2016 In Review: Property Owners

2016 began with a new leader for the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, with several changes to the management team as well.

General Manager Tom Judson started with the association in mid-January 2016, replacing Tommy Bailey who resigned in August 2015. Judson came from Rumbling Bald Resort near Asheville, N.C., where he was COO/ general manager for nine years. That resort has three golf courses, a lake, tennis courts and pools.

The POA’s fish biologist, Rick Echols, started only a couple of weeks before Judson. Later, Echols took on more responsibility when Lakes and Park Superintendent Vern Olafsen retired. Echols became Lakes & Fisheries superintendent. During his first few months in Bella Vista, Echols started raising fish in two ponds on Berksdale Golf Course to be used stocking POA lakes.

In March, a new position was

added when Tommy Lee was hired as the director of business development. He went to work on a plan to reopen the Yacht Club building as a restaurant and event center. That project is expected to be completed in May with several weddings already booked.

It will mark the return of the POA into the restaurant business.

John Walsh became the director of marketing and communications in May.

Phillip Wright took over as director of golf operations in August and Darryl Muldoon, who had been in the position temporarily, became manager of golf operations. Muldoon had stepped into the role when Andy Mar resigned earlier in the summer.

In August, Joan Glubczynski took over as recreation and wellness manager replacing long-time employee Clem Morgan.

Other new hires in 2016 include Director of Human Resources Cindy Bassett, Controller Stacie McCoy and Member Services Manager Carmen Dissing

One director joined the board in May. Andrew Davis was elected to his first term. Two other board members, John Nuttall and Bruce Portillo were re-elected.

In the same election a proposal to change the Declaration — the original governing document — was defeated because of the lack of a quorum. The proposal would have made future changes a little easier by lowering the quorum requirement.

Later in the year, a special election was held in an attempt to raise the assessment. In spite of a slight majority, the increase in the monthly assessments was denied. Assessment increases require a 51 percent majority to pass. Of the 33,458 possible votes, 18,832 were cast — enough to meet the quorum requirements of 50 percent for an assessment election.

Question 1 — an increase of $9 for improved lots — received 9,615 votes (50.8 percent) in favor and 9,291 votes (49.2 percent against). Later, it was revealed that there were 147 abstentions.

Question 2 — an increase of $3 for unimproved lots — failed by a slightly larger margin with 74 abstentions. The final numbers were announced as 9,520 votes (50.3 percent) in favor and 9,386 votes (49.7 percent) against.

The POA celebrated two grand openings in 2016. A new walking trail, replacing the Branchwood Golf Course, was opened in June. In October, Scotsdale Golf Course reopened with new Champion Bermuda greens, strategically placed Scottish-style bunkers and a Scottish pub in the clubhouse.