"No response is required." UPDATED

12.29.14

12.29.14

12.29.14

12.29.14

A Right To Know was filed with the Allegheny County Conservation District on November 20, 2014 concerning the technical deficiencies they found with the Turf Project. This is not to be confused with the technical deficiencies the DEP found with the Turf Project in this document dated August 27, 2014 or Gateway's response to the DEP in their September 4, 2014 letter addressing technical deficiencies. Or the DEP's response to Mt. Lebanon residents here.

The Allegheny County Conservation District sent a letter to David Donnellan on July 1, 2014 with a list of technical deficiencies. Gateway responded to ACCD on July 3, 2014 with this terse reply.

Correspondence from the ACCD continued as late as September 25, 2014. Reading the arrogant response from Dan Deiseroth on September 29, 2014 makes me wonder why the ACCD and DEP granted the NPDES permit. My team was professional and respectful with the ACCD and DEP.

Update January 3, 2015 6:15 AM From Steve Feller's January 2, 2015 Administrative Report:

First change order for turf project done without approval

According to Monday's agenda,

JB 19. Consideration to confirm the approval of a change order for the Wildcat Field turf project.

Vasco Sports Contractor has submitted Change Order No. 1 for additional trench volume to promote infiltration as required by the DEP in the NPDES permit. The change order totals $86,694. The Municipal Manager has approved the work and transferred $80,000 of available funds from the Bower Hill/Segar/Greenhurst signal project into the capital improvement fund account for this project.

Recommended Action: Move to confirm the actions of the Municipal Manager.

Mt. Lebanon Parents Raise Health Concerns About Synthetic Turf

"Rally for Lebo Kids' Health" UPDATED

Updated flyer for the Rally for Lebo Kids' Health 

I have been asked to post this on Lebo Citizens.

"Rally for Lebo Kids' Health"

Sunday, October 26, 2014* 11:00 AM

*new date and time

Who: Advocates for Lebo Kids’ Health
Where: Middle and Wildcat Fields located on Cedar Blvd.
What: Rally for Lebo Kids’ Health
When: Sunday, October 26, 2014 11:00 AM
Why: The Mt. Lebanon Commissioners have chosen to disregard warnings about the dangers of artificial turf aired on NBC and CBS.

After the Pumpkin Patch Parade on Saturday, October 25, visit the Kids Health & Safety Fair:

Mt. Lebanon Public Safety Center

555 Washington Road 

Noon - 1:30 PM

DENIED

Advocates for Lebo Kids’ Health will be on hand to answer questions concerning the artificial turf project and the dangers of artificial turf.

• Learn more about the tire crumb infill which will be used at Middle and Wildcat Fields. 

• Read the Department of Environmental Protection’s response included with the NPDES Permit issued to the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon 

• Watch the investigation reports on NBC Nightly and CBS 

• Grab iron on transfers for Sunday’s rally. Put them on Tshirts, tote bags or print out the sign here.

DENIED

Commissioners and School Board Members: PLEASE Unvote

Dear Mt. Lebanon Commissioners and School Board members,

Please "unvote" the ill-fated Wildcat Field artificial turf project. Today, I received the following press release, CONSUMER GROUP WARNS SCHOOLS AND TOWNS OF NEW QUESTIONS SURROUNDING ARTIFICIAL TURF SAFETY University of Washington assistant soccer coach, Amy Griffin reported that 13 Washington soccer players on her recruiting list have been diagnosed with rare cancers and 11 of those are goal keepers. That is horrible news!

The Artificial Turf Project, or as you like to call it, "Field Enhancement Project" has been a problem since Day 1. Lack of transparency concerning funds, the secret Turf Project Task Force meetings, intimidation tactics used at the Not For The General Public public meeting, the official statements from the Parks Advisory Board and the Environmental Sustainability Board who are in opposition to the project, an "unbiased" presentation at Mellon Middle School with Dr. McNitt - who has his private consulting business and partnership with FieldTurf, the deficiencies identified by the PA Department of Environmental Protection and Allegheny County Conservation District, the fabrication that personal donations are at risk while knowing that contracts clearly state that the donations are nonrefundable and will be used for future field improvements, the Commission President's "misrepresentation" of the ESB's position, the Commission's tunnel vision in regard to the health, safety, and environmental issues as presented by residents, and the use of municipal staff for raising non-municipal funds.

PLEASE take the time to read the 09.15.14 Press Release linked in the first paragraph. PLEASE consider the new questions surrounding the safety of artificial turf. PLEASE unvote the Wildcat and Middle Artificial Turf Project.

Elaine Gillen

Finally! A Turf Project Update from Mt. Lebanon

During Citizen Comments at the September 9, 2014 Commission meeting, I expressed my frustrations over the lack of transparency with the Turf Project Field Enhancement Project. I have had to ask repeatedly for non-municipal funds updates, file Right To Knows, and hear too many times, that the municipality is hoping to receive the NPDES permit soon. I ended up filing a RTK with a government agency outside of Mt. Lebanon, in order to get answers. I learned that a letter was sent to Recreation Director, David Donnellan highlighting six deficiencies with Mt. Lebanon's NPDES permit application. At the commission meeting, Manager Steve Feller agreed to publishing that letter along with Mt. Lebanon's response to the Allegheny County Conservation District on Mt. Lebanon's website, along with a hard copy for my records. Here is Gateway's response.* Copies were also sent to Representative Dan Miller and Senator Matt Smith. Thank you, Steve.

*Large document