POA board candidates talk about issues
On March 20, about 50 members arrived at Riordan Hall to listen as eight of the nine candidates for the POA board of directors answered questions about possible assessment changes and the future of the golf courses. The forum was hosted by the POA’s election committee.
With four seats open on the board — one is for one year, finishing the term of a member who resigned — there are nine candidates. For the past few years, the POA has struggled to find enough candidates to fill open positions. This year, five of the nine candidates will be disappointed.
Answering questions about their background, all eight spoke about resumes that include volunteer hours and leadership positions. Jerold Hover had a career in parks and recreation and retired in 2010 after 48 years in public service. William Barr, the current chairman of the POA Golf Committee, was a fish biologist. Mike Abb works for an organization that is involved in mountain biking and revitalization in the region.
David Whelchel, who is a golf course architect, was out of town on business and missed the forum.
All the candidates said they would consider supporting an assessment increase, and several said the board could do a better job communicating the need to members.
The board needs to look at all alternatives before talking to members, Hover said.
Jerre Barron said that, when he
lived in Houston, the fee to residents of similar amenity-based neighborhoods was $400 a month.
“We need to act on logic and inform the community,” Pat Laury, who is currently serving on the board, said. He pointed out that there is a taskforce working on the issue and it will consider all possible sources of revenue.
Mary Sinkus, who described herself as being obsessed with budgets, said that general manager Tom Judson worked hard during the last assessment election, but at that time he was still new to the position and didn’t have a track record. He has a good one now, she said.
While he would support an assessment increase, Rex Butler said that a marketing plan to bring more nonmembers to the golf courses might help with revenue issues.
If the current rate of $24 a month had been adjusted for inflation over the years since it was approved, it would be $35 a month, Barr said.
All eight were asked about amenities that would appeal to young people and each had something to say. Most agreed that the best way to start was to poll young families and see what they want.
Lou Wallman suggested indoor tennis. Now, he said, young people seem to spend more time at home.
Abb said it can be expensive for young families to use some amenities and suggested rental bikes and kayaks would help.
Sinkus suggested that working with summer camps to offer programs that combine recreation with a learning experience might bring new income to the POA.
Laury said childcare would allow young parents to use the existing amenities.
Discussing the recently-released flood study, most of the candidates acknowledged that flooding was going to be a difficult problem to solve.
Wallman lives on the Berksdale course and said he volunteered to help clean up after the last big flood. He suggested that the POA should start at the south end of the creek and work its way up, fortifying one area at a time over several years.
“We can’t kick the can down the road,” Baron said. If not addressed at Berksdale, the flooding will destroy the next course downstream, he said.
Butler, who is serving on the Golf Committee, said it’s all about compromise. But the POA must keep the valley courses open because they are the most popular among the golfers.
Hover said closing the courses would negatively impact home values.
Abb said he’s open to all options. He would want to see the rate of return before approving the large investment needed to mitigate flood damage.
All the candidates agreed that the city and the POA have a good working relationship. Several pointed out that the flood study was a joint project.
Barron added the trails to the list of city/POA projects, and Barr added signage. Laury reminded them that the POA recently offered land to the city to be used as a fire department training area.