"Field Enhancements" Project meeting recap UPDATED 3X

I have been saving some photos, waiting for the right time to share them on Lebo Citizens. I think it is the right time.

Tonight, Dan Deiseroth talked about flooding on Cedar Blvd. He said that Dixon floods, but never Middle and Wildcat Fields. Evidently, those fields have higher elevations and are not in the FEMA designated floodplain.

Here are some pics of the Wildcat Parking Lot flooding on May 28, 2014.

Wildcat Parking Lot flooding 05.28.14

Wildcat Parking Lot flooding 05.28.14

Wildcat Parking Lot flooding 05.28.14

Wildcat Parking Lot flooding 05.28.14

Wildcat Parking Lot flooding 05.28.14

The following photos illustrate the higher elevations as explained tonight at the "Field Enhancements" meeting. The bids show that fields are at "grade (street) level." The fields are far below Cedar Blvd, and obviously below the pool.

There was mention of an Add Alternate for a storm water filtration system. Here is what I was able to get from the bids.

Dan, feel free to use any of these photos in your next presentation. I am glad that the one you showed tonight was helpful for your business. I know who reads my blog because they recognized the photo immediately. Thanks for reading, Folks!

What I learned tonight is that Andy McNitt is not a toxicologist. The ESB was not given the plans, as David Donnellan claimed. I need to listen to the podcast because I think he mentioned other boards, as well. I learned that fresh strawberries are dangerous. And that artificial turf is perfectly safe, since there are poisons all around us.

Readers, feel free to share your thoughts about tonight's "Field Enhancements" meeting. I found out that our PIO coined that phrase since "artificial turf" has a negative connotation. Yes, I certainly feel better about it.

The podcast has been uploaded on to lebocitizens.com It is also available here.

Update June 13, 2014 2:35 PM Here is what Google Earth says about the elevations of Dixon, Middle, and Wildcat Fields.

Update June 14, 2014 2:40 PM I received Addendum #2 from Gateway Engineers on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 4:10 PM. It includes:

 4.2. Per grading plan there is fill installation required to raise the southwest corner to elevation.

Specification changes include:

Update June 15, 2014 7:10 PM Here is the information I promised from the RTK concerning pitching mounds on Middle and Wildcat Fields.

Turf Project is Out For Bid

Remember this photo that I had on my February 25, 2014 blog posting, Commissioner Franklin has Susan's ear UPDATED 2X?

Turns out, I nailed it. Here is the Mt. Lebanon Flood Zone map, directly from the municipal website. Middle and Wildcat Fields are located in Panel 0456. Any panel highlighted in pink contains a flood zone. The blue areas are the flood zones according to FEMA.

Gateway Engineers swears that the fields have never flooded. We know better than that, right?

So, the project continues...

According to the timeline from the Turf Project Task Force Recommendations made on February 11, 2014, the Project Schedule is as follows:

Design Development –Pending Commission 

Approval February/March 2014 

Construction Documents and Specifications 

April/May 2014 

Advertise for bids May 15, 2014 

Open Bids June 4, 2014 

Award Bids June 10th or 23rd 

Issue Notice to proceed and begin construction 

July 15, 2014 

Final Completion October 21, 2014 

We now know that May 15, 2014 was JT Sauer's deadline to submit to Gateway. The following information was pulled from the "Pittsburgh Builders Exchange," which requires a paid subscription. 

TURF RFP

This would be considered as a Request for Proposal (RFP). There are "bid documents" or "plans" associated with the RFP. These often include specifications, drawings, contract language, etc. Some times, the documents are provided at no costs in electronic format. Other times, such as this instance, there is a fee associated with them. For this project, the "plans" are to be obtained directly from the engineer and include a $75.00 non-refundable fee.

I guess this would be the time to announce the important LeboALERT I received on May 21, 2014.

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. Middle/Wildcat Fields improvement update meeting is Thurs., June 12, from 7 to 8:30 at Mellon Auditorium.

Pretty big venue for such a tiny "vocal minority." This meeting will also include Dr. Andrew McNitt, from the Penn State/FieldTurf Partnership, who will give us an "unbiased" opinion concerning the safety of artificial turf.

I hope that the Turf Project Task Force can get an "unbiased" opinion from financial advisors who have partnerships with FieldTurf who will tell us that we are making a sound investment.

Perhaps there is a FEMA/FieldTurf Partnership who will assure us that flooding is not an issue.

Finally, I am looking forward to hearing from the ESB/FieldTurf Partnership expert since June 12 is the next Mt. Lebanon Environmental Sustainability Board meeting. Gee, I wonder why that happened.

Middle/Wildcat Fields 05.24.14

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

If you are interested in displaying an anti-artificial turf sign in your yard, email me at EGillen476@aol.com.

Update May 25, 2014 6:15 PM Requests to see the draft were ignored. Dan Deiseroth email to Kelly Fraasch.