The real reason for deer/vehicular accidents

Hint: It isn't the deer. We have bad drivers here in Mt. Lebanon. Deer just happen to get in the way. Thanks to Allstate for donating an electronic speed trailer that tracks and stores data, 77% of the drivers in Mt. Lebanon were speeding when passing the speed tracking device.

According to the recent Trib article, 80 percent of drivers found exceeding speed limit in Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, police monitored Washington Road, Cedar Blvd., Gilkeson Road, and McNeilly Road.

Police selected high-traffic roads where drivers seemed to ignore the speed limit, Mt. Lebanon Lt. Duane Fisher said.

Deer killing corrals were placed in these areas, in hopes of reducing deer/vehicular accidents. Deer aren't the problem. It is speeding. On page 5 of her report, "Deer Doctor" Sandy Baker made recommendations concerning deer-vehicle collisions. She cited model community Rochester Hills, MI's  Deer - Vehicle Reduction Campaign.

Commissioners, focus on reducing speeding in Mt. Lebanon. You keep telling us that it isn't about gardens, and that it is all about reducing deer/car collisions by 50% in five years. We will have less accidents, making it safer for all two legged and four legged creatures. Get a grip on the real problem. Bad drivers.

Ordeal to getting Sandy Baker's report online

On June 27, 2015, I forwarded a comment posted on this blog to the Commission, asking for the Sandy Baker report to be added to the municipal website. (I also asked if my commissioner was going to stay in Ward 3 when she sells her house, but that is a topic for another time. I asked her again this morning if she plans to stay in Ward 3.)

The first to respond was Dave Brumfield.  He did not find the recommendations effective and/or feasible relevant to our stated goal.

Next, I heard from Kelly Fraasch. She ​felt all they discussed was the presenter's options on Monday and had little time to discuss much else.

This morning, I received this email from John Bendel. The Sandy Baker report is now available on the municipal website here.

I have not heard back from Steve Silverman or Coleen Vuono. It is only hearsay, but allegedly neither Steve Silverman or Coleen Vuono would sign the thank you note to Sandy Baker.

The fix is in UPDATED

The commissioners' minds are made up. So made up that they won't even allow the suggestion that gardens could be improved to deter deer. How simple would that be? They also say another survey is out of the question, which indicates they don't want to know there are fewer deer, just proceed as planned - killing deer.

Sandy Baker a.k.a. the Deer Doctor emailed the following documents to all of the commissioners this afternoon. She also FedEx'ed it yesterday to arrive this morning by 10:30 AM.

Cover letter from Sandy Baker

Mt. Lebanon Deer Report

Mt. Lebanon Recommendations

While there are no non-lethal panelists for Monday's dog and pony show, Sandy's report is a timely voice for a safe, non-lethal, and effective solution. Monday's deer discussion forum is a complete and blatant sham. The panel is all pro deer killers. The purpose is to sell the Fall killing program. The fix is in. The Commission has already decided. There will be no citizen comments. Residents who are opposed to violence or guns in our neighborhoods are being silenced. Residents opposed to this killing program will just be annoying. With us censored, the commissioners can script and market this pro-deer killing forum to the public. 

The Post Gazette's John Hayes contacted a member of the Coalition for Coexistence. He said that aerial surveys are pointless and nobody uses them. Nobody counts animals, roadkill, or density. This is the same person who said that we have THOUSANDS of deer. Hayes is one of the clowns from our Public Misinformation Officer's media circus.

The fix is in, Folks.

Update June 19, 2015 11:07 AM A LeboALERT just went out at 10:55 AM. We have the honor and privilege to OBSERVE the deer killing vote on Monday. How many LeboALERTS is this now, Susan? Enjoy rubbing our noses in it?

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.


You may observe Mon. 6 pm
commission work session on deer at MLHS Fine Arts Theater. No public comment.
http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/11039

Update June 19, 2015 7:19 PM

Mr. Feller,

The folks who are attending the deer management meeting on Monday, Jeannine Fleegel, Jody Maddock and Anthony DiNicola…are they being paid to attend the meeting?

If so, what is the total compensation being paid to each of them.

Thank you,

***

Steve Feller's reply:

From: Stephen Feller [mailto:sfeller@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2015 3:48 PM
To:
Cc: Commission
Subject: Re: meeting

Only one of them, Dr. DiNicola, is being compensated by Mt. Lebanon.  I expect his total compensation to be $2,000.  

Mt. Lebanon Flower Bed Installation Project UPDATED

The Mt. Lebanon Flower Bed Installation Project was not advertised but Gateway sent out bid requests to seven firms and five firms responded. Attached is a copy of the bid tabulation form and the purchase order.

Fourteen flower beds are being planted by Littles Landscaping out of McDonald, PA for the amount of $36,895.88. Gateway's fees were not included in the cost of this project. I am hoping that deer resistant plants were used this year, another recommendation made by Sandy Baker. The biggest deer salad bars, she noted, were planted by the municipality. Deer would cross roads to get to these gardens contributing to deer/vehicular accidents.

Update May 27, 2015 4:20 PM The bid tabulation form was difficult to read. This copy is easier to read.

Who will be selected?

During tomorrow's Commission Discussion Session,

A. Interviews with Ward 3 applicants:

6:05 p.m. Elaine Gillen 

6:15 p.m. James Cannon 

6:25 p.m. ____________ 

6:35 p.m. Edward Goslin 

6:45 p.m. Coleen Vuono 

6:55 p.m. Andrew Reinhart 

7:05 p.m. Steve McLean 

7:15 p.m. Raymond Pan 

7:25 p.m. _____________ 

B. Discussion regarding applications

I should have mentioned that the evening will start with ten minutes given to our deer doctor, Sandy Baker. Yes. Ten. Minutes. 

OK, getting back to the applicants. I'm up first. I have a better shot at winning the lottery. James Cannon is Josephine Posti and Jim Cannon's father. I don't know Edward Goslin. At 6:45, former (D) Commissionette and Pro Kill Coleen Vuono. 6:55's Andrew Reinhart is the Democratic hopeful running for Ward 3, while Steve McLean at 7:05 is running on the Republican ticket for Ward 3. I don't know Raymond Pan. 6:25 and 7:25 backed out. I don't know who they were.

My guess is that the new Commissioner for Ward 3 will be Democrat Andrew Reinhart. You heard it here first.

Earth Day 2015

The rain (and the snow!) held off today for Mt. Lebanon's Earth Day celebration in Main Park. I hung out at Sandy Baker's booth which was beautifully "landscaped" with all deer resistant plants generously donated by Jim Jenkins.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch with Wayne Jones, Parks Advisory Board

This booth wanted to be right next to Sandy Baker's booth, but unfortunately, it didn't work out for them. I'm not sure why they were even allowed to attend since they are not big on coexisting with nature. 

In fact, the biggest deer hater would not face me when I took pictures. She wouldn't allow me to photograph her. Hey! Just like He Who Shall Not Be Named!

None of the people at their tent would face me. I guess they are ashamed of their behavior. Their big thing was kill the deer to protect our ecosystem. 

I learned so much today from Sandy Baker. Free seminars are set for the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m. and Monday, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Hope you can all attend.

Of course it was Kip's UPDATED

A Right To Know was filed on March 16, 2015 asking for "All emails, text messages and written communication between any Mt. Lebanon employee and any employee of Wildlife Specialists for the period between February 15 - March 11, 2015 regarding the deer management program currently being conducted in Mt. Lebanon."

The RTK was partially granted and partially denied and sent in two files. Steve Feller's cover letter includes an explanation.

Highlights from the redacted Right To Know file include:

• Wildlife Specialists mapped out 1,000' buffers from school buildings instead of measuring from property line of schools. Only one school needed to be adjusted. This bait site was the one vandalized. Page 18.
• "This new issue about the school SAFE act is all empty because the act states that all "unauthorized" individuals may not possess a fire arm within a school safe zone. If you are licensed by the state or the local authority to do so then you are authorized. Why is this not clearly obvious to the commissioners and Police Department? Otherwise, the police would not be allowed to come near a school." - W.S.
• Per John Bendel's suggestion, Steve Feller was feeding Merlin Benner questions that were going to be asked at the Discussion Session. Page 19.
• Page 21. Concordia was upset with Brian Benner concerning use of their property. Concordia did not grant permission to cull the deer on their property.
• Page 25. Feller notified W.S. that the sites previously chosen at Markham, the golf course, and McNeilly are all within the 1,000' buffer.
• Page 28. A female lawyer warned W.S. if they did not call PA One Call by 11 AM that day, that she would call and report them. Merlin suggested that they make the call. This woman spoke with our police chief who did not understand that bullets are considered explosives.
• Page 30. Merlin Benner threatens a resident with harassment.
• Merlin tells Coleman that they will comply and limit work on site to the two approved by the PA Game Commission. See letter from the Game Commission. Page 33.
• W.S. blamed Kelly Fraasch for sharing Kip's information on page 38. W.S. said that Kip and his wife were very worried about their safety and for the business.
• Page 39. More "harassment" from a Mt. Lebanon resident toward Kip.
• Page 41. Kip had been identified in one of the "activist blogs."
• Amendments to the application begin on page 54 to include adding more men to the permit, allowing semi-automatic rifles, and use of a Scott Township property owned by Mt. Lebanon (Twin Hills).
• Page 61. Since McNeilly is off the table, W.S. wants to use Williamsburg and Main Park. W.S. also tells Feller that they have written permission from Concordia.
• Page 65. Facebook announcement of the February 28 protest on Connor Road.

Highlights from the other RTK file include:

• Brian Benner says that hopefully all shooting will be under the cover of darkness. Page 6.
• A fourth name was not on the amendment request. Game Commission said that a new request must be submitted with all four names listed. Page 9.
• Coleman reports to Benner about debating with a citizen on page 16. See photo here. 
  
  Baiting begins. Benner heard that one of his co-workers saw a feeder photo in an article and was concerned that they were trespassing. He realized that the photo could have been taken from a distance. What a squirrelly bunch!

• Page 17. No feeders at Twin Hills.
• Page 27. McNeilly was doused with urine. How do they know?
• Pages 30 - 45. PA One Call reports.
• Gene wanted to know how or why information was disclosed about shooting. Aaron Lauth told him that Merlin Benner shared it with a Trib reporter. Page 46. Squirrelly!
• Page 47. First Church of Christ did not want their lot used for parking or access for deer killing. W.S. had called the police on members of the public who tried to tell them that they did not have permission to be there!
• Deer were captured and killed without incident. They were pleased that there was no protester interference. Page 48.
• Wildlife Specialists wanted to use cross-bows at McNeilly, Bird, and the Golf Course since it would not violate the 1,000' federal school law. Thankfully, Steve Feller said thanks, but no thanks. Page 50.
• Page 51. More on PA One Call.
• Page 55. Coordinates of "Trapping Sites."
• The Health Department called and had not approved any wild game processors for food banks. Page 64.
• Page 65. Request to use lawful firearms for big game was denied.

Another RTK is due on or before May 5. Now that my heart is racing again and am all fired up remembering all the unrest the deer killing had caused, I want to remind everyone that the municipality is bringing in Sandy Baker this weekend, to share her recommendations for non-lethal methods of deer management. 

Update April 24, 2015 3:05 PM The final report from Wildlife Specialists has been posted here. Six deer were processed at Kip's Deer Processing yielding 183 pounds of venison all donated to "Link in the Chain Ministries."

Update April 25, 2015 9:20 AM I did a quick calculation and figured that the meat came to $81.97 per pound of venison. ($12,000 for the deer management plan + 6 deer at a cost of $500/deer.)

Happy Earth Day!

Don't forget that Mt Lebanon municipality is hosting a variety of options this weekend to learn about garden plantings, deer strategy and behavior to help you with your gardens this Spring/Summer.

Sandy Baker, organic gardener, consultant and "Deer Doctor" will be visiting Mt Lebanon and talking with residents about her experiences and knowledge about gardening.

Join Sandy at Earth Day in Main Park on Saturday, April 25th from 11-4 PM (Rain [snow*] or Shine)

OR

Join Sandy at one of her seminars, "Deer Proof Your Garden" on Sunday, April 26 at 2 PM in the Mt. Lebanon Library and Monday, April 27 at 10 AM or 1 PM in the Mt. Lebanon Library.

No RSVP necessary.

If you attend one of the seminars, you get a free copy of Sandy's guidebook, "How to Deer Proof Your Garden."

-Sponsored by Mt Lebanon Municipality

*I can't believe it is snowing outside as I am typing this.

Deer Proof Your Garden UPDATED

Susan Morgans can't help herself. Read the last paragraph of her press release.

Michalina: We must cull!

She calls Sandy Baker coming to Mt. Lebanon "a Band-Aid." Michalina Pendzich wants deer dead. Sandy Baker, "The Deer Doctor" will be coming to Mt. Lebanon later this month. With last month’s trap and cull program a bust, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kelly Fraasch says it’s time to get some coexisting advice from the “Deer Doctor” on deer habits and needs. "Coexist" is not in Michalina's vocabulary.

In the Trib article, 'Deer-proofing' expert to offer lessons in Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Lebanon officials hope Baker's presentations can ease some of the discord that followed the flubbed attempt to cull the community's deer population.

The Almanac reports that Baker, known as “The deer doctor,” said the free two-hour seminars held each day April 25-27 will focus on practical tips for landscaping and protecting vegetation in gardens, but also understanding deer behavior.

"Deer Doctor" Being Brought In To Help With Mt. Lebanon Deer Problem

In Defense of Animals International has issued this bulletin, Tell Mt. Lebanon: No More Deer Killings. The nation is watching us, Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.