Letter from Leo
Received a letter from Leo Trich late Thursday. He asked that it be placed on the blog. So, here it is:
THANK YOU WILD THINGS FANS...and the players too!
It worked! Ten years later – Falconi Field, now called Consol Energy Park, is a proven success and is now on the tax rolls. Wild Things owners have purchased the ballpark at fair market value – which virtually equaled the bank mortgage owed by BSI, the volunteer group that developed and built the ballpark facility.
The ballpark was first built for just under $3 million in 2002, plus nearly one million in land and infrastructure expenses. Additional improvements were also made just after the second season, including purchasing more land for more parking and paving it, additional seating, a new scoreboard and a new highly visible sign facing Interstate 70. In all more than $2 million was spent for these and other add-on improvements.
Minor League pro baseball is going strong, with more than one million fans attending Wild Things games so far. When you add up all events, concerts, high school and college games, PONY Baseball games, numerous community events and a monthly antique show – and the ballpark facility attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year. To put that in perspective, that was the average number of people visiting the Mellon (Civic) Area in Pittsburgh annually.
New development near the ballpark – which served as an anchor for growth on the 60 acres originally owned by United Washington Associates, totals nearly $100 million. It is estimated that over 800 jobs have been created and nearly a half million in new tax revenue is being generated. So, the project suggested by the non-profit group – Ballpark Scholarships Inc., DID WORK. The concept of building a ballpark and bringing in minor-league baseball has enhanced the local economy and the quality of life in the Washington area.
It is not widely known, but over the years, BSI, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, has made annual donations to North Franklin Township in lieu of taxes, totaling nearly $400,000. BSI also donated almost 20 acres of land along the perimeter of the parking lot area to the North Franklin Recreation and Business Authority for the development of public walking trails and a pavilion – just recently completed.
It should also be noted that under the sales agreement, BSI holds onto the gas and oil rights, so that any future monies generated from that asset will be used for scholarships. Since 2002, about $40,000 has been donated to area young people by BSI in the form of college scholarships. Additionally, all existing agreements with California University of PA and PONY Baseball will be honored by the new owners. It was also agreed to that the ballpark would continue to be used as a baseball facility for at least the next 10 years.
A few common questions about the ballpark:
Did BSI make a profit from this sale? NO – the payment was at fair market value (as required by the IRS, the State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington County Courts when non-profit assets are sold) and that amount equaled what was owed on the ballpark with improvements.
What percentage of taxpayer dollars was used to build the ballpark? Less than 20 percent. The vast majority of the construction money came from private sources. Only 18 cents per dollar spent came from state economic development funds.
The ballpark will now be taxable – but has any taxes been paid over the first 10 years? Each year, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, donations in lieu of taxes have been made to the township. Those contributions have totaled nearly $400,000. In addition, the Trinity High School baseball teams have been allowed to use the ballpark at no cost to the school district or taxpayers.
Was anyone with BSI paid over the years: NO, all those who served on the Board (Leo Trich, Anthony Nicolella, Abe Key, Michael Smith, Phil Hamilton) did so as “volunteers." And like every other fan who attended Wild Things games – they pay for their tickets and have done so from day one. Accounting and legal services were done by Randy Guthrie and Colin Fitch – and although some fees were paid – much of what they did was done at a reduced rate or “free of charge” – to help make this project work.
Does BSI own part of the Wild Things? NO. At no point has BSI nor its board members owned or been part of the Wild Things ownership group.
THANK YOU WILD THINGS FANS...and the players too!
It worked! Ten years later – Falconi Field, now called Consol Energy Park, is a proven success and is now on the tax rolls. Wild Things owners have purchased the ballpark at fair market value – which virtually equaled the bank mortgage owed by BSI, the volunteer group that developed and built the ballpark facility.
The ballpark was first built for just under $3 million in 2002, plus nearly one million in land and infrastructure expenses. Additional improvements were also made just after the second season, including purchasing more land for more parking and paving it, additional seating, a new scoreboard and a new highly visible sign facing Interstate 70. In all more than $2 million was spent for these and other add-on improvements.
Minor League pro baseball is going strong, with more than one million fans attending Wild Things games so far. When you add up all events, concerts, high school and college games, PONY Baseball games, numerous community events and a monthly antique show – and the ballpark facility attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year. To put that in perspective, that was the average number of people visiting the Mellon (Civic) Area in Pittsburgh annually.
New development near the ballpark – which served as an anchor for growth on the 60 acres originally owned by United Washington Associates, totals nearly $100 million. It is estimated that over 800 jobs have been created and nearly a half million in new tax revenue is being generated. So, the project suggested by the non-profit group – Ballpark Scholarships Inc., DID WORK. The concept of building a ballpark and bringing in minor-league baseball has enhanced the local economy and the quality of life in the Washington area.
It is not widely known, but over the years, BSI, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, has made annual donations to North Franklin Township in lieu of taxes, totaling nearly $400,000. BSI also donated almost 20 acres of land along the perimeter of the parking lot area to the North Franklin Recreation and Business Authority for the development of public walking trails and a pavilion – just recently completed.
It should also be noted that under the sales agreement, BSI holds onto the gas and oil rights, so that any future monies generated from that asset will be used for scholarships. Since 2002, about $40,000 has been donated to area young people by BSI in the form of college scholarships. Additionally, all existing agreements with California University of PA and PONY Baseball will be honored by the new owners. It was also agreed to that the ballpark would continue to be used as a baseball facility for at least the next 10 years.
A few common questions about the ballpark:
Did BSI make a profit from this sale? NO – the payment was at fair market value (as required by the IRS, the State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington County Courts when non-profit assets are sold) and that amount equaled what was owed on the ballpark with improvements.
What percentage of taxpayer dollars was used to build the ballpark? Less than 20 percent. The vast majority of the construction money came from private sources. Only 18 cents per dollar spent came from state economic development funds.
The ballpark will now be taxable – but has any taxes been paid over the first 10 years? Each year, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, donations in lieu of taxes have been made to the township. Those contributions have totaled nearly $400,000. In addition, the Trinity High School baseball teams have been allowed to use the ballpark at no cost to the school district or taxpayers.
Was anyone with BSI paid over the years: NO, all those who served on the Board (Leo Trich, Anthony Nicolella, Abe Key, Michael Smith, Phil Hamilton) did so as “volunteers." And like every other fan who attended Wild Things games – they pay for their tickets and have done so from day one. Accounting and legal services were done by Randy Guthrie and Colin Fitch – and although some fees were paid – much of what they did was done at a reduced rate or “free of charge” – to help make this project work.
Does BSI own part of the Wild Things? NO. At no point has BSI nor its board members owned or been part of the Wild Things ownership group.
Labels: Leo Trich
posted by Chris Dugan at
2:05 PM
8 Comments:
Thank you Mr. Trich and the rest of the other members of BSI for your time and energy for this great baseball park, the community, and the people who enjoy summer evenings watching a great group of young men hoping to make it into the big leagues. Also, a big thanks to the many business and medical professionals that have built or are going to build in the area around CEP.
Don’t you just love it when a former politician feels it necessary to write a letter telling us all the wonderful things he has been a part of?
Better yet, explaining, (or is it justifying?) all the little details that no one has even ask about. Makes one wonder if perhaps some questions should be asked.
Just thinking out loud.
Apparently, there were people asking about the details, thus this the letter. From the top of the email sent to me from Leo:
"The story (by Scott, published in Wednesday's paper) was a good one and accurate. ...
There was however one important point left out - which is now generating calls and questions to those of us with BSI. It deals with the fact that although the WildThings owners purchased the ballpark for $3.9 - it was not stated in the story that this amount equals what BSI owed to the banks - so it was a wash. BSI did not make any money from the sale - there was NO profit.
Unfortunately the calls started today...what is BSI going to do with almost $4 million dollars??...and who is going to get what from this deal?"
There always seems to be some ‘issue’ with the Wild Things and those that somehow are associated with them. BSI has always appeared to be some shadowy organization that it seems nobody understood.
I really can’t believe that Mr. Trich would be involved with anything that wasn’t completely above board.
I’m not much of a fan of his political viewpoints but I have never doubted his integrity.
Then there is the matter of the t**f – a forbidden word, and probably a forbidden subject on this blog.
However, ANYTHING that Mr. Solobay had even the smallest involvement with is IMHO, suspect at best.
Having said that, just what is going to happen in regard to the tourist agency payments? When, and if, all the major improvements that are being talked about for 2012 are actually implemented – somebody is going to have to pay for them. Mr. Williams is going to need a truckload of dough and I doubt if Mr. Dawson will be of any help when it comes to money.
With fuel prices going through the roof, there is a distinct possibility that everything could just collapse, then what? If the gas drillers are suddenly laid-off and sent home then the room tax will disappear –ooops! Am I missing something here?
Ron W aka: Ima Fraid
When did this blog become about politics. I know, when Ima Fool (or is it Ima Fraid) started commenting. What happened to baseball?
Baseball became political when the courts up held the antitrust provision for baseball.
Eat your words anonymous.
“When did this blog become about politics” (Guess you don’t know when a question mark should be used).
That is a hard question to answer. Start with the taxpayers being ripped off for a new playing surface
with the politicians busting their butts to take all the glory they could get.
Maybe it became that way when one of those former office holders used his influence to get a letter
posted on this blog. Let us see if one of us unwashed could get this special treatment afforded to us! Not too likely I’d say!
Perhaps it became that way when the Wild Things ownership group decided they wanted to start a business
and let the taxpayer foot as much of the bill as possible.
Business is politics and vice versa!
Thanks Leo for helping to bring about this sale of the ball park.
This is a winner for us the taxpayers. Lets let all the past go. Quality of baseball, taxpayers turf and be thankful we have baseball in Washington. The way it looks, pretty soon we will not have any high school sports because of cost and I agree education should come before sports.
In the past Baseball Scholarships paid $38,000 in lieu of property taxes.
If you base he property value at 4 million with 25% valuation by Washington county taxing bodies,
the the following would be in effect if my calculatons are right.
North Franklin Township would receive $14,663.
Washington County would receive $24,883.
Trinity School District would receive $100,067.
This totals $141,163 which is a lot better than $38,000 and for once the taxpayers win. Keep up the good work and don't let the owners be granted any tax forgiveness.
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