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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mammabee |
Posted - 01/08/2010 : 15:02:39
http://mdjonline.com/bookmark/5487622
that can be more fields for us west of I75 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 01/12/2015 : 10:00:33
Any input into how this has impacted Marietta?
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| oldschooldad |
Posted - 04/15/2010 : 10:48:39
Group makes new offer for baseball park in Marietta
by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@mdjonline.comApril 14, 2010 12:00 AM | 803 views | 1 | 10 | | MARIETTA - The private baseball group that was turned down in January by the Marietta City Council to lease the city's 7-acre Aviation Sports Complex located on Aviation Road off South Marietta Parkway has offered another proposal.
During the council's Monday work session, Councilman Grif Chalfant said the baseball group, named 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy, had a new offer on the table to lease the park from the city.
The group previously proposed leasing the site for 20 years in exchange for spending $800,000 in renovation costs. But in January, Mayor Steve Tumlin warned that he would veto such a proposal. Tumlin said at the time it was nothing against the baseball group, but state law says one council can't bind another, which is exactly what a 20-year lease would do.
"My main thing was 20 years. My mind stopped there. It's just not legal," Tumlin said.
The 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy was founded in 2007 by Danny Pralgo of Roswell, CEO of Westbury Carpet One, a flooring company with store locations in Marietta and Norcross. Pralgo was a baseball player at Lassiter High School in the 1980s and has also served as a head coach in the East Cobb Baseball program.
The group's latest proposal is to lease the site during the four-year term of council, with an exclusive right to negotiate subsequent renewals. But as opposed to its initial proposal, the city would be responsible for paying the up to $800,000 in improvements to the facility, while the baseball group would agree to pay $12,000 to $20,0000 a year in lease payments.
Chalfant said the lease payments and the amount the city would spend on the park are negotiable.
Tumlin said he's more amendable to the latest proposal, although it will take some "wordsmithing."
"It could work, but I think they got to stay within four years," Tumlin said. "... I don't think we ought to build the $800,000 to their specifications, but we build the park almost independent of them, but obviously get input from them. Whatever monies are necessary to build three quality baseball fields, they agree to make sure Marietta citizens have a certain amount of access to it. I can live with that."
The Aviation Sports Complex has one full size baseball field and two smaller fields adequate for adult or youth softball, said Rich Buss, city parks chief.
In 1992, the city and Marietta City Schools entered into an agreement to build the ball fields for use by the school system's athletic program. That agreement expired in 2007, at which time the school system no longer needed the fields after it built a new high school. Since then, the city has rented out the fields to little league teams and adult softball teams for $10 an hour without lights and $15 an hour with lights. Because the baseball field has been used for football and soccer, it is no longer smooth enough to be used for tournament baseball, requiring new sod, Buss said.
On Monday night, Councilman Jim King said before the council agrees to negotiate with a private company to lease the site, it first needs to determine whether it wants a baseball/softball program at the site to begin with. In response, council voted 5-2, with Philip Goldstein and Annette Lewis opposing, to place on tonight's council agenda a vote that would determine whether council wants a baseball/softball program at the site.
Lewis voted "no" because she's waiting to hear what the citizens committee charged with spending the $25 million parks bond comes up with first.
"We're in the midst of the park plan and the citizens committee has not made recommendations to where ball fields will be located," she said.
Goldstein said if the city has a baseball program at Aviation, it should be run by the city, not leased out to a private firm.
"I have significant concerns using massive amounts of public tax dollars locking the public out of the park," Goldstein said.
Goldstein said it makes no sense for the city to spend $800,000 on upgrading the site only to turn it over to a private firm that would only pay the city between $12,000 and $20,000 a year.
"It's a sweetheart deal for the private firm," Goldstein said. |
| longhorn1 |
Posted - 01/25/2010 : 20:47:09
stock,
I would have had the same opportunity as Danny to get the facility. No problem there. The city needes money. The facility is not self sustaining or even in consistent use since MHS no longer plays baseball there.
Sr, It is a blighted facility in a not so great area, not a lot of changes for the better over the last 10 years. Again budget shortfalls - eliminate expenduratures. Absolute no brainer. At least this would one thing in area and vicinity that would through year round use cut down on vandalism and be a positive. Local businesses I am sure would benefit as well. It is not financially viable for Marietta to maintain the park, it has not been self sustaining. As long as the dogs barking or the rc planes don't buzz my house and those around, who cares? There are not taxpayers beating the doors down to use it as it is...that is kind of the whole point of the lease idea they opened up. |
| Critical Mass |
Posted - 01/22/2010 : 14:28:57
6-4-3 needs to throw more money at it, that usually works in politics. |
| stock |
Posted - 01/21/2010 : 13:06:51
quote:
Originally posted by longhorn1
Peanut,
OK! How many of you actually pay taxes in City of Marietta? I have for the last 10 years, Cobb County for a long time before that. That is not a great area. I have lived in proximity for all my life. I speaking from am a point of knowledge, not outside speculation. I have no affiliation with 6-4-3, tryout or otherwise. I have no ax to grind. Whatever could be worked out with Danny would only help the community / area. Why all the hate? If this could have worked, why would it be a bad thing? Do you think all the people that use it now pay city taxes if that is your gold standard for the deal? Love to hear some feedback. (I am sure I will!)Steve is the real deal and has been very good for Marietta. Gov pecking order is not his fault.
I compete against 6-4-3 but have no ill will. We live less than 6 miles from the facility in question and again think it would be only a positive.
Brian Gilley
ECB 11-U Stars
Difference is people using it now are not making money off of it. Would you have ill will if they allowed them to open a company that competes in your field of work? |
| Peanutsr |
Posted - 01/21/2010 : 11:44:33
Longhorn one,
Ther was no "hate" in any of my posts. I have no animosity or ill will against Danny or 6-4-3. I hope he can find an equitable solution, be it with a city, some county, or a private individual.
I have lived in the Marietta area for over thirty years, and lived within 4 miles of the area that the park in question is for at least 15 of those. So I too am speaking from "a point of knowledge" as you say.
I tried to separate the fact that the proposed deal was for a baseball complex so as to eliminate any positive bias or predjudice I may have towards baseball. I don't think you have. Would you feel as strongly about it if the organization that wanted to use the property were , say a ,remote control airplane org. who would charge the public and limit access, or say a dog training facility that wanted to charge the public and limit access?
My point is that it would set a bad precedent for a municipality to begin parceling off public property,( rent free for twenty years ) to private, for profit, business entities. While 6-4-3 is a well run organization and has benifited , and will continue to benifit kids for years to come, you and I both know that having 6-4-3 in that area is not going to do a whole lote for children and young adults from that vicinity.
If the city could come up with a fair price to lease the property, or even sell the property to Danny below market value I would support it. Using a loophole to provide a private, for profit entity a twenty year rent free lease is a little extreme in my opinion. It would open the door to the possibility of massive amounts of fraud.quote:
Originally posted by longhorn1
Peanut,
OK! How many of you actually pay taxes in City of Marietta? I have for the last 10 years, Cobb County for a long time before that. That is not a great area. I have lived in proximity for all my life. I speaking from am a point of knowledge, not outside speculation. I have no affiliation with 6-4-3, tryout or otherwise. I have no ax to grind. Whatever could be worked out with Danny would only help the community / area. Why all the hate? If this could have worked, why would it be a bad thing? Do you think all the people that use it now pay city taxes if that is your gold standard for the deal? Love to hear some feedback. (I am sure I will!)Steve is the real deal and has been very good for Marietta. Gov pecking order is not his fault.
I compete against 6-4-3 but have no ill will. We live less than 6 miles from the facility in question and again think it would be only a positive.
Brian Gilley
ECB 11-U Stars
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| mikewells |
Posted - 01/21/2010 : 11:37:21
quote:
Originally posted by touchemall
Maybe if 643 had a scary name like "Thunder" then the board would have sided with them.
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| longhorn1 |
Posted - 01/20/2010 : 23:14:41
Peanut,
OK! How many of you actually pay taxes in City of Marietta? I have for the last 10 years, Cobb County for a long time before that. That is not a great area. I have lived in proximity for all my life. I speaking from am a point of knowledge, not outside speculation. I have no affiliation with 6-4-3, tryout or otherwise. I have no ax to grind. Whatever could be worked out with Danny would only help the community / area. Why all the hate? If this could have worked, why would it be a bad thing? Do you think all the people that use it now pay city taxes if that is your gold standard for the deal? Love to hear some feedback. (I am sure I will!)Steve is the real deal and has been very good for Marietta. Gov pecking order is not his fault.
I compete against 6-4-3 but have no ill will. We live less than 6 miles from the facility in question and again think it would be only a positive.
Brian Gilley
ECB 11-U Stars |
| touchemall |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 16:53:08
Maybe if 643 had a scary name like "Thunder" then the board would have sided with them. |
| gasbag |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 09:44:19
This is our Government at their finest....they obtain bids / proposals after posting an RFP and then turn it down ! Glad my tax dollars are being spent utilizing such wisdom and efficiency. If they new there were certain business structures, deal points and the like that were critical to a deal to be consummated, they should have outlined the parameters so everyone would know and understand. Sounds to me like both 6-4-3 and YMCA were asked to throw darts at a dart board and then the City turned them away. Not 6-4-3 nor YMCA's fault but the City's fault.
Maybe when the City ACTUALLY KNOWS what it is they want to accomplish with these fields, it would be worth someone's time to respond. Until then, the City is wasting everyone's time and efforts chasing something that they have not yet clearly delineated nor defined. But then again, since they are playing with OUR tax dollars without direct accountability from US, the TAXPAYER, they'll continue to muck things up at our expense. |
| jscoda |
Posted - 01/16/2010 : 09:42:53
To me the bottom line is the field is not being used for the benefit of anyone and I doubt the YMCA will put any dollars into its up keep. The city needs money, 643 seems to be the best solution as far as bringing the park back to life and making it something to be proud of. Local business will benefit from increased traffic, fast food and gas purchases and Cobb/Marietta will see some tax payments they don't see now. But with that said, I am in favor of the park being sold to 643 for a very reasonalbe sum.
quote:
Originally posted by BREAMKING
I would probably disapprove knowing the little that I do. I would probably offer to sell it to them though for market value. I just always assumed this organization was for profit. I could be wrong I have no idea how they operate. For me it is the leasing out of public land for zero dollar value. The usage thing is not really the deal breaker for me. There are a lot of businesses that would like a lease for 20 yrs. on seven acres for free. I hope the mdj does another article telling us what happens and who voted for what so I can make my vote accordingly.
I went by this park about seven months ago coming back from better baseball just to show a buddy of mine. We both come to the conclusion with just some hard work and a little money the park could become playable again pretty fast. I do not think it would take 800k to fix it. I think for 6-4-3 this is a heck of a deal.
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| AllStar |
Posted - 01/15/2010 : 22:53:56
Lord knows we need to keep all the blighted eyesores intact. |
| trout7 |
Posted - 01/15/2010 : 16:46:53
That a way to stick up for your old teammate!
Good Luck Danny!! |
| stock |
Posted - 01/13/2010 : 08:36:00
More vanishing posts. |
| mikewells |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 12:48:36
" Thunder " Tumlin ?
 |
| Alter-Ego |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 11:10:42
The deal, as it was submitted, is dead per the MDJ:
http://mdjonline.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Tumlin+says+baseball+proposal+out%20&id=5523756
The 20 year part of the deal would bind the next council, which is against state law.
There may still be options, that include a rent agreement, but as initially proposed is dead.
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| Critical Mass |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 07:56:21
Tumlin says baseball proposal out
by Jon Gillooly
jgillooly@mdjonline.comJanuary 12, 2010 01:00 AM | 281 views | 0 | 3 | | MARIETTA - The City Council has apparently killed a proposal to lease its seven-acre Aviation Sports Complex to a private baseball group for the next 20 years without ever bringing the matter to a vote.
At its Monday Committee of the Whole meeting, the council was to discuss the proposal of leasing its sports complex to a local baseball group by the name of 6-4-3 DP Baseball Academy in exchange for the group spending $800,000 in renovating the baseball field.
But over the weekend at a council retreat, Mayor Steve "Thunder" Tumlin noted that he would veto such a proposal. Tumlin said it's nothing against the baseball group, but state law says one council can't bind another one, which is exactly what a 20-year lease would do. There is a loophole to get around that state law, by leasing the park through the Downtown Marietta Development Authority, but Tumlin frowns on that method. That's what got the city stuck with the Hilton Marietta Conference Center, he said.
"I think it's caused us to get in over our head a couple times and I've griped about it for 14 years," Tumlin said of the DMDA pass-through method.
Councilman Grif Chalfant, who had pushed for the lease, said he backed off when hearing that Marietta's new mayor intended to veto the proposal.
"I just didn't want to start out crossing Thunder. I didn't want to start out with a fight," Chalfant said.
Both Chalfant and Tumlin said they realize that the academy can't afford to spend $800,000 in field renovations if only to have the field for the four-year term of the current council.
Chalfant said city staff will work with the baseball group to see if there is some other option besides the one presented.
"Maybe the city, through the public parks bond, would work out a deal with them and collect rent," Chalfant said.
In other business, the council received an update on the city-owned Marietta Board of Lights and Water's first meeting, which was conducted earlier in the day. The BLW voted 6-0 with member Arthur Vaughn absent to elect Vaughn vice chairman of the BLW. Last year's BLW vice chairman was Councilman Jim King. Tumlin, who in his position as mayor serves as BLW chairman, said Vaughn was the first African-American to hold the position. Vaughn works in the finance department for Southern Polytechnic State University. He also co-chaired Marietta Progress, Inc., the citizens committee that spearheaded the passage of the $25 million parks bond issue last November.
The BLW also voted 6-0 Monday to extend the contract of its legal counsel for another year at a cost of about $35,000, BLW general manager Bob Lewis said.
The BLW's attorney is Kevin Moore of the Marietta law firm Moore, Ingram, Johnson and Steele.
The council will hold its monthly council meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the council chamber located at 205 Lawrence Street in Marietta. |
| Alter-Ego |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 13:49:15
We don't know what all Danny has planned and they said:
"...6-4-3 DP group offered to provide scholarships to those who couldn't afford to pay."
We keep saying we want to take baseball back into areas that are not getting the exposure but does that mean that it can't be higher level of play? Aren't there the young Marquise Grissom's of the world that deserve to have access to higher baseball too?
From what I understand, Danny is a lot more in it for the kids that trying to make money on all of this. (I think that has been his conflict with others in the baseball community). If he does that, it may be the only way some kids in that area ever get to play Travel Baseball.
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| the fan |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 13:47:19
The fields in question are at the end of Aviation, across the south loop. They are used for softball tournaments. Mostly they are used for pick up soccer games by residences who did not pay for this park. I don't know if everyone is aware,but cities and counties are having money issues. The city of Marietta would like to not have to pay for maintaining these fields.Yes I am sure they would love to have residences have open access to the park, but that does not seem possible. So with deal, it sounds like 6-4-3 is getting a sweet deal,but Marietta will get the park back in 20 years and it will be top notch........at no cost. |
| Shut Out |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 12:38:46
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
quote:
Originally posted by Shut Out
I'm curious how the City Rec department thought that his program that benefits a few elite baseball teams made up of kids from mostly outside of marietta is more beneficial than a YMCA soccer program that benefits only city of Marietta kids...
Was that a competing option?
That is what the artilce in the Marietta Daily Jounal said. |
| TAZ980002 |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 12:27:53
If Danny can work this deal out, more power to him. Just proves he is a good businessman as well as a good coach!! I'm glad to see someone other than free loaders receive some benefit from our pork filled government handouts |
| Peanutsr |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 11:40:06
I stand corrected.
These are the fields you can get to using the road that cuts through between South Marietta Pkwy. and South Cobb Drive, that goes through Southern Polytechnic. I thought those were fields for Life College.
They have bathrooms and concession buildings.
6-4-3 would be getting one sweet deal.quote:
Originally posted by Shut Out
quote:
Originally posted by Peanutsr
Actually those fields in current condition are serving somebody.
The citizens of Marietta who paid for them can use them.
6-4-3 uses them currently, and the team my son played on last year played a tournament there in which we paid a gate fee.I believe that triple Crown and Nations baseball have both used these fields for tournaments. So don't pretend that without 6-4-3 that this park is just wasteland.
And to ALLSTAR, my take on the article is that 6-4-3 will have control over the fields and sole discretion over use and fees that can be charged.
Again, I have no issue with Pralgo wanting to build his baseball academy. Let him gather some investors, buy, and develop some property and build it, like ECB.
Allowing a business entity (and make no mistake, this is a business entity) to take over a public park with the ability to exclude the public from or charge for the use of that property, is wrong.quote:
Originally posted by ec1
Those fields in current condition are serving nobody---period. Let the city spend money the money to fix them up--never happen and with all the other priorities. Good for 643 or the YMCA who wants to invest in the future.More fields, more tournaments, more opportunity for everyone in East Cobb and Metro area. Originally posted by Peanutsr[/i]
The fields he wants to take over rent free for twenty years were bought and paid for by the taxpayers. $800,000 over twenty years is nothing compared to the revenues he will be able to generate while being able to limit and/or charge the public (who paid for the fields in the first place)for access.
While I have nothing against his desire to build and develop his baseball academy, I don't think the public land, paid for by the taxpayers, should be used to further his ambitions. Especially since his enterprise will then have the ability to exclude the very people who paid for the parks in the first place.
The field they are using now that you played a tournament on last year is a different facility. That is a county field behind the civic Center. Perry Parham/Larry Bell. The field the article references i believe is behind the Cobb Transit station that is an old softball field. I'm curious how the City Rec department thought that his program that benefits a few elite baseball teams made up of kids from mostly outside of marietta is more beneficial than a YMCA soccer program that benefits only city of Marietta kids...
[/quote] |
| AllStar |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 11:25:03
quote:
Originally posted by Shut Out
I'm curious how the City Rec department thought that his program that benefits a few elite baseball teams made up of kids from mostly outside of marietta is more beneficial than a YMCA soccer program that benefits only city of Marietta kids...
Was that a competing option? |
| mammabee |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 11:09:55
oh who cares about all of that really
we just saw it as opening us up some more field spaces
quote:
Originally posted by Peanutsr
Let's not be naive.
What 6-4-3 plans on doing ,in no way shape or form resembles a typical rec league at a typical county park. And if I were a gambling man I would bet that Danny isn't doing this out of some altruistic desire to help the public in this "depressed area".
If I were on the board I would vote to sale the property outright as opposed to providing a business entity a rent free lease for twenty years. If that was not feasable then I would charge 6-4-3 some kind of yearly rent with stipulationss that when not being used the public should have access.
What is to stop Danny from building a few warehouses on the property and using it as a distribution point for his Carpet and flooring company?
What's the difference?quote:
Originally posted by touchemall
So if you were on the Board to approve or disapprove, you would rather see that piece of land fall into further disrepair than have someone come in and fix it up and use? Nobody knows what 643's plans are or how much community involvement there may be once and if it gets approved. That whole area is in need of revitalization near that park. Oh and don't think your local parks are any different. They sign usage contracts in the spring and fall with the Park and Rec dept. which give them first rights to the use of their fields over other "tax payers." Same thing as the exclusion you are so worried about.
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| AllStar |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 11:06:13
I guess I would have a bigger problem with it if there were several options for the property, i.e. multiple buyers or potential lessees or big demand for field times on the fields and 6-4-3 got some kind of sweetheart deal over equal or better bidders.
I don't begrudge a guy benefiting from seeing an opportunity and taking it. If there are other alternatives besides the current current state, that would be a different story. |
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