By John Pacenti
Could there be peace in Mudville?
There seems to be at least a detente between the East Boynton Beach Little League and the city of Boynton Beach. Meanwhile, the league’s players keep bringing home trophies, leaving the drama to the adults.
August, though, started with a new episode of “How the Little League Turns,” when the city severed its contract with the Little League, saying it violated its 2022 contract by failing to pay to be the city’s baseball provider at the sports facility on Woolbright Road.
The Aug. 8 letter did not say how much the Little League owed the city: “Accordingly, the termination of the agreement will not affect your right to continue to request permits for the use of Little League Park through the Recreation Parks Department. However, a fee will be required to continue to use the park.”
The letter came two days after the Boynton Beach City Commission met in closed session with its lawyer to discuss the litigation the Little League brought against the city for greenlighting the renovation of the field used by the league’s most senior team — thus forcing it to use fields elsewhere in the city.
Then on Aug. 20, the clouds parted and the two frenemies made peace. Commissioners mentioned the barrage of emails they’ve received on the issue. The Little League asked parents to stand down on attacks — through email or social media — against the city.
In an email the Little League sent out to families, it said negotiations were fruitful in regards to field use “and a long-term partnership.” The Little League said it has confirmed its permit requests for the fall season and that the city has committed $1 million toward T-ball fields and park repairs.
The Little League said a “new sports provider agreement” will be forged to protect field use and future involvement of the Little League in any planned renovations of baseball facilities.
The two sides mutually buried a much-hated proposal to build a 17,000-square-foot indoor facility at Little League Park.
And, most important, city commissioners at their Sept. 3 meeting recognized the EBBLL’s 11-and-under All-Stars for their state championship this year.
“The city is committed to EBBLL long-term and wants to support us,” the email to parents and coaches went on. “These are truly wonderful events in the first step towards resolving this long-fought battle.”
The Little League then directed “everyone to discontinue any public/social media/or email campaigns against the city as we know many rumors are flying around.”
At the Aug. 20 commission meeting, City Manager Dan Dugger said the city would sign a new sports provider agreement when the Little League drops its lawsuit.
Dugger read the email from the Little League to parents and coaches.
“A lot of misinformation was definitely out there,” Dugger said. “We were able to clear up a lot of that misinformation, and we made some real progress.”
He said one false rumor was that he personally would benefit from the indoor facility and aimed to privatize the fields. “I can tell you honestly that was a complete lie,” Dugger said. “There were also allegations I got a kickback of a blue Camaro or Corvette.”
City Commissioner Thomas Turkin seemed to still be bothered by the rumors, asking City Attorney Shawna Lamb if Dugger had the authority to make unilateral decisions on the use of the fields. She told him the city manager does not.
Earlier this year, parents and players blasted the commission over the renovation of the biggest field — which now has synthetic turf. They were also upset over the proposed indoor facility, clashing with the sports agent working to build it.
However, the fields have a storied history in the city. The team of 10- to 12-year-olds reached the 2003 Little League World Series. Then, when Hurricane Wilma devastated the fields in 2005, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition renovated them for the television show.
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