NeighborhoodNet requested from various parties more information about the contents of the memo distributed to Henderson Engineering (HEI) employees announcing a contract for a $57 million soccer stadium. HEI, Overland Park, 360 Architecture were all contacted.

HEI's response was that it hoped that NeighborhoodNet would remove the memo from the website. Vice President Smith also passed around another internal memo asking employees not to release such information. He did not respond to a follow-up email.

360 Architecture did not respond.

Overland Park promptly responded, saying they understood that OnGoal had a contract with HEI and 360 Architecture for a plan for the stadium. They did not, however, have any other information about the contract.

HEI Response

I first received a message from Rich Smith, requesting a call back. Later I received a message from John Kinney, who said:

"I got a call from Henderson Engineers who I had done some work for in the past. They asked me to give you a call and discuss an email or something they they had sent out regarding the Wizards project and a posting on your website. We had some concerns about confidentiality piece involved in that. I wanted to talk to you about that and get your input and see if we could work out a resolution."

In a conversation later that evening he reiterated the above points, asking if NeighborhoodNet would consider taking down the article. When asked, he did not identify for whom he worked or what he had done for HEI in the past. An Internet search, including a reverse phone lookup search, turned up only 2 references to a John Kinney in Kansas that seemed relevant. They were letters to the editor at the Kansas City Star by a John Kinney in Kansas City, who might or might not be this John Kinney.

One letter on March 28, 2006, was strongly opposed to renovating the Truman Stadium. The other letter on October 23, 2005, strongly supports a downtown baseball stadium [you have to scroll way down the page for this one].

Overland Park Response

Here is the text of the two emails sent by Kristy Stallings to NeighborhoodNet in answer to requests for information about the above:

"Mr. Phillips,

The City of Overland Park has not entered into a contract with 360 Architecture or Henderson Engineering.

It is my understanding that OnGoal, the owners of the Wizards, have hired 360/Henderson for their planning.

The City has no agreements with OnGoal regarding the proposed project or their agreement(s) with the firm(s). We are not aware of any plans for a Soccer Hall of Fame being built on the site. Finally, no costs have been established for the project.

Kristy Cannon Stallings
Deputy City Manager
City of Overland Park, Kansas
913.895.6152
kristy.stallings@opkansas.org"

"Mr. Phillips,

I am not aware of the source of the information included in the HEI memo.

Costs to be paid by the STAR Bonds, if approved, are undetermined at this time.

Kristy Cannon Stallings
Deputy City Manager
City of Overland Park, Kansas
913.895.6152
kristy.stallings@opkansas.org"

Questions Emailed to HEI

NeighborhoodNet emailed the following to HEI after receiving the call from Rich Smith. No response has yet been received. It seems reasonable that the public should have this information available to them, given that the Wizards owners are asking for a major subsidy of their stadium through the use of Star Bonds:

"Hi Mr. Smith,

Thank you for returning my call yesterday. Also thank you for asking John Kinney to call me. We spoke last night. I am very interested in finding out more about the Wizard's Stadium project so I can publish it on my neighborhood website. If you would be willing to answer any of the following questions and/or provide additional information you believe is relevant, I would be happy to publish your response.

Thank you very much,
Bob Phillips
phillips@kcnet.com
www.nbrhd.net

1. Who awarded the contract? What role has Overland Park had in the process, if any?

2. Is the contract contingent on the passage of the soccer field vote in November or on Overland Park getting approval for STAR bond funding?

3. What services will Henderson Engineers provide: engineering, construction, general/lead contractor, etc?

4. What is the timetable for completion of the project/opening of the stadium?

5. What part of the $56 million was awarded to HEI?

6. Would the Soccer Hall of Fame, commercial offices, and/or the bar restaurant be additional buildings to the Stadium itself or be included within the Stadium?

7. Do you have a conceptual drawing of the stadium you can provide?

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