Settlement terms revealed in Trinity lawsuit
Terms of a settlement agreement between Trinity Area School District and Washington County Family Entertainment LLC, Washco Ballpark Holdings and Washco Ballpark Management regarding a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Family Entertainment have been released.
Under the agreement, Trinity will not pursue real estate taxes from 2016-17 in the amount of $66,934.33.
Washington County Family Entertainment, which agreed to drop its lawsuit, will not seek reimbursement for one-fourth of the school real estate tax for the 2017-18 school year in the amount of $17,231.88.
Family Entertainment claimed Trinity unlawfully refused to meet its obligation to fulfill a five-year facilities use agreement the district entered into in March 2012 that enabled Trinity’s baseball team to play home games at Wild Things Park
The agreement was to be equal to the tax levy of the ballpark and surrounding land, along with additional charges.
The school district notified Family Entertainment it would not renew the agreement to use the ballpark once it expired March 30, 2017, saying it paid more to play at the ballpark than other high school teams.
Family Entertainment received Trinity’s real estate tax bills totaling $66,934, and Family Entertainment, through the lessor for the facility, invoiced Trinity the same amount. But the district indicated it would not pay for its annual rent for 2016 or the prorated share of rent through March 2017.
Family Entertainment claimed the school district’s failure to meet the financial obligation could cause irreparable harm to the corporation in excess of the $66,934 invoice and asked for a court order requiring Trinity to pay rent due through March 30, 2017.
“I’m just happy we were able to resolve our differences,” said Stu Williams, majority owner of the independent Frontier League Washington Wild Things. “Trinity is an important part of our fan base. It was not pleasant for us to have the controversy. We were happy we were able to amicably resolve it, and we are looking forward to repairing any hard feelings that were caused.”
As part of the agreement, Trinity will participate in Washington County Family Entertainment’s Winners Day for at least the next three Wild Things baseball seasons, which entitles students in kindergarten through sixth grade to attend a Wild Things Winner’s Day game and represent their school.
Trinity Superintendent Michael Lucas said he is “thrilled this matter is behind us.”