Ongoing negotiations for a potential takeover of the Skyline Ball Diamonds in Morinville by the Mixed Slo-Pitch League has Morinville Minor Baseball concerned that decreased access to playing time may cause the association to fold.
Representatives from the Town of Morinville, the slo-pitch league, and minor baseball have had multiple meetings this year to discuss a proposal made by slo-pitch that would give the league full control of the four Skyline diamonds, along with the responsibility for all maintenance costs.
Morinville currently services and maintains the diamonds.
Morinville's interim chief administrative officer, Michelle Hay, told The Gazette that meetings between the three parties began after a conditions assessment of the facility was completed earlier this year.
“The service level that we provide for that amenity — the service level that is currently resourced — sees us maintain it the way that it currently is," Hay said. "At [the first] meeting we were made aware that [slo-pitch] had for some time been contemplating a proposal that would see them take on operating that amenity and making the needed improvements to it.
"We thought that was a good idea to explore because we have a strategic plan from council that talks about collaborative relationships and being creative with our finances and trying to get the most we can from the dollars we have and looking for partnerships when we can." Hay said.
Long time coming
Minor baseball vice-president Ryan Deren told The Gazette Aug. 18 that slo-pitch has been considering the proposal for the past five years.
“[Slo-pitch] approached the town probably, I want to say, five years ago," Deren said. "That meeting had me, the president of [minor baseball] Scott Richardson, the president of [slo-pitch, Scott Mason] and two other members of their association, and a town representative that’s no longer with the town.
"That whole exchange was about an hour and what had come from it is they wanted control of the Skyline Diamonds," Deren said. "[Minor baseball] has always liked their proposal.
“When we had heard what they were looking to do, we thought that may not be bad, especially if you have someone looking after [the ball diamonds] and maintaining them," Deren said.
The only aspect of slo-pitch's proposal that has raised concerns for minor baseball is the possibility they won't be able to use two of the diamonds between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, during U9 and U11 the baseball season.
"That was the sticking point for us," Deren said, adding that he asked Mason: "'If I need a diamond at 6:30 on a Tuesday, would I be able to get the diamond,' [and] he basically stated, 'No.'”
“If we can’t have the diamonds Monday to Thursday, that’s a problem," Deren said. "Any of these leagues don’t start at 4:30, they start at 6:30 and they end at 8:30. Basically, if that timeline wasn’t given to us, [minor baseballe] would have to fold.”
Slo-pitch vice-president Kayla Clelland declined The Gazette's interview request, however, the league posted a statement on its Facebook page on Aug. 12.
"We were assured that if we were to take on the operations of the Skyline Diamonds, the town would ensure the kids have places to play outside of the time slots we are able to give for rentals to [minor baseball]," the statement says. "With the vast monetary investment we will be placing into this endeavour, we will not have the funds to run Skyline and rent other diamonds for our league to play on.
"Our goal is to not only maintain the Skyline Diamonds, but improve them year after year for all leagues playing in Morinville," the statement says.
Due diligence
Hay said discussions around the agreement with slo-pitch and any potential impacts to other user groups such as minor baseball still need to take place, but she added that, "there are more ball diamonds in the town of Morinville that could potentially be suitable."
"We need all the parties at the table to be talking that through, and that’s the part of the process that we’re in," said Hay. "That’s the due diligence for all parties.
"I don’t know that there’s any timeline set out for the final review or decision, however, I will say that we are looking at this as an operating model for the 2023 year.”
Deren said minor baseball is pleased that more meetings to discuss slo-pitch's potential takeover of the Skyline Diamonds will take place before a final agreement is signed.
"I’m happy they’re coming back to the table. That’s a good thing.”
