Rebekah L. Sanders

The Republic | azcentral.com

Maricopa County rejected team request for Chase Field upgrades, saying they don't meet lease terms

County Supervisor Andy Kunasek wrote a scathing letter to team president Derrick Hall about the dispute

Little progress has been made in five months since the dispute blew up publicly

The ongoing fight between Maricopa County and the Arizona Diamondbacks over stadium repairs has entered a new phase, newly released records show.

County officials in recent weeks have rejected most of the team's request for $65 million in upgrades to Chase Field, saying the repairs don't meet the lease agreement's requirements for funding. Requested repairs include suite renovations, painting and a new scoreboard, all of which county officials say are cosmetic and the team's responsibility.

Documents also show the conflict has gotten personal.

County Supervisor Andy Kunasek sent a letter to Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall as the dispute reached a climax in April, describing the baseball business as "evolving into a parasitic enterprise." He accused Hall of selling a "false narrative," slandering county board members and doing "irreparable harm" to taxpayer confidence in government.

As Kunasek delivered the letter to the team, he directed a profanity-laced storm at Hall, calling on owner Ken Kendrick to "take your stupid baseball team and get out" and go back to "f--king West Virginia," according to team notes that Kunasek does not dispute.

Hall wrote back to Kunasek detailing his "verbal assault" and reminding him of the economic impact the team provides.

"For now, I will assume that based upon your comments, there is no interest on behalf of either the City of Phoenix or Maricopa County in furthering the past partnership (with) the Diamondbacks," Hall wrote. "Your candor with respect to this issue will cause us to move forward in a different direction."

READ THE LETTERS: Kunasek to Hall | Hall's response

On Friday, Kunasek, who has said he will not run for re-election this year, told The Arizona Republic he probably "shouldn't have said a couple of words" but said they weren't worse than locker room talk.

"I'm very passionate about the issues here. As a steward of the taxpayer, I'm deeply offended and continue to be," he added. "I apologize for any bad language I probably shouldn't have used, but I'm not going to deny it. I won't do it again."

RELATED: Diamondbacks: We might leave if Chase Field isn't upgraded | 5 things to know about dispute | Diamondbacks want Phoenix to run Chase Field

The documents, requested by The Republic under the Arizona Public Records Law, show that little progress has been made in the five months since the dispute blew up publicly. Besides a one-on-one meeting between Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman and Hall, there have been no high-level negotiations.

The controversy erupted after several years of unsuccessful negotiations over who is financially responsible for Chase Field capital repairs that are projected to cost $187 million over the next 12 years. The team has suggested it might seek a way to leave the stadium before its current contract with the county ends in 2027.

In late June and July, Diamondbacks officials submitted two letters again requesting funding.

One sought reimbursement for about $650,000 in improvements the team made to suites, the dugout, concession areas, locker rooms and heating and cooling systems. County officials denied some items and said others might be approved with additional documentation.

The second letter outlined about $64 million in proposed repairs over five years, from replacing scoreboards to renovating party lounges. County officials agreed to continue funding structural issues such as repairs to concrete and steel. But they denied other expenses as superficial, inviting further negotiation.

READ: Team request and response | Repair reimbursement correspondence

"The county is going to continue to protect the taxpayer and the taxpayer's $238 million investment in Chase Field," county spokesman Fields Moseley said. "We continue to remain open to discussions with the Diamondbacks ... about where the money needs to come from and how much money the stadium district can contribute with respect to the original facility agreement with the team."

Moseley said the board wants the team to play at the stadium through the end of the contract term in 2027, and beyond.

MORE: Why 3 of 4 Phoenix-area teams want new arenas at taxpayer expense

The Diamondbacks, who have threatened to file a lawsuit, released a statement through their attorney Leo R. Beus.

"It is unfortunate that this continues to be played out publicly by a government entity that refuses to live up to its obligations clearly laid out in their long-term agreement," he said. "This is an organization that has given so much back to the community and its fans and that has had such a tremendous impact on the economy. The county's abdication of its responsibility for necessary funding for the longevity of a public building is unprecedented and unfair to the organization and its fans."

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