Shift Bella Vista away from large-scale POA

With our rolling hills, majestic trees, pristine lakes, various forms of wildlife and a city with a low crime rate, Bella Vista could become our very own Shangri-La. If we could only get rid of the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and the current Property Owners Association (POA). Money spent on six-figure salaries for POA staffers could be put to better use for the residents of Bella Vista.

We don’t need the ACC. Our City Council should be directed to follow the will of the residents as to setting the policies through our city ordinances. (i.e., whether white houses or white fences should or should not be allowed).

We do need neighborhood POAs. Each lake and golf course needs its own POA, if for no other reason than to form a neighborhood watch group to prevent unwanted individuals from passing through their property. Another reason is that not all neighborhoods’ wish lists are the same. For example, some of the golfers in the Highlands have said they would like to turn one of the golf courses into a nationally recognized premier golf course. On the opposite side of town, the people in the Metfield area are not interested in creating a national golf course; they simply want to keep the natural beauty of their area and not have it turned into a concrete shopping parking lot.

Each neighborhood POA should have its own unsalaried president and board members and decide what their priorities, monthly or annual assessments should be. This is not an unreasonable plan; in fact, this is the model plan of most cities in America.

Bella Vista is not utopia if 5- and 6-year-old children have to get on a school bus about 6:15 each morning to go to Bentonville to attend class. The children spend two hours of their school day just riding a bus and that goes on for the next 12 years. Their ability to learn is probably hampered by sleep deprivation and perhaps lack of nutrition. The two conflicting issues here are that the POA is more concerned about attracting nonmember golfers from who knows where to spend their money on our golf courses, while neglecting the educational needs of our children. The POA is all about money, money, money. JIM PARSONS Bella Vista