Sedalia Parks & Rec Budget Currently in the Positive by $175,679

A quick check of the Sedalia Parks & Rec budget fiscal year to date shows that the department is currently in the positive by $175,679.71.

That seemed to please Park Board members who were gathered for their monthly meeting at the Heckart Community Center, 1800 West 3rd Street, on Thursday evening.

Currently, revenues ($6,375,993.69) outpace expenses ($6,200,313.98). One of the reasons for that is that local income from taxes is up, according to board member Dan VanDyne.

“We’re $175,00 to the positive,” VanDyne said during committee reports. “That’s a good position to be in."

That can, of course, change very quickly. Case in point: The boiler at Convention Hall had completely shut down. Experts visited last week and inspected the boiler and the conclusion was that it is not repairable. It was further estimated that a new system would cost anywhere from $75,000 to $140,000.

Therefore, an RFQ will be put out for bids through the Sedalia Democrat. Sedalia Parks & Rec Director Amy Epple said she would be thrilled if she received five bids on the project. She noted that some companies simply are too busy with other projects or don’t want to deal with old boiler systems. Epple said she hopes to receive some responses in two to three weeks.

Board member Roy Poynter noted that many schools are moving away from the old traditional boiler systems, adding that parts are hard to find and maintenance is costly.

The board later approved its FY 2025-26 budget at $7,628,730.

Also approved was the purchase of a 2020 Chevy 2500 truck from W-K Chevrolet for Sedalia Parks & Rec at a cost of $32,991, which came in under budget. A total of $40,000 was budgeted for the purchase, which will also be used as a snow plow truck during the winter months.

W-K was the lowest and best bidder. Two bids received from other dealerships were $38,540 and $39,504, it was noted.

Epple stressed that “we don’t need a brand new one.”

During Thursday’s 30-minute meeting, John Simmons was officially named Assistant Parks Director, while Courtney Fry was named Assistant Recreation Director. With the new facilities coming soon on the east side of town, Simmons will be in charge of the bowling alley, while Fry will be in charge of the Aquatics Center.

Another change is that Esports will be moving to the bowling alley facility.

The bowling alley is expected to open by Memorial Day of 2027. And the Aquatics Facility will open in the fall of 2026.

Epple said she hopes to be able to show schematics of the new facilities to the board at their next meeting. There have been some changes to the new fire house layout, she noted.

April 1 marks the opening of Katy Park, as well as the first day the public can reserve and rent shelter houses and the like for the summer season. Also, Park maintenance has been preparing the bathrooms to open by April 1.

Get our free mobile app

Liberty Park Stadium, which has been in renovation mode for several months, should hopefully be ready for baseball by May 1. “I’ve seen a lot of movement this week,” commented Epple.

And unfortunately, Sedalia Parks & Rec will have to sell off their vast collection of bounce houses. That shocker comes as the City’s insurance company stated flatly they will not cover any claims involving a bounce house. Parks & Rec originally purchased the inflatable bounce houses from UCM in Warrensburg during COVID.

Megan Simon was the sole Park Board member to miss Thursday night’s meeting. Park Board meets again April 10.