The other day, I went to my first "Coffee with the Manager." I thought it was a nice gesture on the part of the Municipality and the Community Relations Board. Thanks, folks!
I was disappointed by the turn out. There were just a handful of us, in addition to the Rec staff and members of the Community Relations Board. Not one athletic supporter in sight, despite the nasty comments made in the April 22, 2011 Lebo Citizens post,
Timely letter to the editor.
I listened to the requests directed to Dave Donnellan and was shocked to hear about the poor conditions at the Rec Center, Golf Course, and Tennis Center. I heard about holes in the walls, lack of hot water, walls and floors in terrible shape, lockers in terrible shape, etc. The answer given by Mr. Donnellan was that we had no money in the budget to fix these things. I couldn't take it any longer. I had to say something. I said that this is why people are so upset with the McNeilly Field project. Our assets are deteriorating. Yet, we want to start working on something else instead. Dave Donnellan said that the lack of fields is the reason Bird Park is a mess. It is overused and nothing will help that except more fields. Steve Feller started to say that I made a good point and maybe we could turf Bird Park. I interrupted him, (Sorry Steve) saying we have ONE Rec Center, ONE golf course, ONE library and ONE Tennis Center. We need to maintain what we have or we will have another neglected high school scenario on our hands.
Naturally, I have many more questions. Are there other places that need tender loving care in Mt. Lebanon, besides the holes in the walls at the Rec Center, walls needing painted, or sadly - poorly maintained memorials?
How big is a soccer field? Bigger than a football field? How much would it cost to turf a soccer field? Or repair the holes in the walls at the Rec Center, and all the other things mentioned at that meeting?
We will have a one time windfall due to pension contributions. I want to say that it is $600,000, but I might have dreamt that number. Could we take the $125,000 pledge made by the Soccer Association and add it to the wish list to fix up what we have already?
