A number of folks who like to criticize youth sports have a short memory. First, the youth sports associations came out last year in full support of the Miller bond proposal that would have provided funds for both field improvements (either at McNeilly or elsewhere) and the swimming pool. This proposal failed because it did not receive the support of Commissioners Kluck and DeIulius. Had that plan been approved, the pool work may have been completed by this point, not to mention the efforts to improve our fields.
In my more recent meetings with Commissioner Fraasch regarding fields and parks, I have (on several occasions) suggested that the $1.3 million in unassigned funds be applied to pool and rec center. However, I've been told by Commissioner Fraasch that the municipal staff does not want to fix the pool piecemeal. The municipal staff gave me a different answer. It may be their only option now.
The more recent Fraasch/Kluck proposal would not have provided $1 for pool repairs for at least another 12-24 months according to the spreadsheet they provided to me. Similarly, for those who have suggested that we can't spend money we don't have on things like turf, I hope you understand that the Fraasch/Kluck proposal seeks to violate that very same principle. We don't have the funds available for their $7 million package either - it would require a bond. Absent spending the unassigned funds, most of the items in their package will require a bond . . . or further delays, closures, cancelations and repair bills.
Lastly, I have not been associated with anyone in youth sports, the YSA or otherwise who has suggested that we should ignore the pool, the rec center, the ice rink or any other facility for the benefit of fields. Not one. Instead, the folks who are in support of a field project, support this initiative as part of a larger Rec proposal, much like the one proposed by Mr. Miller and even Commissioner Fraasch - we just want it to happen sooner than she has proposed.
I sense the swimmers do too these days . . . .
Let's be honest Dave. There are less than 10 people in the community who regularly complain about Youth Sports. These are the same 10 people who spend the vast majority of their time complaining to each other on another blog.
ReplyDeleteDon't waste your time...
With respect to "..less than 10 people in the community who regularly complain about Youth Sports", I think that statement needs a great deal of supporting evidence; perhaps the anonymous poster will provide it. I rather think the issue is not "Youth Sports" per se, but the expense to the taxpayer for benefits that accrue to only a small percentage of the residents of Mt. Lebanon; unsubstantiated statements to the contrary notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, in many parts of this country cities and towns (example: Sandy Springs, Georgia) have discovered that outsourcing such traditional community assets as libraries, parks, swimming pools, and yes, sports fields, have resulted in benefits to both users and taxpayers. If you are open to free-market ideas, please read the Annual Privatization Report 2011: Local Government Privatization from the Reason Foundation - in particular the section on "Parks and Recreation Privatization Update on page 51.
The suggested "liberterian" approach is a novel concept, although it is probably not very realistic. I have not used the golf course, ice rink, pool or library for a number of years, but I don't complain about funding them when I pay my taxes.
ReplyDeleteDave, do you ever see the meetings? Or listen?
ReplyDeleteThe reason the "official" proposal by Fraasch/Kluck did not include pool repairs THIS YEAR was because your buddies Linfante and Brumfield said that they would not support them. So Kluck and Fraasch removed them from the proposal. Without three votes they couldn't get it passed.
The original proposal (prior to your buddies not signing on) would have clearly fixed the pool issues THIS YEAR prior to the pool even opening.
You don't even try to get things right, do you?
It was even in a PUBLIC MEETING that municipal staff told Fraasch that they didn't want to do the piecemeal approach.
Your buddies blocked the repairs to the pool because they were too focused on getting all your turfing done. Simple as that.
Anon 11:04, I guess I missed the public meeting at which Commissioners Kluck and Fraasch offered to fix the pool before Memorial Day. Can you let me know the date of the meeting so I can listen to the podcast. In the meantime, I'll email Commissioners Fraasch and Kluck and request the details of their original proposal. Thanks for filling me in.
ReplyDelete