Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve a contract with RSSC Architecture of Wexford for architectural and design services for the project at a cost not to exceed $288,500. Commissioners Dave Brumfield, Steve Silverman and Stephen McLean voted in favor. Ms. Fraasch dissented. Commissioner John Bendel was absent.These guys exhaust me. Thanks, Janice Crompton, for reporting this.
Friday, March 31, 2017
$2 million, then $3 million, now it's up to $6.9 million
Mt. Lebanon approves public works, gun range projects
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23 comments:
"Why has the Democratic Party become so arrogantly detached from ordinary Americans? Though they claim to speak for the poor and dispossessed, Democrats have increasingly become the party of an upper-middle-class professional elite, top-heavy with journalists, academics and lawyers." — Camille Paglia
$1.3 million for a gun range that will be used by how many people?
What, there are 50 MTL police officers and the high school rifle has perhaps 20-30 participants?
Let's call it 100 MTL users annually. So we might figure over 25 years that range cost taxpayers $520/user. That's a lot.
I've heard other local police departments will have acces to the range, will they contribute $$$ to its construction and upkeep?
10:41
I'm not trying to be snippy, but what does the Democratic Party have to do with the MTL gun range?
7:19 PM, I wondered the same thing, especially since Steve McLean is a Republican. I didn't vote for him either.
Elaine
Haven't the democrats been in the majority on both the commission and the school board and hasn't spending grown rapidly on things like tsk, tsk, park land, parking apps, sharpshooters and tsk tsk green initiatives like artificial turf.
On Monday night, Andrew McCreery stated that the unassigned fund balance at the end of 2016 was $5.2 million. Why not take that $5.2 million and pay for the firetruck @ $555,000, the ice rink @ $1.9 million, the RSSC Professional Services cost @ $288,500 and the firing range @ $1.2 million? That would still leave about $1.25 million for their pet projects. That way, instead of a bond issue of $8.8 million you would only need to issue a bond for roughly $5.5 million for the public works upgrade thereby saving taxpayers money. It's apparent that Brumfield wanted to rush through this bond issue even though Mr. McLean wanted costs up front prior to issuing a bond. Just a thought.
Nick M.
The 1.3 million dollar gun range is simply a vanity project for the Public Safety Dept. and the School District. Its a complete boondoggle. By the way, the 1.3 million dollar gun range will slowly become a 2 million dollar gun range. They won't maintain it. The insurance costs are probably lowballed. A significant number of other users won't materialize or they won't charge them for its use. Its a hair brained scheme designed to pad resumes of both staffs.
Wouldn't it be far less expensive to buy the officers a membership at the Mt. Lebanon Gun Club or work out an arrangement with Anthony Arms or some other shooting facility.
Where do other school's districts rifle teams shoot?
If memory serves the school district could've redone its range for around $500,000.
That way we could've have a quicker response should a Columbine-like incident ever happened.
Shooters might think twice knowing that a police officer might be training in the building.
I agree with 12:45am.
How often do MTL police officers pull their guns and fire them? What urban warfare are they "practicing" for? Is this MTL, or Mosul?
This effort is, most likely, to appease the 20 or so parents who want their rifle team kids not to have to travel to shoot. Or play when it rains. Or something.
BTW, if anyone has the answer to the question above about police shootings, please post! I am guessing it will be very close to the answer to the question, "How many people have been seriously hurt or killed in a DVC in the last 30 years???" -- ZERO!!!
But we will pay regardless, bond ratings be damned!
- Jason
9:14--Okay, I understand now what you meant. Remember, though, that there is not much, if any, difference between Mt. Lebanon Democratic Commishes and Mt. Lebanon Republican Commishes. They all belong to the fusion party. I am a die-hard democrat and I don't identify with any of the current or recent past dem commissioners.
Just my opinion.
11:29, yes the current crop of Rs aren't much different from the Ds.
There was a time when there were some fiscally responsible Rs but they were either run off or gave up.
I'm not sure how long this community can continuing borrowing and spending at the current rate.
Jason, is your logic that because Mt. Lebanon doesn't have much crime, our police officers shouldn't train and practice firing weapons in case of emergency? Pass what you're smoking Dr. Margolis, I wanna feel that out of it, too.
If this project went to the ballot it would lose 5 to 1. Regular folks not under the sway of the municipal and school district staffs would know better then to fritter away 1.3 million dollars on this silliness.
4:09 are you seriously going to argue that if we don't build a $1.3 million dollar shooting range for our officers to practice in they won't be competent shots?
Please tell us how many municipal police departments in the South Hills have their own private shooting range?
I think maybe you over did the wacky tabacky a long time ago and killed off one too many brain cells.
Does anybody else feel like Lebo has become a private country club for our boys in blue.
They now have their own deer hunting game preserve and now a $1.3 million shooting range.
To continue from 6:37...
That isn't to say that our police dept doesn't do a good job, but do we really need things like an armored car, gas hog SUVs and a private shooting range.
Why a few cars that get 30 mpg rather 24? Do we really need a big police pick up truck?
9:40, I can't believe commenters have officially begun questioning the equipment and funding of our police, the most vital function and people who risk their lives every day. We need things to be prepared.
How DARE the taxpayers question police spending. OUTRAGEOUS! Its this kind of thinking that gets you a 1.3 million dollar gun range. Soon to be a 2 million gun range. The insurance, maintenance, utilities, cleaning, staffing etc will cost Lebo $100k a year too. Easy. Its a complete boondoggle.
9:58 please explain why they need SUVs?
Cars are faster, corner better and stop quicker and are less expensive to buy, maintain and run and are better on the environment.
Sure we get an occassional snow storm where an SUV can get somewhere better, but how often does that occur?
Are you going to argue that those police patrolling in the unmarked Dodges aren't performing their function?
All in all it's not much money saved, but as Ben Franklin said "A penny saved is a penny earned."
http://m.government-fleet.com/article/253729/2017-police-vehicles
"Dodge Charger Pursuit
The Charger Pursuit comes in three models for 2017: the Charger Pursuit V-6, V-8, and V-8 all-wheel-drive (AWD).
The V-6 offers 292 hp, 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and E-85 flex-fuel capacity as well as an EPA-estimated 26 mpg highway. The V-8 and V-8 AWD deliver 370 hp, 395 lb.-ft. of torque, and an estimated 25 mpg highway for the V-8 and 23 mpg highway for the V-8 AWD. The V-8 AWD system also includes an active-transfer case and front-axle disconnect system to improve real-world fuel economy."
I dunno 4:58, but I'd think the Dodge Charger Pursuit with V-6 would provide our Officers with excellent equipment for less money.
Do you know 4:58, how much the different police vehicles cost to buy, run, and maintain?
Again think, "a penny saved is a penny earned!" Those savings can be applied to better hospitalization, pensions or training for our officers rather than burning them up in fuel.
Love it, 12:19, you're right how dare we question anything done with our money. We have no right to do that.
1:26 PM, give it up. The fix is in. If you challenge the cost, then you are against police. Doesn't that sound like the high school project? Challenge the cost of the renovation, then you are against education, or worse, hate kids. Against firing lethal weapons in Mt. Lebanon, then you are a...a...OMG...a deer lover or the latest unapproved comment, the squeamish and their subterranean sensibilities.
In Mt. Lebanon, "Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many.”
Mt. Lebanon has it down to a science to get whatever a few people want or demand.
Elaine
Do Mt. Lebo police carry real guns?
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