Is the POA still relevant?

What the heck is a Property Owners Association? Some are a good thing and others are a bad thing.

In 1965 and for 20, or 30 years, the Bella Vista POA was a good thing. The retirees that came here had many things in common. That’s what makes a good POA. Most of the early arrivals coming to Bella Vista were financially well off and they came here to build their dream homes, dance at the Country Club on Saturday night, play golf, tennis, fish, swim and live the good life. Bella Vista was truly Shangri-La.

But, the inevitable happened and that is that these senior citizens began to die off and the spouses went back home to their children and left their dream homes to be purchased at an economical price to young working parents with children. Now, the demographics in Bella Vista have changed. We still have some wealthy residents, but we also have about an equal number of not so wealthy — like me. It is understandable that those who have worked all their life and have been

successful wanting to be in a private community. They want to be with their peers that share their common goals and want to protect their property values from eroding away because some yahoo built a shack next door.

Most POAs are formed to isolate the rich from the poor. Just recently we had a POA board member quoted in the local newspaper stating that if a family couldn’t afford a $200,000 home, they didn’t belong in Bella Vista. Well, that horse left the barn several years ago. The $200,000 requirement would exclude public servants like teachers, military personnel, firefighters, police, social workers, nurses, etc., from living in Bella Vista.

What these young parents want is sidewalks for their children to ride their bicycles to school and visit their friends. These young parents don’t want to have their children attending schools so far away from home and having to get up so early in the morning to get them there. These working parents need better roads to get to work safely and on time. They don’t want to be committed to a monthly assessment that can never be paid off. And they don’t have the time or the money to use the amenities.

POAs work well in areas that surround lakes, golf courses, parks, expensive homes, etc. These areas are referred to in legal insurance terms as areas of “attractive nuisance.” In some areas like this a POA is beneficial by keeping unwanted intruders out and adding safety for the residents and in some cases lower the insurance rates.

Three proposals to keep the POA:

1. Develop individual POAs around areas of “attractive nuisances.”

2. Relocate current POA to conform to the boundaries of the Gravette School District.

3. Make the membership to our current POA be voluntary rather than mandatory.

Jim Parsons Bella Vista Lost Springs information missing

The article comparing POA golf pricing with other area golf courses left out some important inclusions with a Lost Springs Golf and Athletic Club membership.

The yearly membership is for a family, not just one person. Membership includes unlimited golf and cart use, unlimited use of the driving range, practice green and practice sand trap, the swimming pool, tennis court and exercise equipment. Tee times are only required on Saturday and Sunday. A membership also includes golf at all Lindsey courses (9 and 18 holes) in eight states — including 11 in Northwest Arkansas.

We have been members at Lost Springs this year. I am a beginning golfer and unlimited use of a driving range has helped me so much. Monday through Friday, we can play with no cart fee at The Links courses at Rainbow Curve (my favorite) and Blossom Way.

The cost of golf at the POA Bella Vista courses for two people was too much for us. Maybe next year will be different.

Kathy Keller Bella Vista

Help make Bella Vista even greater

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in the City Council runoff. And I thank my opponent Jerry Snow, who is a man with a most-generous heart. I look forward to serving the citizens of Bella Vista starting in January.

In the general election, more than 50 percent of the registered voters in Bella Vista voted; yet, in the council runoff, only 3 percent did. That could be because people did not know about it, did not care or were just plain tired of all the election hoop-la.

One of the reasons I love Bella Vista so much is that each and every one of us has a real opportunity to get involved in the running and governing of our community. For years, I have been going to council work sessions and meetings, Planning Commission meetings, and POA Board work session and committee meetings. Last year, I was the only member of the public at the Village Wastewater annual meeting. Most of these meetings allow for you to have input into what is being decided. At the very least you will be informed and get to meet the folks that represent you. We have an incredible wealth of people energy in this community. I invite you all to get involved and make a difference in what is happening here – it is easy to do so.

As I transition onto City Council, I must leave my position on the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Here is an opportunity for you to get involved. Contact City Hall to see about submitting an application for the board or another that has an opening. Meetings are in the evenings, so it is a good chance for someone younger to participate.

My goals for 2017 are to get more people involved, to have people feel that they have been heard and valued. YOU MATTER.

So here is a New Year’s resolution suggestion for you: Instead of listening to half-truths on Facebook or spreading rumors and getting folks riled up unnecessarily, GET INVOLVED. Come to the meetings. Make a difference. Spread positivity and truth. You will feel better, you will be helping your community and you will be truly making Bella Vista an even more wonderful place to live.

Linda Lloyd Bella Vista Draconian City of Bella Vista

We bought a home in Bella Vista three years ago, followed the rules and got permits from both agencies for everything we did to the house. From day 1, we parked our truck beside the driveway on the decorative gravel parking space so as not to block the cars in the garage. Never once did any of the inspectors comment on the truck being parked on inappropriate gravel.

Now, years later, we are being threatened with fines if we don’t park on the driveway or remove the decorative gravel and replace it with ugly driveway gravel. According to the notice hung on the door, this is supposed to improve the property values. Really?! Ugly driveway gravel will reduce property value and curb appeal. DUH! Only in Bella Vista!

Since it has been three years of parking in the same place without anyone complaining, we assumed that, like the rest of the USA that grants grandfathered-in status, we would request and be granted one. No. The city says, “We don’t grant those,” accompanied by a cheap excuse that would apply to anywhere in the USA where they are granted.

After pulling up the Bella Vista municipal code online, we ask ourselves how they can just pick and choose which rules to enforce. Our favorite is “No parking on the street all night.” At 5 a.m., you can drive around and see the same cars parked on the streets night after night. Why is this code not enforced? Obviously, because they don’t work at night. So why have a code that will not be enforced? There is no viable excuse for selective enforcement/discrimination, nor is there for refusal to grant grandfather status.

They don’t want to accept that “we, the people” pay their salaries and they are supposed to be civil servants who work with the citizens, not against them. Unyielding, refusal to accommodate and always having an excuse is not professional or productive behavior. Any lawyer can take an excuse and restate it in what appears to be a reasonable explanation, but it will still lack common sense.

This code Chapter 26, Article 2, Sec 26-36 (d) needs to be revised to allow

grandfathering and be addressed on a case-by-case basis. We observed that most of the codes are reasonable and productive; a few, such as the one we are addressing, need revision. Revision is pointless without instructions to Community Development to actually employ common sense and leniency. Unlike ruling with an iron fist and refusing accommodations, this approach would go a long way toward making the enforcement of codes appear more civil.

Sadly, the beautiful city enjoys the dubious honor of being considered “the most over-regulated city in Northwest Arkansas.” Is this the reputation we want for Bella Vista?

Doug and Denia Taylor Bella Vista