More unbalanced reporting from Hayes

I stopped subscribing to the PG because of their "Outdoor Editor" John Hayes and his unbalanced "reporting." I got what I expected to read when someone forwarded a link to his article in yesterday's PG. In Michigan, a deer management experiment scrapped in Mt. Lebanon begins its second season

The PA Game Commission's mouthpiece is buying into the BS that deer killer Tony DeNicola is dishing out. Who else would be charging to kill 250 deer during a non-lethal "experiment?" Why does baiting not work during frigid temperatures OR milder temperatures? In either scenario, DeNicola is justifying his failures. 

Hayes also forgot to mention that DeNicola originally quoted MTL commissioners $250 per deer for "sharpshooting." This year, our commissioners are willing to pay $771.10 per deer, even more lucrative than Timmy's annual increases! That is based on killing 100 deer. What will be the true cost this year?  We will learn more in April, after DeNicola has cashed his check.

"Euthanized deer will not reproduce."

Those haunting words came from the PA Game Commission in their February 5, 2016 letter to Mt. Lebanon.

PA Game Commission Response re: Deer Sterilization Research Project

In a conversation that the PA Game Commission had with our state representative, the PAGC said, if you're going to capture the deer to sterilize them, you might as well kill them. They also told our state rep that it is a waste of money. Dan, not so gently, reminded them that it wasn't their money!

The Botsiber Foundation sent a letter to the Municipality on January 28, 2016 saying, "It's been fun, but we're done."

Botstiber Foundation letter re: Deer Sterilization Research Project

Close to three weeks later, MTL decided to post the letter and the PA Game Commission response on the website.

As usual, the PG's John Hayes leaked this out yesterday, before it showed up on the MTL website today.  Foundation pulls out of deer sterilization plan in Mt. Lebanon 

Finally, I received a response from someone at the municipal building about LeboALERTs. We don't want to share too much information with MT. Lebanon residents, now do we? I love how I heard nothing from the commissioners, but I did see that Kelly wished Nick a good day. How sweet. 

*****

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: kfraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>; nschalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 11:25 am
Subject: Re: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Yes, Nick. Thank you for responding to my email.

Elaine

-----Original Message-----
From: Kelly Fraasch <kfraasch@mtlebanon.org>
To: Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>
Cc: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Wed, Feb 17, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Thanks Nick for answering the question.

Have a good day!

Sent from Kelly's iPhone, please excuse typos or auto-corrections.  

On Feb 17, 2016, at 10:20 AM, Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org> wrote:

yes, we try to limit the character count to 160 characters. This is to allow 1 text message instead of several. Unfortunately some carriers split the texts anyways which is out of our control.

Nick

On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:54 AM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Hi Nick,

This is my second request, so I figured I should just email you directly, since the commissioners tend to ignore most of my emails.

Is there a limit to the number of characters (such as Twitter) when sending out LeboALERTS?

Thanks in advance.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 4:55 pm
Subject: Fwd: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

Commissioners,

Are LeboALERTS limited to so many characters, such as Twitter?

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: LeboALERT <noreply@mtlebanon.org>
To: EGillen476 <EGillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2016 4:05 pm
Subject: LeboALERT: Deer culling utilizi...

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

Deer culling utilizing sharpshooting will be conducted in February and March. Please visit http://www.mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?nid=2114 for more info.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas Schalles
Manager of Information Technology
Mt. Lebanon Municipality
710 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
(412) 440-2049 - Office
(412) 343-3456 - Helpdesk

DeNicola: Lebo too difficult for shooting, but perfect for sterilization

The following link is for a council meeting in Fairfax, VA in a discussion for sterilization. Start watching about 1:35.  You'll see that DeNicola talks about Mt. Lebanon around as an example of what happens if you do nothing. Tony then mentions how there is so little area to shoot in, but there are good roads that would be useful for driving around and tranquilizing deer for a spay/neuter effort.

DeNicola's portion of the presentation ends around 2:30.

http://fairfax.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=11&clip_id=1131&meta_id=37338

DeNicola's slide pointing to the only places in Mt Lebanon he says one could safely access deer

The best news I have heard in a long time.

Finally! Sterilization, a non-lethal method of deer management will be discussed at Tuesday's Commission Discussion Session. On the agenda:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our commissioners abandoned the plan to kill deer in our densely populated community and opted for a non-lethal sterilization plan instead? I am hoping that funding will come through too. According to the Commission Meeting Agenda, the Humane Society of the United States sterilization program will be totally funded, thanks to the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation (DWBF), IF Mt. Lebanon agrees to take all lethal methods off the table. I am cautiously optimistic that a majority of the commissioners will agree to it. Here is the problem though. The agenda for the regular commission is arranged in such a way that the commissioners will vote first for the archery program, then the "sharpshooting" plan, and finally will vote on the sterilization plan. It is the last item on the agenda.

So here's the plan. Please attend Tuesday's commission meeting and express your support for a non-lethal plan to manage our deer.

The Trib's featured commentary tonight is by Lebo Citizens reader and Mt. Lebanon resident, Jason Margolis.

Resolving Mt. Lebo's deer management

 

By Jason Margolis

Monday, July 13, 2015, 9:00 p.m.

The Mt. Lebanon deer-management issue is about to erupt again as the commissioners' “cooling off” period has come to a quick end. To some, the Mt. Lebanon deer “problem” is a mirage — a phantom notion of the vapid and excessive. To others, it is a real public crisis, threatening both property and life.

While there are serious questions about whether it is possible to target deer within a particular community (deer know no borders and, unlike children, are not assigned to school districts) rather than a larger area (e.g., an Allegheny County deer-management plan), it is time for the two warring sides to meet in the middle.

With this in mind, I propose the following:

(1) No lethal methods be used within Mt. Lebanon. Killing strategies that would target only the deer in parks are too inhumane and ineffective (e.g., culling — which failed in March 2015) and other methods like sharpshooting are too dangerous to humans in such a densely-populated area. Rejecting lethal methods of deer management will also remove many of the moral and ethical objections articulated by those opposed to past Mt. Lebo management means.

Taking deer-killing off the table is the only way to keep our family-oriented parks and backyards peaceful, enjoyable and nonviolent, as they were intended.

(2) Use sterilization as the primary management method, supplemented by other approaches (promoting deer-resistant plans, enforcing the speed limit, public education). Methods of sterilization have advanced significantly. This method certainly is safer for humans and more humane for animals.

(3) Supplement the greater expenses for this approach with privately raised funds and veterinarian volunteers.

There is a model for such private-public partnerships in Mt. Lebo (for example, the also highly controversial artificial turf project). The Mt. Lebo deer cull in March was infamous regionally and nationally. A “GoFundMe” campaign likely would garner significant donations at this point.

The approach outlined above honors both those who believe the deer are truly a problem in Mt. Lebanon as well as those against guns and bloodshed for humans and animals. It is also fiscally responsible.

Inevitably, some from both sides will argue that sterilizing deer is against nature. But I would expect that very few would claim the same about a woman taking the pill or a man getting a vasectomy. These approaches have evolved to assist humanity in controlling the population in humane ways.

As humans, we are hardwired to solve complex problems through individual ingenuity and community collaboration. Unfortunately, we are also hardwired for conflict — particularly when in a state of fear.

At the apex of our human capabilities, we bring together multiple viewpoints to find a reasonable middle ground.

A community like Mt. Lebanon should give us no less than the best we have to offer.

And in the case of Mt. Lebanon deer management, this middle, reasonable path would be: sterilization partially funded through private donations.

Jason Margolis is an educator. He lives in Mt. Lebanon.

Copyright © 2015 — Trib Total Media

Commissioners did not actually vote on the archery component

Finally, something truthful from our commission president. Mt. Lebanon calls off controlled deer hunt

Commissioners did not actually vote on the archery component, Ms. Linfante said.

Kristen is on a roll. A major, major roll.

“This is a major, major safety issue we’re dealing with,” Mt. Lebanon Commission President Kristen Linfante said.

The PG article continues with:

Since 2011 there have been 765 reported incidents involving the herbivorous menaces in the municipality, ranging from dead and injured deer to deer stuck in fences to deer “tearing up” a yard, according to an online tracker.

The "765 reported incidents" is a fictitious number. Deer sightings are being included as "reported incidents." For some unknown reason, I am included as one of those residents who reported an incident. That is a goddam lie. I NEVER REPORTED ANY INCIDENT!  How do I get that removed?

Kristen continues on Facebook.

Where the hell did 600 deer in Mt. Lebanon come from, Kristen? If deer are such a "major, major safety issue" in Mt. Lebanon, and there are "765 reported incidents," shouldn't you be reporting a negative number of deer? When filing Right To Knows, Lebo Citizens, please keep in mind that social media communication is to be included. That is why I ask for ALL communication, but Mr. Feller never includes that. Seriously, why do we have mtl Magazine on Facebook?

Kristen continues with the PG reporter by throwing Kelly Fraasch under the bus with another lie.

“On one hand I really hold some of my colleagues responsible who were resistant to coming up with any kind of deer plan at all,” Ms. Linfante said. “At least one of my colleagues is very happy that this thing fell through. I find that unfortunate.”

That colleague would be Ms. Fraasch, who favors a sterlization [sic] approach and said she had proposed a plan in 2012.

“I’ve obviously had concerns about doing anything lethal in Mt. Lebanon because of the density of the population, so I thought this was actually a bit of a relief,” Ms. Fraasch said. “I think it’s good for Mt. Lebanon to take a moment and make sure this is the right way to go with dealing with our deer-management issue.”

From Kelly Fraasch's December 7, 2012 blog posting, Deer in Mt. Lebanon,  Kelly met with over 30 people (some pro-cull, some anti-cull, and some in-between) trying to find mid ground. This year, Kelly has been working with six communities to institute a regional deer management plan to include sterilization. Kristen is well aware of that.

Many residents have concerns about doing anything lethal in Mt. Lebanon, especially on the golf course and in passive parks adjacent to elementary schools. The golf course was to remain open for business during the archery program, in hopes to collect additional revenue. In addition, the golf course attracts many families, who enjoy sled riding there, when there is snow on the ground.

What about our Public Information Officer?

Ms. Morgans said she “knew nothing about it.” She added that she learned Friday afternoon from the municipal manager about the lack of licenses. It is not clear why it took a week after the news release announcing the hunt for the municipality to learn that no licenses were available.

And the question we have all been asking, "Wouldn't the municipal staff who volunteered be licensed archers already?"

Some Mt. Lebanon employees who planned to volunteer for the bow hunt might already have licenses.
But, Chief McDonough said, “just because of the very small number of deer tags available we decided it wasn’t worth taking four or five.”

PETA is getting involved

On Tuesday, the Mt. Lebanon Commission will be deciding which cruel method will be used to kill deer in Mt. Lebanon. PETA has a call to action on their website. Urge Mt. Lebanon Officials to Ditch Cruelty to Deer! I am sure that the commissioners will discount all emails from residents outside of Mt. Lebanon. Of course, when it came to toxicologists concerning the artificial turf, residents from Mt. Lebanon were biased and they only wanted to hear from those outside of Mt. Lebanon. Double standards prevail with the Mt. Lebanon Commission. 

Commissioner Fraasch has updated her blog with Final Deer Posting before December 9th Kelly has been an advocate for nonlethal methods, such as deer sterilization, of deer management. Please read her blog posting for more background and her thoughts on this topic. 

Avid bow hunters are asking why the archery will be limited to municipal employees when the law states: "No privileges shall be granted by those owning or operating the posted lands or waters to any other person to hunt for any game or wildlife upon the property; nor shall the person or persons owning or in charge of the lands be eligible to hunt for any game or wildlife on the lands or waters."  

Even Fake Lebo is mocking the municipality. From Facebook:

Courtesy Fake Lebo

I have been blogging about deer on Lebo Citizens for four years. I went to all the meetings back in 2006 and later begging the commission to stop the deer culling. Please attend Tuesday's Commission Meeting. Email the Commission or visit PETA's website and send the Commission a note asking the Commission to scrap bowhunting and lethal trapping.

Commission wants your children to witness this UPDATED

On Monday evening, the commission will be voting on lethal and non-lethal methods of deer "management"which include sterilization, archery, and trap and bolt. Information on trap and bolt was provided by others. I can't even look at that stuff. PLEASE write to commissioners and attend Monday's meeting and try to stop these lethal methods of deer "management." I will not be able to attend the meeting since I will be working. Kristen Linfante, who once described herself as the "lone wolf" on deer culling, knows how I feel about this issue.

The commission's goal is to reduce car accidents by 50% in five years. Interestingly, the municipality stopped tracking deer-vehicle collisions when the numbers indicated a decline in this final 7/31/14 report. The municipality is back to showing deer "incidents," which include deer sightings.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners take steps toward deer management

Mt. Lebanon revises plan to thin deer

Game Commission would prefer Mt. Lebanon hunt deer


Sterilization
Deer sterilization is a non-lethal method of deer management. Grant money is available for deer sterilization, which was not reflected in the costs posted by the PG. Sterilization is being done in other states with much success. If the Game Commission approves sterilization, we will be the first in the state to have such a program.

Archery
Archery will be done in daylight hours. Just as I had seen a buck with an arrow in its side walking around on MacArthur on Election Night, this will be a common sight for all. During a recent commission meeting, I asked if Bethel Park had an obligation to contain their deer within Bethel Park while they shot their deer. The answer was no.

Clover Trapping Deer

Please click on URL link below to view a short video that gives an example of the intense stress, panic, and struggle that deer experience in a clover trap. (I won't watch this.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XezJJNzg3nY


Clover Trapping and Shooting Deer

Expert Testimonial

Laura Simon, Wildlife Biologist, The Humane Society of the United States - Excerpts from Letter to Mt. Lebanon Commission, Nov. 6, 2012
While it may sound humane to live capture deer in this way and then euthanize them, the reality is quite different. First of all, deer are extremely stress-prone animals with a highly developed flight response. Once captured, deer tend to panic and "bounce off the walls" in response to being captured and restrained. Their fear level is compounded by the lack of visual barriers, which allows them to see oncoming threats but lack the capability to flee. ... Any effort to safely and humanely kill deer captured in a clover-trap will be arduous and potentially dangerous. The stress levels of deer in a clover trap approached by humans can be huge. Some deer will lie down and try to become invisible, but others will repeatedly charge all the sides of the trap, making a lethal shot extremely difficult at best. ... And of course pistols, like all firearms, are susceptible to ricochet and misfire, which raises additional humane and safety issues. There are various protocols which can be used for capturing and killing deer in clover-traps, yet all have high potential for inhumane outcomes. ... For all these reasons, the HSUS does not recommend the use of clover traps for live-capturing and euthanizing deer. ... T
Capture and Bolt Killing of Deer

EXPERT TESTIMONIALS

Jack Schrier, the NJ Fish & Game Council
The U.S. Veterinarians' Association has stated publicly that net-and-bolt is not appropriate for use in the field. If this loathsome slaughterhouse killing method is employed in any town, it will debase that town and its good people.

Allen T. Rutberg, Ph. D., School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
My personal opinion ... is that netting & bolting free range deer is at best difficult to carry out humanely and at worst is brutally cruel. Because the practice localizes responsibility for killing with specific property owners, it also stirs up personal animosity among members of the community. Again in my opinion, the potential for animal suffering and the elevated animosity generated by the practice outweighs any benefits that might be achieved by deer population reduction.

Peggy W. Larson, DVM, MS, JD
[Trap and Bolt] This is a very inhumane way to rid yourselves of excess deer because of the extreme fright experienced by the deer and because the captured bolt does not effect a clean kill when the animal’s head is not immobilized. ... If a wounded deer escapes the netting, a resident of the town could be injured and the town held liable. Anyone watching this violent procedure or even knowing about it certainly would find it unpleasant and some may find it emotionally traumatic, especially children. Bait, net and attempt to kill is not a humane solution.

John W. Grandy, Ph.D. Senior Vice President of The Humane Society of the United States
The Humans Society of the United States (HSUS) is committed to preventing needless pain and suffering to all animals. It is cruel to attempt to euthanize a wild animal with a captive bolt gun because the animal will suffer needlessly and terribly. There is nothing remotely humane in this process.

Laura Simon, Wildlife Biologist, The Humane Society of the United States

HSUS Letter to Mt. Lebanon Commission Opposing Clover Trap and Kill, 11/6/2012
I am writing to object strongly to your town’s plan to use trapping and the captive bolt as a management tool for white-tailed deer. The HSUS is committed to preventing suffering in all animals. We firmly believe that it is impossible to ensure that this technology is used correctly and consistently enough in the field to provide a humane death to deer. Captive bolt guns are designed for use on restrained domestic animals in highly structured and controlled environments. Even there, the "humaneness" of these devices has been called into question. These guns were not designed for use on wild animals under any circumstances, and certainly not as a management tool for white-tailed deer.

Clover Trap Capture and Bolt Killing of Deer

After the deer are trapped in a clover trap a hired contractor collapses the trap on the deer and attempts to steady the deer while another contractor fires the bolt gun -- a 4 inch retractable steel rod -- into her skull. Since the deer are inadequately restrained and are strong and heavy, they frequently manage to move. The bolt-gun is then misfired into their eye, jaw, ear or nose. The contractor must reload the bolt gun before trying again. Death from the bolt-gun is often not immediate, adding more prolonged suffering to already terrified animals.

The Reality of Net and Bolt Killing of Deer

www.youtube.com/watch?v=neOr8F8c6as

An explosive charge propels nets over a group of deer, tossing them in the air and ensnaring them. They thrash around, crying out in fear and panic as they are shot in the head with metal bolts. (Undercover footage by SHARK)

The above Net and Bolt youtube video was a S.H.A.R.K undercover investigation to expose animal cruelty. You can see the original video, background info. and veterinarian testimonies who viewed these videos regarding animal cruelty at the S.H.A.R.K. URL link below. We urge you to review the veterinarian testimonies.

Net and Bolt
http://www.sharkonline.org/index.php/deer-rocket-netting

Update November 21, 2014 6:16 PM The deer management plan is available for viewing on Monday's agenda. A few fast ones by our tricky experts: The plan discusses sharp shooting even though Manager Feller, Dave Brumfield, and John Bendel stated that they are opposed to sharpshooting.  Second, the Municipal Deer Control Permit is to include both lethal and sterilization, NOT file two separate permits. Finally, we are NOT to assume that there are 500 deer. That was a number that Kristen and Tony DiNicola came up with during a telephone conversation.  There was no aerial survey conducted.

"how many people are going to get killed?” UPDATED 3X

"...how many people are going to get killed?” Wow! Talk about fear mongering! That is what Kristen was quoted as saying in the Trib's Mt. Lebanon consultant says sterilization, culling should go in tandem to control deer population

Kristen Linfante wants to have deer culling as a line item in the budget. That translates to a tax increase, Folks. Estimates of $125,000 spent annually on deer culling is realistic, considering deer culling can cost up to $500 per deer. There are no grants available for deer culling; however money is available for deer sterilization. As Matt Santoni wrote in the Trib article, neighboring communities want no part of deer culling.

Fraasch said she is working with representatives from Scott, Green Tree, Castle Shannon, Baldwin Township, Whitehall and Bethel Park to create a task force that would tackle deer sterilization.
Mt. Lebanon's solicitor drafted a memorandum of understanding for each community's government to consider. Those that sign on can explore pooling funds or seeking grants, Fraasch said.
“This task force is not for anything but sterilization,” Fraasch said. “The other communities are not in favor of a cull; they're all too densely developed.”

Police or Animal Control received nearly 300 calls involving deer, which include neighbors calling about deer sightings, some involving the same deer going through the yards of the same neighborhood.

Between July 1, 2013, and Sept. 17, police or animal control received nearly 300 calls involving deer, Mt. Lebanon police Deputy Chief Aaron Lauth said. Of those, 46 involved people in vehicles striking, being struck by or swerving to avoid deer; three of those resulted in injuries, Lauth said.

Yes, there were three injuries as a result of hitting or swerving to avoid hitting a deer. One of those injuries was of a child hitting a curb while on a scooter.

Are there any areas in Mt. Lebanon where the speed limit exceeds 35 mph? If the field of vision is increased by clearing brush or bushes close to the roads, as recommended by the deer consultants, collisions would be reduced even more - giving drivers more time to react to deer crossing roads. The expert brought this up during the commission discussion session. The expert also noted again that the ordinance against feeding deer also plays a key role in reducing deer populations.

People who are pro-culling should be aware of the dangers every time a gun is fired. Bullets can ricochet, deer may not drop with one bullet and sharpshooters will continue to shoot at the deer, even if there is no safe backdrop. So the deer killed next to my house could have been running toward me and those bullets could have gone through my vinyl siding. See the red car in the photo below? There were deer killed in the area in front of the vehicle, a stone's throw away from my deck.

Lebo Citizens, do you want this to happen in your neighborhoods? How do you explain the sound of gun shots to your children? How about the sound of deer gasping for their last breaths?  Do you want sharpshooters baiting your yards with apples to lure deer so that weeks later, if the sharpshooters happen to be in the neighborhood at the time deer show up to feed? The sharpshooters would be shooting at night, when deer tend to bed down and not feed on apples. Do you want the bait to bring even more deer to your yards? Consider what rotting apples do to deer's digestive systems. Think about what Kristen Linfante wants to do in Mt. Lebanon. Think about how other communities understand how dangerous it is to hunt in our densely populated neighborhoods. Is the answer to kill in large parks? Trucks need to have access to the killing fields. So baiting would be done close to roads, increasing the odds for accidents, both vehicular and fatalities. 

Be careful what you wish for, Lebo Citizens.  It didn't work before. Why would it work this time? Kristen Linfante asks the question, "How many people are going to get killed?" Yes, Kristen, how many people are going to get killed when we have a deer culling in our community? I pray for none, but why take the risk, Kristen?

Update September 25, 2014 9:41 PM How is this for slanted journalism? Mt. Lebanon ponders how to control deer population Harry Funk, you're a real nice guy, but you neglected to share the count from March 2014.

A survey that Mt. Lebanon conducted in March 2013 counted 342 deer within its boundaries.

The aerial survey results for 2013 are here. Last year's results were credible, according to Kristen.
The aerial survey results for 2014 are here. This year's results are flawed, according to Kristen.

This year's survey total was 196 deer. This is a decrease of 146 deer (42.6%).

Update September 27, 2014 8:20 AM Hunter's bullet hits 5-day-old boy in head
Video Transcript: A JUDGE WOULD S WELL. ASHLIE HARDWAY, PITTSBURGH'S 4. A BABY BOY JUST FIVE DAYS OLD FIGHS FIRED INTO HIS HOME AND THE INFANT IS HIT IN THE HEAD. TONIGHT WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHERE THE SHOT CAME FROM. PI WHERE THE BABY IS TONIGHT. R THAT LITTLE BOY IS HERE IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM INDIANA COUNTY, HE DID GO THROUGH SOME SURGERY EARLIER TODAY AND IS NOW IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AFTER BEING SHOT WHILE IN HIS OWN HOME IN HIS FATHER'S ARM IT'S SAD. REPORTEEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND IN AN INSTANCE. THE BULLET THAT BURST THROUGH THIS WINDOW AND HIT AN INFANT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE LIKELY CAME FROM JOE BOSH'S FARM. CAN'T BELIEVE THE SHELL WENT THERE. REPORTER: BOSH SAYS HIS SON-IN-LAW W TRIGGER. HE WAS HUNTING WHERE HE FIRED THE SHOT THAT WENT 300 YARDS AND HIT THE BABY BOY WHILE INSIDE HIS HOME IN HIS FATHER'S ARMS. THE FATHER WAS HOLDING THE SAME LIVING AREA. MOM WAS PREPARING DINNER. WHEN DAD HEARD A BANG, FELT THE CHILD'S HEAD SNAP. DAD GOT GRAZED BY THE BULLE HEAD. SO FAR IT LOOKS LIKE A ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION A FARMER AND SAYS THE ALLOWED TO LET PEOPLE HUNT OUT OF SEASON AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING WHEN THE BABY WAS SHOT. THEY SEEN A DEER AND THEY FIRED. THEY SAID THEY SAW THE DIRT FLYING IN THE GROUND. CAN'T TELL. MIGHT HAVE RICOCHETTED. REPORTER: WHILE THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING, EVER IS AWAITING WORD ON WHETHER THIS BABY BOY WILL MAKE IT.

Update September 27, 2014 9:16 AM MORE THAN 300 YARDS AWAY!

Commission Meeting Agendas for Tuesday UPDATED 2X

Tuesday's meetings will be action packed. For starters, here is what is in store for the Commission Discussion Session starting at 6:30 PM: 

1. Deer topics:
a. Presentation on roadside detectors – Edward Mulka, JAFA Technologies
b. Conference call regarding sterilization – Enid Feinberg, Wildlife Rescue

6:55 P.M.
2. Wildcat/Middle Field Improvements Project:
a. Bids
b. Funding sources
c. Environmental tests
d. Maintenance
e. Other

7:15 P.M.
3. Review MS-4 and plan for TMDL stormwater. 

I really don't know what Item 3 is about, but the Commission has set aside 25 minutes for this agenda item.

But wait, there's more!

At 8:00 PM, the real fun begins. On the Commission Meeting Agenda: 

First, Senator Matt Smith and State Rep. Dan Miller will be presenting a citation to Mt. Lebanon for being an Allegheny League of Municipalities (ALOM) Banner Community. 

After recognition of a Mt. Lebanon volunteer, Citizen Comments begins. Citizens have five minutes to speak on any topic. Please sign the sheet as you enter the commission chambers if you wish to speak at this time. This is NOT for the Public Hearing.

Agenda Item 5 is the Public Hearing on Capital Investment. There will be a separate sign up sheet for the Public Hearing. This is when you can speak about the list of possible projects discussed so far:

1. Wildcat/Middle field remaining allocation
2. School safety signage
3. Recycling cans
4. Robb Hollow park improvements
5. Deer sterilization and other deer management practices
6. Traffic pedestrian upgrades
7. Bird Park and Twin Hills trail signs
8. Iroquois fill and grass
9. Church Place concrete pad
10. Rockwood Park concrete pad
11. Other park improvements
12. Consultant to develop design guidelines and HARB ordinance
13. Golf course pavilion
14. Firing range improvements
15. Public Works facility improvements
16. Private street contribution
17. Expanding street reconstruction and maintenance
18. Prescription drug incinerator
19. Sidewalks at tennis center
20. Other capital projects listed in the 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Program

First item on the list will be approved. See Agenda Item 14. We will get to hear from the sports people to please assign funds toward the turf project, even though it is already on the agenda. Deer people, here is your chance. PAYT people, time to speak up. Want more money for Tom Kelley's Public Works facility and parks improvements? Get in line. Sidewalks at the tennis center? Sign up. Live on a private road which needs attention? Tell the Commissioners all about it. Kelly Fraasch has been trying to talk about a prescription drug incinerator at all the Commission Discussion Sessions, but the commissioners would always run out of time. See where her possible project is on the list? Almost at the end. I know this will never happen, but it would be nice if the people who want artificial turf, would let the others speak, since it is already an agenda item. If not, I can see this being an after midnight meeting again. 

That was only Agenda No. 5. Items 6 & 7 are Home Rule Charter amendments for the November election.

Still with me? Let's skip to No. 12. Usually, Maher Duessel is appointed as an independent auditor annually, but this year, they will be getting a three year contract. This firm has been our independent auditor for the Municipality and the School District for YEARS! The commission wants to appoint Maher Duessel for audit years 2014, 2015, and 2016. 

But Items 14 & 15 are what most people are interested in, of late. 

14. Consideration to assign funds for athletic field improvements.

At this time, the Commission would like to assign an additional $162,600 for this project.

Use of Funds Amount
Base Bid $ 859,000
Add Alt. 6 (filtration) 21,000
Add Alt. 9 (fountain) 8,000
Professional services 122,000
Contingency 40,000
Total $1,050,000

Source of Funds Amount
11/25/13 Assignment $ 637,400
7/13/14 Assignment 162,600
Non-Municipal Sources 250,000
Total $1,050,000

The original amount to be assigned was $112,600. November 25, 2013 Commission Meeting Minutes

15. Award of bids for the installation of turf at Wildcat/Middle fields

On July 8, 2014, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners will award the contract to Vasco Sports Contractors for Base Bid 1 - Blended Turf with Thatch Zone with Sand and Rubber Infill ($859,000)
Add Alternate 6 - Storm Filtration System ($21,000) and
Add Alternate 9 - Water Fountain ($8,000)
for a total price of $888,000, subject to:
a) Receipt of the NPDSS (?) permit,
b) Receipt of $250,000 of non-municipal funds, and
c) Review and approval of all contract language by the Solicitor and Municipal Manager.

Number 16 has been top secret. The Commission had been speaking of a turf maintenance agreement with the School District, but we never would get any details. No. 16 is to execute the turf maintenance agreement with the School District.

And if there hasn't been enough controversial topics, the Commission will consider parking issues on Academy Avenue. 

Finally, Agenda Item 18 is moving the parking on Cedar Blvd. near Wildcat and Middle Fields, from the north side of the road to the south side of the road.

What the commissioners have managed to do is pack as many hot topics as possible into one evening. The only issue missing is the dog park. That could be under Robb Hollow park improvements.

And in case you missed it, Charlotte Stephenson wrote an excellent Letter to the Editor in today's Post-Gazette. "Newcomer tax and turf unnecessary"

Update July 4, 2014 11:02 AM Please visit newly created "Mt. Lebo Residents Against Child-Health Risks of Artificial Turf" on Facebook.

Update July 6, 2014 5:53 PM Mt. Lebanon, PA Residents Against Artificial Turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields Petition here.

Kelly blogs about turf, deer, and the budget

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch has updated her blog in time for tomorrow's commission meeting.

2014 Budget has links to the 2014 Recommended Budget and the Amendments to the 2014 Recommended Budget.

Why I voted No on Bendel's Proposal for Turf? Kelly discusses her concerns with the Turf Proposal for Middle and Wildcat Fields.

Kelly has been working on a non-lethal deer management option, sterilization. Deer in Mt. Lebanon Part 3 Biologists are learning that this method is extremely successful.

Thanks Kelly, for keeping us informed.

The 2014 Manager’s Recommended Budget UPDATED 2X

The 2014 Manager’s Recommended Budget has been posted on the Municipal website. http://ebooks.mtlebanon.org/budget/budget2014/  or  
http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/9737 (PDF)

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. The second budget review will begin at 5:30 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2013. The third budget review will begin at 5:30 PM on Monday, November 18, 2013. A second public hearing and Budget Adoption will be during the regular Commission meeting on December 10, 2013.

The first budget review video is available online here.

Update 11:01 PM The deer culling debate starts at the 2:58:30 mark of the video. I did not attend the first budget review for that very reason. Spoiler alert: Dave Brumfield will vote against marksmen in the community. Kristen was very disappointed to hear that. Knowing Kristen, she will have her supporters at Tuesday's public hearing to speak in favor of culling. Please watch Kristen, Matt, and Dave discuss this issue for fifteen minutes or so. Matt, Kelly, and Dave would like to have a second aerial survey repeated at the same time as last year, to compare apple to apples. Are the deer moving on? Are the numbers increasing substantially? We won't know until we have a second survey. Kristen was not in favor of that for some reason. John Bendel was not at the budget review. Remember, Kelly has been suggesting a nonlethal sterilization program from the beginning.

Thank you, Dave for taking that position. Matt, thanks for pressing for a second survey. Kelly, thanks for all your research to find a safe alternative to culling.

Update November 11, 2013 8:04 AM Page 69 and 70 of the PDF, or page 64 and 65 of the Budget show $1,050,000 for turfing and lighting Wildcat and Middle Fields. It is line item 23 and below the line on The Manager's Recommended Budget. The line is drawn under item number 19. At Tuesday's meeting, we will also have the sports people asking to move line item 23 above the line. Just months before, they were willing to pay part of the project through their funds and signage revenue. Now, we get to pay it all with our tax dollars.

Another way, proposed by the Manager is on page 3 and 4 of the Budget.

"The Commission may also want to consider expanding the size of the issue to reduce the size of the backlog of capital projects for major projects such as the development of athletic facilities, park master plan improvements, and other priority projects."

In other words, increase the bond issue to include artificial turf.

Our commissioners want to do business with these people?

On Tuesday, White Buffalo is scheduled to speak at the Commission Discussion Session. You might recall that the commissioners were going to have a conference call with "Tony" DiNicola at the last commission discussion session, but that phone call never took place. There was no cellular service thirty miles off the coast of Virginia. In my opinion, that was a blessing.

What I am about to share with you is the kind of work White Buffalo does. If the deer does not die from one shot, they suffocate it by placing a plastic bag over the deer's head. Starting in 2004, White Buffalo was hired to cull deer in the Akron, Ohio area. I have not watched (and never will) the video that is linked to this web page. http://www.sharkonline.org/index.php/akroncruelty-com

The following article appeared in The Blade, a Toledo newspaper, five plus years later http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2009/11/15/Favored-firm-for-deer-cull-accused-of-cruel-methods.html

In another lawsuit, a woman from Solon, Ohio sued White Buffalo, the city of Solon, and Anthony DiNicola and won. http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/metro/news/stevepokin/pokin-around-if-deer-kill-protestors-cause-delay-the-city/article_23694fc8-836f-5f0d-81ff-4a76f938fa38.html

At the time, Geiger was what you would call an activist. Solon's public works director described her in a different way in a memo he wrote that found its way into the court file. He called her and others "nut cases."

I guess that is what I would be called. Nut case.

Has White Buffalo ever worked in a confined space like Mt. Lebanon? Do three of our adjoining lots total five acres or more?

Traci Cardenas, a leader of the Town and Country protest, says her concern is safety. The city has used White Buffalo in the past and required that sharpshooters work on land that is at least 10 contiguous acres. That has now been lowered to five acres, meaning three adjoining property owners with a total of five acres can OK a sharpshooter.

This is an accident waiting to happen. Why subject our residents and our deer to such inhumane activities? Why can't we just do sterilization?  It is safer. It is less controversial. There is grant money available. It is a no-brainer.

A topic that takes everything out of me UPDATED 3X

Last night, the first topic on the agenda for the Discussion Session was deer.  A conference call with White Buffalo's wildlife biologist, Anthony DeNicola was scheduled. Unfortunately, that call did not take place since "Tony" was on an island thirty miles off of Virginia and could not get a signal from the cell phone that was flown to him. He did send a report to the commission which Tom Kelley shared at the meeting.

Since this is my blog, I will point out what I believe are his most significant findings. Mt. Lebanon can biologically support many more deer. Socially, it is up to the community what it will support. I liked how Tom Kelley made the point of saying "dead deer" reports vs. Kristen's "deer incident" report, which included sightings of deer in yards.

To reduce the deer population, it would be in two phases:

• Phase 1 Reduce the population through culling and sterilization
• Phase 2 Reduce the population through culling and sterilization

Their cost for sterilization would be $1000 per deer. Cost for culling would be between $200 to $400 plus a $75 processing fee per deer. Sterilization would be more cost effective in the long run since unsterilized deer could produce 2-3 fawns per year.

Kristen reported that Tony felt that there were many more deer than what the aerial survey showed. I am not sure how that is.

Matt Kluck said that the report shows in black and white that Mt. Lebanon could support many more deer.

Kelly Fraasch asked when the commission could have a conference call with Maryland. http://www.deerfriendly.com/deer-population-control Maryland has had a successful nonlethal program using surgical sterilization.

Dave Brumfield prefers sterilization because it is safer. I would think Kristen would too, since she felt that dogs on leashes in Williamsburg was unsafe.

I have uploaded the podcast from last night's discussion session. It is available here. The podcast begins with deer.

Update September 24, 2013 11:42 PM Please click on the link I have provided in the blog post. Scroll down a bit and you will see Kelly's four page document on "Deer in Mt. Lebanon." It is linked to my Google Docs.

Mt. Lebanon hiring firm to count deer February 7, 2013 Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
... [Commisioner] Mrs. Fraasch has composed and posted online a four-page document, "Deer in Mt. Lebanon [PDF]," ... she expresses her opposition to hunting by rifle or bow, instead favoring sterilization by removal of does' ovaries as a viable option. She cites a significant cost savings over the long term and mitigation of some hazards associated with culling...

Update September 24, 2013 1:33 PM Here is a copy of the White Tailed Deer Population Control Options presented by Tom Kelley at last night's meeting.

Update September 26, 2013 9:15 AM Speaking of Bibles (see 10:43 PM), there is this.