Several state lawmakers urged Ripken Baseball yesterday to renegotiate deals with the city of Aberdeen and help the small community as it struggles with debts it took on to build a minor league baseball complex.
Three state officials whose districts include Aberdeen said yesterday that the Ripken organization should revisit the deals, which were the subject of a special report published Saturday in The Sun.
"I don't think the Ripkens should get blamed, but I would hope out of goodwill that they renegotiate some of the deals that they made, to relieve some of the city's problems," said Del. B. Daniel Riley, a Democrat whose district includes Aberdeen.
State Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican who also represents the area, said, "By everyone's admission, it was a bad deal for the city."
"I think that in good faith, that Ripken - knowing the Ripkens - should come back and try to work something," Jacobs said. "If the town is unable to do the things it needs to do, that's bad for everyone."
Documents and e-mails obtained by The Sun show that the city has sought more money from Ripken entities. Though the two sides have talked, they have failed to resolve differences.
A spokesman for Ripken reiterated yesterday the willingness of the Hall of Fame-bound ballplayer to consider possible remedies. Ripken owns the IronBirds, which are based at the $18 million, 6,000-seat, stadium.
"The Ripken organization is open, as they said they have been from the start, to help the city get out of the city's problem," said John Maroon.
"If the city has some specific ideas on how to accomplish that goal, I'm certain [representatives] will listen to them and see if they can come to some sort of resolution that makes good sense for both parties," he said.
Del. Mary-Dulany James, a Democrat whose district includes the stadium complex, said, "It makes good corporate sense as a community leader" for Ripken to revisit the contracts.
In 2000, Aberdeen took the lead in building and financing a minor league stadium. Ripken's companies, which operate a youth baseball academy on adjacent city-owned land, as well as the state and Harford County, contributed to the stadium costs.
Officials had intended to repay debt through fees, taxes and a deal to develop a nearby retail and entertainment center. But the center has not been built, and city revenues from the other sources have fallen short of projections. The community of 14,000 people owes $6.7 million on the project. The city is also responsible for an estimated $2 million in future repairs.
Betsy Campion, chairwoman of Aberdeen's stadium management board, said the city's representatives on the board are "frustrated with what's going on."
An Aberdeen city councilman wants Ripken's business representatives to be more specific about what help they're offering.
"They say they want to explore ways they can help - well, what are they?" said Councilman Michael G. Hiob. "We can sit at the table all day long, but they have the upper hand."
Officials said they have been contacted by Ripken Baseball and plan to meet in hopes of resolving two main issues - both of which appear to revolve around a disparity between what the city expected and what the contract language outlines.
The first involves a dispute over payments for nonbaseball events at Ripken Stadium, which in 2006 brought in about half what the city expected. Though the city has the right to host concerts, banquets or similar functions to generate cash, it hired Ripken's Tufton Professional Baseball LLC to book and stage events.
After twice renegotiating to get more cash, the city signed a three-year pact with Tufton in 2006 with the expectation that it would generate nearly $100,000 annually, based on Tufton's past success in hosting events. But the contract language was vague - allowing Tufton to deduct for "expense reimbursement from third parties, such as cleaning."
City officials, awaiting a $92,000 payment, recently received a check for $45,000.
"We're not going to stand for it, and that's all there is to it," Campion said.
Maroon said that the payment reflects a down year for events and was more than required.
"The [memorandum of understanding] was rewritten because the city wanted an opportunity to make more money when Tufton experiences success in booking nonbaseball events. 2006 was an unsuccessful year in that area, and Tufton ended up paying more than required by the MOU," Maroon said in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, City Manager Douglas R. Miller said there have been continuing conversations with Tufton about resolving a significant shortfall in monthly payments from various Ripken entities that lease land for the youth baseball academy. In 2000, the city agreed to buy land for the academy, which is next to Ripken Stadium, and extend utilities.
Leases struck with different Ripken companies were intended to cover the city's debt payments, though the costs rose considerably after the contracts were signed, according to interviews and a review of records.
Aberdeen Finance Director Opiribo Jack said the city needs $26,000 a month to cover costs, but gets about $20,000.
Riley said the Ripken group struck the best contracts it could and should not be faulted for the problems. "It's like they say in The Godfather: 'It's nothing personal, it's just business.'"
justin.fenton@baltsun.com
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For past coverage, see baltimoresun.com/aberdeen