Village board candidates discuss community issues
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Financial responsibility, enhanced marketing and promoting, and a common sense approach to good government were recurring themes Thursday among the three candidates for the Property Owner’s Association Board of Directors.
The forum was hosted by the Hot Springs Village Area Chamber of Commerce.
About 100 people attended the forum, held at the Ponce de Leon Center, to hear the views of the candidates — Mike Medica, Mary Neilson and Lu Otto, who are running for two open seats being vacated by John Cooney and Tom Bryant. Ballots will be mailed to property owners in good standing March 1.
Each candidate had four minutes to give opening comments.
“I look at this as a chance to give back
to the Village since I have been here a long time and have enjoyed the Village. I think my business background will be beneficial to the POA board,” Medica said.
Medica said he spent 30 years working in Ross Perot’s data systems in Texas and has an extensive background in technology, budgeting and handling large contracts. He added that he would bring a “common sense” approach to working on Village problems, saying, “Our amenities need to be kept first- class, and that helps us in marketing and growing the Village. We have seen recent good news that house resales are up.”
Neilson has lived in Hot Springs Village for seven years and works for Visit Hot Springs, is heavily involved as the Sister City Program Coordinator and in promoting tourism.
“I am on the Governmental Affairs Committee here in the Village, and that has been valuable to me in learning the Village and its needs. I am seeking a board position so I can better serve the Village, and I think my role in Hot Springs and its tourism industry is a valuable resource for the Village. I also worked in management and marketing for several years when I lived in California. We need to closely monitor the five- year plan to make sure goals are achieved, promote fiscal responsibility, come up with creative land development and enhance amenity opportunities,” Neilson said.
Otto also serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee. He said he feels that a strong post- Cooper Communities Inc. business plan needs to be formed to achieve both long- and shortterm goals to make the Village more competitive. He also feels that the ideas of new General Manager and Chief Operational Officer David Twiggs are heading in the right direction.
“Our GM needs our support, but not carte blanche. We need to be constructive in working with him, and the board must be an accountable trustee of what we already have. We need to keep a tight rein on the books while still addressing the safety and security concerns since that is always a top priority of those who are ready to retire. We have to create conditions to attract new members as well as continuing the upkeep of current conditions to keep our residents here and excited about the Village,” Otto said.
Regarding the proposed Pro10 program voted down by the board, which would have given property owners the opportunity to contribute an additional $ 10 a month to their assessments for capital improvements, Medica said he would have voted for it.
Neilson said it was a worthy program but would have voted against it because it would have set a new precedent, even though it would have been additional income for the POA. Otto said he would have voted for it after the questions raised were taken into account and resolved.
“I think the objections raised could have been worked out,” Otto said.
John Chapman, forum moderator, asked the candidates their view on the Village’s current financial condition and what could be done to promote growth.
“We need to raise resources and entice future revenues, starting by using the amenities on hand. A great example of this was given by Mr. Twiggs concerning filling the empty tee times on the golf courses and taking advantage of the low- hanging fruit. He has plans heading in the right direction to improve property values and get more assessments paid up to date and not delinquent,” Neilson said.
Otto referred to comments made by board President Keith Keck, who described the 2014 and 2015 budgets as maintenance budgets with a little revenue for capital improvements, and the 2016 budget is projected to have some revenue shortfalls.
“We need a big picture to look at to make sure our budget stays solvent year after year. We are on the borderline right now, but we are headed in the right direction to keep a tight rein on finances. We definitely need to come down hard on the properties that have delinquent assessments,” Otto said.
Medica sees the budget as stable right now but agrees that growth is needed in the near future.
“I like the idea of bringing in a developer to put together some good projects on the land that isn’t being used. We can’t just maintain the status quo. We are taking action now to make things grow, and we have to keep improving on things. We are in better shape now than we were two years ago, and that needs to continue,” Medica said.
The candidates were questioned about closed meetings of the Appeals Committee, which will handle fines, and the task force recently appointed to address revenues. All three agreed that the board’s position needs to remain open to the public but that in some instances, things need to be discussed privately. Neilson added that even if meetings are closed, final decisions are up to the board, which are made in public meetings.
“It depends on what is being discussed by those committees. In some instances, it may need to be kept private before a final recommendation comes to the board,” Medica added.
The candidates also agreed that the POA’s fee structure needs to be closely reviewed. An example given in the question concerned fees for bocce ball. Fees have been raised for couples, but revenue has been lost since fewer people are playing.
“I believe in volume. I would rather have 1,000 people paying $ 20 in fees versus 400 people paying $ 400. I have heard that our general manager is looking at these things, and I’m glad to see that,” Medica said.
“The fee structure definitely needs some review. It isn’t cut and dried,” Otto said.
The candidates were also asked about the relationship between the HSV Townhouse Association and the POA.
“The townhouse issues are something that needs more communication and knowledge since they are high- density properties. Looking at their trash pickup and street conditions are something we need to look at because these townhouse areas are a vital part of our community in future marketing because a lot of visitors rent them,” Neilson said.
“I have met with the townhouse manager, and we have talked about a lot of issues. The Townhouse Association is often under the Village radar, and that has to change,” Otto said.
The candidates concluded with a one- minute remark, recapping that they have attended board meetings regularly and have served on committees.
“Marketing the Village and getting the word out is an important step for us to grow, and I am committed to that,” Neilson said.
“There are people who live close by who’ve never heard of the Village. That is something that we need to work on, and I feel it is headed in the right direction,” Otto said.