Judson misreads Bella Vista

In the Nov. 16 issue of the Vista, General Manager Tom Judson is quoted as saying “I'm committed to Bella Vista.” This is not an accurate statement. It is more accurate to say that Mr. Judson is committed to HIS VISION of Bella Vista. Unfortunately, his vision is in direct opposition to the majority of Bella Vistans.

Mr. Judson is also quoted as saying that the assessment election was close. No, it wasn't. If the Board hadn't tried to sway the election by voting in favor the 668 lots owned by the membership, both proposals would have been soundly defeated. The Board reports that they spent $36,500 of our money to hold this “election,” which can best be described as a large-scale propaganda campaign.

The Board, under the leadership of Mr. Judson, plans to spend $6.7 million of our reserves in the next five years. Wisely invested, those funds could have earned a sizable income, which could then have been used to help maintain our amenities. Instead, large amounts of our reserve are already being used to fund elaborate projects which the majority of us were never asked about and do not want. It's easy to spend someone else's money.

It's time for the membership to speak up. Otherwise, we may wake up one morning in a Bella Vista we no longer recognize and in which we can no longer afford to live. Some of us have lived here for 20 years or more. Mr. Judson arrived less than a year ago. He doesn't appear to have acquired an appreciation for our city's charm or any respect for the desires of its residents.

The majority of property owners want to maintain the amenities we already have. We do not want to tear them down and build modern steel-and-glass structures in an attempt to impress our friends.

I'm sure Mr. Judson is a wonderful fellow. The insurmountable problem is that he doesn't seem to care what you or I think. He appears intent on achieving his own vision of Bella Vista by any means necessary.

“I haven't lost my resolve,” he says in the Nov. 16 article.

In other words, he is apparently unmoved by the election results and the will of the membership.

This is not the type of general manager I want. Do you?

Kevin Dooley Bella Vista