Deer and the Courts Update

A court ordered appearance before Judge McCarthy was to take place on July 26, 2016 between Scott Township and the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon regarding killing deer in Twin Hills Park located in Scott Township. The docket is available here. Anyone know the results of that conference?

My attorneys have appealed Court of Common Pleas Judge Terrence O'Brien's decision concerning donation exemptions. It is now in Commonwealth Court. Don't worry, Taxpayers. This isn't costing Mt. Lebanon taxpayers (including Judge O'Brien) anything additionally, thanks to the sweet deal Mt. Lebanon has with Buchanan Ingersoll. MTL can take anyone to court (or be taken to court) and it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime extra. Scott Township residents aren't so lucky. Neither are those who are granted TWO Final Determinations by the PA Office of Open Records of whom Judge O'Brien disagreed.

My gofundme is still active. See side bar for the link or click here. I have made Not In My Yard key fobs this year to match the yard signs which are still available. A $10 donation will get you both a yard sign and a key fob. What a deal! You would have to buy 104 yard signs and 104 key fobs to equal what taxpayers are spending just to register Susan Morgans for the NYC trade show!

Archery starts up again next month.  It sure came up quickly, didn't it? In Mt. Lebanon, we kill (or try to kill) deer more often than not.

Disney thinks THEY have problems?

Will there be hunting in Twin Hills this September?

Mt. Lebanon sure hopes so. MTL would like to present a motion to vacate the temporary injunction before Judge Michael McCarthy according to Docket GD-15-017557. Mt. Lebanon has spent our tax dollars to fight about deer before three Court of Common Pleas judges: Judge Nauhaus, Judge O'Brien, and now Judge McCarthy.

Judge Nauhaus called it "a tempest in a teapot" during the Castor hearing. He threw out the harassment charge and reduced Blaise's outrageous fines from $1100 to $1.

In my case*, Judge O'Brien ruled that personal security exemption does not apply.

Now, MTL is citing increased risks of Lyme Disease, destruction of plant life, deer excrement, and deer/vehicle collisions.

It is interesting that MTL is playing the Lyme disease card since there is a link from the PA Game Commission on the Municipality's website (http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/9630) stating:

• Risk of exposure to Lyme disease is correlated with abundance of acorns, mice, and chipmunks – key hosts for subadult ticks and their corresponding food source. 
• Deer are a dead-end host for the Lyme disease bacteria. They do not infect ticks with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease nor do they contract the disease when an infected tick feeds on them. They play no direct role in the transmission cycle.

Licenses go on sale June 20, 2016.  DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D:Sept. 17- Nov. 26 and Dec. 26-Jan. 28, 2017. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. One antlered deer per hunting license year.

I saw my former commissioner today at the post office. She is looking very well and is most likely suggesting to folks to see John in Rollier's paint department for help with choosing soothing colors for their basements. After archery season, we may be dealing with Tony and his patented, proprietary, super secret magic corn for another two months. Painting basements may be a way to beat the heat this summer. 

* I'm still trying to raise money through my gofundme account and now selling key fobs at $5 each, a $7 value - according to crafting blogs.  :)   My tax bill is funding litigation costs related to deer. The kind people who contributed to my gofundme are paying for both sides, just like I am!

Scott is hopping mad at Mt. Lebanon

Last night, our commissioners met in executive session to discuss a possible settlement with Scott Township over Twin Hills. In October, Scott Twp. was able to get a temporary injunction to stop the killing of deer in Twin Hills.

On Scott's agenda for tonight, Twin Hills settlement was listed, but on a revised agenda, Twin Hills was removed. It came up anyway during Citizen Comments. Scott's position is that they are against killing deer by any means in any of their parks, including Twin Hills. They have the injunction and they are not backing down. Good for Scott Township!

Scott and Lebo will meet again on November 2

Hunting in park focus of Mt. Lebanon meeting with Scott

I don't see how there can be a compromise. Scott Township does not want hunting of any kind. The park is for recreation, and Scott commissioners don't want to put their residents in harm's way. How refreshing.

The next scheduled meeting is the day before Election Day. 

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!!!! UPDATED

Scott Township has filed a complaint against the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. The docket number is GD-15-017557.

It is so new, that the documents have not been uploaded to the Court Records website. Woo Hoo!

Scott v Mt. Lebanon

Scott Township's reason for seeking an injunction is the "conditional use agreement" between Scott Township and Mt. Lebanon, which states in the deed that Twin Hills Park is for recreational use.

Our commissioners believe that our parks and golf course are for recreational hunting for 4.5 months, not recreation. On October 13, 2015, our commissioners will be considering adding a few additional months of "sharpshooting" at a cost of almost $90,000.

Update October 3, 2015 5:10 AM Mt. Lebanon needs Scott's OK to hunt deer in Twin Hills Park, township argues "Scott plans to ask a judge Monday for an emergency injunction, said township solicitor Robert McTiernan."

Scott Township is p!$$ed! UPDATED

I got a call tonight from someone who attended the Scott Township meeting. Scott Commissioners couldn't wait to go into Executive Session to discuss what course of action they will be taking next over Twin Hills.

From what I understand, the Scott Township Police Chief, Manager, and Commissioners wanted to meet with their Mt. Lebanon counterparts, but their manager was unavailable and asked Mt. Lebanon to delay hunting in Twin Hills until after they met. Mt. Lebanon would not wait. Scott Township is really pissed!

Scott Township is challenging Mt. Lebanon's position on Twin Hills being open to police only. It is a public park, so if hunting is done by some, it can be done by anyone. Mt. Lebanon is acting like Twin Hills is privately owned, but the Scott Township commissioners aren't buying it. 

A commissioner asked for a "Not In My Yard" sign tonight. I am hoping to get a podcast of the meeting. The link to the Lebo Citizen podcasts are here. Click here if your browser is not compatible with the website.

This is going to get really ugly.

Another shipment arrived today.

Update September 23, 2015 9:12 AM A draft of the agreement which sets forth their mutual understanding as to responsibility of the maintenance of Twin Hills and its police and fire protection, was never executed.

Meanwhile, back at the Commission

During Monday's Commission Discussion Session scheduled for 6:15 PM, the Commissioners will be discussing, among other things:

• Preliminary discussion about a possible location for an offleash dog park.
• Preliminary 2012 financial results and beginning discussion on fund balance.
• Public information role and services.

The Commission will be introducing an  Ordinance Allowing Domesticated Animals in Twin Hills Trail Park during the regular 8:00 meeting following the Discussion Session. This park is in Scott Township. Has anyone checked to see if the Scott Township Zoning Board permits an animal park? Can we make ordinances for property that is not in Mt. Lebanon? Perhaps that will come up in the Commission Discussion Session.

Beginning discussion on fund balance might be how the Turf Board, I mean the Sports Advisory Board, will be able to get turf snuck in.

Finally, the topic that is near and dear to my heart, "Public information role and services." There is fifteen minutes allotted for that topic. Are there changes in store for the Public Information Office? I am not trying to start any rumors, but it is nice to see that on the agenda.  Defining the role of the PIO is definitely in order here.