, public employee, or nominee or candidate for public office or a member of his immediate family or a business with which he is associated, anything of monetary value, including a gift, loan, political contribution, reward or promise of future employment based on the offeror's or donor's understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the public official or public employee or nominee or candidate for public office would be influenced thereby."
We too have a state rep and senator that took oaths to represent their constituents and to see that PA Laws are enforced. Don't tell me they don't pay attention to this blog.
10:09, the loophole might be who the check was made payable to. If the check was made payable to the MLCE then it would appear that everyone is in the clear. Kind of an end around.
ReplyDeleteNick M.
10:09, 8:43 - "Kind of an end-around". Let's all agree to call it what it is: sanctioned money laundering. There's little reason to go through MLCE unless one is looking for anonymity.
ReplyDeleteAs for Gateway, I believe I recall reading that $4K was the maximum that would not necessarily raise ethics concerns. Actual shinanigans or just the appearance of same, donating to a project by which you will profit is simply wrong and *should* open you up to all kinds of questions. Very poor judgement, but only if someone holds you accountable...
"Two Plum officials resign after being put on leave this month"
ReplyDeletehttp://triblive.com/mobile/8347729-96/bachy-doyle-straley
Glad we don't see stories like this written about Mt. Lebanon. Might look bad.
He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Franklin
Community Endowments, Foundations... IMO while they do good there is plenty of opportunity for other stuff.
ReplyDeleteLook at the Clinton Foundation in the news.
It's why public education and municipalities that have an almost unlimited ability to raise revenue through taxes don't need them.
Need a new school, taxpayers will gladly pay for it if they see a real need. Need artificial turf, the community will pay for it if they believe in it.
6:15:
ReplyDeleteEither write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
Ben Franklin
Right back at ya, 7:01.
ReplyDelete