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| President-elect David Brumfield |
The Organizational Meeting begins at 8 PM on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
Update December 30, 2016 7:22 PM The agenda listed under the weekly calendar is still incorrect; however, the correct agenda for Tuesday's meeting is posted under Agendas & Minutes. Steve Silverman is going to be vice-president. It looks like the ice rink project will have to be rebid. Perhaps the Sports Advisory Board should do some more fundraising. President-Elect Brumfield should bring that up at his next SAB meeting.
Update January 2, 2017 9:18 AM We're paying for a millage increase to fund the ice rink PLUS taking money from unassigned funds to replace revenue lost during the closure of the rink.
Update December 30, 2016 7:22 PM The agenda listed under the weekly calendar is still incorrect; however, the correct agenda for Tuesday's meeting is posted under Agendas & Minutes. Steve Silverman is going to be vice-president. It looks like the ice rink project will have to be rebid. Perhaps the Sports Advisory Board should do some more fundraising. President-Elect Brumfield should bring that up at his next SAB meeting.
Update January 2, 2017 9:18 AM We're paying for a millage increase to fund the ice rink PLUS taking money from unassigned funds to replace revenue lost during the closure of the rink.
Update January 5, 2017 1:10 PM President-elect Donald Trump caught wind of President Dave Brumfield's presidential makeover and changed his iconic hairstyle for the inauguration. Sorry Dave.
31 comments:
Assuming the photo has not been altered, is Brummie now seeing President Trump's barber?
Since Dave is going to be president AGAIN, I thought he should have a presidential makeover.
Are you making fun of Dave by comparing him to the President Elect you voted for?
Actually, I didn't even notice that the photo was altered. Looks like Dave to me.
How does this rebidding process work? Do they just keep rebidding over and over until the $1.5 million budgeted amount is met? What happens if the budgeted amount is never met at a time when the ice rink is in need of dire repair? Then what?
Nick M.
I wrote to the commissioners asking about the MRTSA Board appointments, or lack of. Do you think I will get a response?
Elaine
Nick, if the commissioners really want it done, they will find a way to fund it.
Elaine
Where's all the revenue projected from those field signs and the economic prosperity for businesses at Cedar and Cochran in Gatorade sales?
10:01, that's a great question. The revenue from the field signs is practically zero because the township is charging way too much for so little in return. It's kind of like advertising in the MtL magazine, costs too much, very little in return. I would really like to know how much extra business is being generated by the folks who advertise in our magazine. My guess would be not much if any at all. But I could be wrong.
If the township knew how to do it they should lean more towards selling sponsorships not space on a cyclone fence. Sponsorships would bring in far more revenue for much longer periods of time. Think and do like NASCAR. Hate to say it but Dormont is doing a much better job than Mt. Lebanon in this area.
Nick M.
Had we only spent our tax dollars on the ice rink instead of killing deer to keep the gardeners happy, we would not have had to rebid the project. Priorities, you know.
Elaine
Nick, they'll still listen to those consultants and sports advisory board members that proclaimed we'd see thousands and thousands of easy new money from those field signs.
When will they ever learn?
How does that saying go 11:28, something about the blind leading the blind?
Bottom line, they'll never learn and implement anything new until you get folks leading our community who understand how to make money from outside sources instead of depending solely on taxpayer money and conventional methods such as additional taxes from new housing.
Sometimes you just gotta think outside the box. So what is one of their creative ideas to solve money challenges…transfer taxpayer money from point A to point B because point B might be impacted by losses of revenue and call all this a one-time .05 millage increase.
That's why I've been so critical of these pancake breakfasts, appreciation dinners and who can forget the Susan Morgans trip to New York. They give the taxpayer plenty of lip service and false hopes like you know about 11:28 but in the end, we wonder what happened to what you told us prior. There’s so much of that around here it’s not funny. And look how far we've come regarding the Look Up Lebo campaign. It was introduced last March in the MtL magazine and here we are 10 months later and all we have to show for it is a few teardrop banners, some stickers, a few articles in the MtL magazine and a video produced by the PIO that makes no sense at all. Compare the Pittsburgh safety campaign web site at http://www.lookalivepgh.com/interior.html to ours at http://lookuplebo.com/. Notice a difference?
One problem we have up there in that municipal building that I've shared with Elaine is there is too much complacency. They're thinking is old and out dated, they don't want to change and they don't want to hear about and implement new ideas. And why would they when they're pulling in these outlandish incomes? It doesn't take knowing rocket science to figure that one out. One other thing too, they feel entitled.
Regarding the trip to New York to the Folio show, why would you send someone who is close to 70 years old and might be retiring soon? Wouldn’t it make more sense to send someone who is much younger, has more energy (I call her low energy Susan) who has fresh thinking and has more enthusiasm to creatively come up with better ideas? I think sending Julie (http://lebomag.com/welcome-julie/) to the Folio show would have benefited the taxpayers more.
Would it really hurt to pick up the phone, place a call to Dormont to learn how they got so many sponsors like Cochran Nissan and so many others at the ball park in Dormont park. Chances are they won’t.
Last month I sent an email to Mr. McGill, the commissioners and Chief Lauth suggesting that if we are going to build a new firing range, let’s get one of the firearms or ammunition companies to pay for part of it through a sponsorship program. They do this stuff quite a bit and some of these company’s love giving back to local communities for educational purposes. I never heard back.
It’s baffling 11:28, I know.
Nick M.
Thinking outside the box Nick, I like it.
I wonder if this PA House Bill 1438 ever passed that would provided grant money for public shooting ranges in Pennsylvania.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1438&pn=1768&mobile_choice=suppress
The NRA also provides a wide range of grants and advice on public shooting ranges.
https://rangeservices.nra.org/
Do you think our commissioners ever look into any of it.
How's this for an idea?
Here's an idea to free up money for the municipality and school district without raising taxes.
Why not merge the Public Info Offices of the municipality and school district into one? Preferably at the high school.
We have junior commissioners, why not junior photographers, artists, illustrators and writers working on the community magazine?
The people in charge will resist and proclaim -- you just want to get the kids to work for free! But au contraire!
We have many, many talented students looking towards future careers as writers, artists, photographers, reporters etc., etc.
Why not give them an education that gives them actual real-life experience? They learn by actually doing and create impressive samples from an "award-winning" magazine for their college resumes! Think of it as an early apprenticeship program.
Besides, what community anywhere could brag about a program for their kids that gives them practical experience and portfolio pieces to boot.
We'll dump a million dollars on turf so that athletes can play like pros, but for non-athletic endeavors the elite in charge won't give up their thrones.
If the community is so appalled at the idea of "slave labor" perhaps some of the savings from the PIOs merger and from the reduced staffing, perks and overhead, the participating student/apprentices could be given along with course credits, grants or scholarships of a couple hundred dollars towards their college supplies.
Nick M.
Speaking of building a gun range. This appeared this summer in a Trib article about gun sales.
"The biggest surge I can tell you I've seen is with the person who's never owned a gun before. It's the 50-year-old guy from Mt. Lebanon who's never felt the need to have a gun but now, he does, for whatever reason. It's women, too. There are a lot more females carrying all day, every day than ever before,” Doetzer said." Doetzer is a gun store owner in Bridgeville I believe.
4:19, thank you for the links. If you don't mind I was going to send this info over to Dan Miller for some follow-up and to see if Mt. Lebanon could benefit somehow.
Your ideas on merging the two PIOs into one sounds absolutely awesome. Do you mind if I plant some seeds at the next commission meeting, if I have the time? I love the idea of junior positions. That would offer the students a great way to get on the job training before they go to college. Imagine what they could put on their resumes too.
4:41, I have no problem with women carrying firearms as long as they do it responsibly. I for one am getting sick and tired of hearing in the news about women being found in shallow graves or just dumped elsewhere. Mt. Lebanon offers a great training program with their gun safety and pistol course. It's taught by some very excellent instructors as well.
Nick M.
Nick, by all means share with whomever you wish. The ideas are the product of free social conversations and debates with others. Perhaps the more people pondering the ideas the more valuable the end results will be.
I agree, no problem with women owning guns and the more training and skills acquired the better.
I think the safety and pistol course is great and I've come close to buying a first pistol because of it.
I wonder if there's enough interest in shooting to make the new range a profit center for the Rec Dept?
Hi 7:47...Chris Bloch is one of the NRA certified instructors who teach the course. Chris also works down at ACE Sporting Goods in Washington, PA. So if you need someone who can guide you towards a purchase that's in your best interest and someone who also offers instruction on how to properly use a firearm, I believe Chris would be the best person to contact. The next course starts on January 17th, the informational flyer can be found at http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/3666. Keep in mind too, only 22 caliber pistols can be used at the range.
I've personally taken the course a few times and both Chris and Elizabeth Bowers are incredibly knowledgeable with a tremendous desire to help folks.
I'll do what I can to share some of your tips, thank you.
Nick M.
Thanks Nick for tips.
I go back and forth on an interest in shooting and would probably buy a .22 just for the fun of it.
Question though, once one has gone through the Lebo courses is the range open to the public and if so I've read that there are numerous clubs and teams that compete against each other.
Maybe the range could be a profit center for the Rec Dept.
I'm not understanding why they label it a millage increase when all they are doing is transferring taxpayer monies they already have from point A to point B. Who cares if the ice rink is going to take a small hit because it will lose a little revenue for being shut down, stuff happens.
Nick M.
9:56, the range is not open to the public. The public can only use it when there is a course being offered. I have heard though that Elizabeth Bowers had courses for those who want to shoot larger caliber firearms such as 9mm and 38s but I don't know if she still offers that. There was talk too about a women's only class.
Even once the new firing range is up and going I doubt if they will open it to the public. From what I was told the rifle class from the high school will be using it as their home and meets with other districts will be taking place there. That's why they are asking the high school to pay for part of it. Police departments will be using it like they do now, Lebo and other departments.
Will they expand it to offer other classes, I would support that for a number of reasons in addition to bringing in additional revenue for the recreation department. We'll see.
Nick M.
As long as we're building a range, why not build one that a large number of people can use and get revenue from?
We have tennis, hockey and golf leagues so why not one more.
Shooting seems to be gaining in popularity with young people, despite the forward looking SB that eliminated the range from the HS project.
"Millennials love guns as shooting sports rapidly gain popularity in high schools"
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/14/shooting-sports-see-explosive-growth-among-teens-a/
"The Newest Craze Growing on Ivy League Campuses Also Might Be One of the Most Surprising"
http://ijr.com/2015/03/271951-gun-industry-using-competitive-shooting-clubs-change-students-perspective-guns-works/
"3) It is a Family Sport. This is a sport that almost every family member can enjoy together. It is also a sport that boys and girls, or men and women, can participate in together. Granddad and grandson, father and daughter, great family memories lasting a lifetime are made here. Why not start making some of your own, now!"
https://www.gunowners.org/op0302.htm
2:25, Mt. Lebanon does offer a target pistol class in which revenue is generated from, click on the link at http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/3666.
As far as the size of the building and how many folks it will accommodate, I don't know the specs.
Nick M.
Yes, I know there's a class that charges a fee.
But as long as they're contemplating renovating or building a new range which will be used by other police depts and school districts why not investigate expanding it for recreational use?
Sorry 4:41, I misunderstood your post.
For the betterment of the community I would be against opening up the new range for recreational use.
Nick M.
Fair enough Nick, but I'm curious as to what you mean by "for the betterment of the community"?
It appears you have nothing against people owning firearms and near as I can tell indoor shooting ranges don't go hand in hand with a rise in gun related crimes in the adjoining neighborhood, so I'm curious.
If there isn't an interest in it that it wouldn't be a profit generator that would be understandable.
There are gun ranges in neighboring communities that the police can use. Why can't they set up a rental or membership agreement? How many times has the commission said, "Mt Lebanon is built out" but somehow they have room for a gun range? Who wants to golf next to a shooting range? #insane
3:49, all it would take is just one mishap such as an accidental shooting or some misfit showing off and someone getting hurt. Why even put yourself in that position if you don't have to? If something like that would happen do you really want to read about it in every newspaper in and around the area. That would be a huge black eye for the community. Also, how would opening up a gun range to misc. groups/individuals effect insurance and liability? And who would supervise while activities are taking place?
I just don't think it would be a good idea.
Just my opinion.
Nick M.
Nick, that's is an excellent point, but then you have to ask... if the possibility of one misstep or one shooting accident is such a threat to the community why have a range at all and why are we having archery and sharpshooting "culls?"
There is a significant difference between an indoor range and discharging a firearm outside. The question is whether the municipality is going to renovate or build a new range - an indoor range - for the police, and if they do whether it could be open to civilians for a fee. (Certainly there are indoor ranges in adjacent communities, and it is theoretically possible that our police could arrange for their use. That would be cost effective. But I'm going to assume the municipality has its heart set on either renovating or building a new indoor range.)
Allowing civilian gun owners to use the new indoor range on a schedule and fee basis makes sense. I question as to whether such an arrangement would be profitable, but it would perforce offset some of the costs of operating such a facility.
As to Nick M's concern that "all it would take is just one mishap such as an accidental shooting or some misfit showing off and someone getting hurt," one could make the same argument for the high school's Rifle Club; after all, adolescence is the very definition of "showing off." However, the school's Rifle Club seems to teach maturity and responsibility, and to my knowledge there has never been a serious accident there. I am more concerned about aggressive drivers on Gilkeson Road, or the many, many daily drivers who do not bother to stop at the stop signs at the intersection of Oxford and Pembroke, than I am about an accident in an indoor gun range.
Thank you RG.
To add, I can't remember the last time I heard of an incident relating to an indoor range, but I can think of numerous incidents involving hunters and deer season.
As for debating if the range would make a profit, aside from the tennis center, I don't think the pool, golf course, rink or magazine do either.
11:38, who wants to golf or walk in a park where someone is shooting arrows or deer rifles???
#ruinsane
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