Hoefer Welker Chosen for Bowling Alley, Aquatic Center Design Team

Hoefer Welker has been chosen as the design team for Sedalia’s new outdoor aquatic facility and bowling alley.

The announcement was made during a special meeting of the Sedalia Park Board on Monday afternoon.

Hoefer Welker, based out of Kansas City, was one of three design firms interviewed by a six-member Request For Qualifications Committee that was chaired by Parks & Rec Director Amy Epple, who would be the tie breaker if it was needed.

The other firms interviewed for the project were JEMA out of St. Louis and SFS out of Kansas City.

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The RFQ Committee unanimously voted in favor of Hoefer Welker, which is the same firm that is working on the new fire station on the same parcel of land on the east side of Sedalia.

According to Epple, Hoefer Welker has worked on numerous bowling alley projects throughout the US, and their Aquatic Design partner for this project “Waters Edge” has an excellent resume` and reputation in the parks & rec field.  They also have an environmental engineer on staff, she noted.

Another plus for Hoefer Welker is the fact that over the past five years, there have been less than one percent in change orders for their projects. "That's pretty impressive," Epple said during the seven-minute meeting.

Hoefer Welker will be paid roughly six percent of the $11 million project for their design work.

In addition to Epple, the RFQ Committee from Sedalia Parks & Rec consisted of Parks & Rec Assistant Director Courtney Fry, Interim Parks Superintendent Matt Clevenger, Aquatics Manager Clara Boehm, Project Manager Matt Harris, Recreation Superintendent Jaymi Wells and Grants Facilitator and Data Analyst John Simmons.

All Park Board members were present at Monday's special meeting except for Megan Simon.

The only member of the public to attend Monday’s meeting was Sue Heckart.

“I think it’s a good choice, in as much as they are doing the fire station, it’s going to save some money, they are well qualified,” Heckart said, adding that the other two firms were also well qualified. “But I think the one of the main things that tilted it in their favor was the fact that they were doing the fire station.”

The name of the bowling alley will be “Memory Lanes” in honor of Sue’s mother Stella.

When asked if she will be at the grand opening, Sue Heckart replied “Well I hope so,” adding that she bowled on two leagues as a youth at Broadway Lanes. That bowling alley has been closed for about 20 years.

“I think it’s something that Sedalia needs. It’s another recreational facility for families and all walks of life, so that kind of fits my criteria,” she told KSIS.

Epple said at the end of the meeting that her people will be meeting with Hoefer Welker next Tuesday, "so we can hit the ground running."