Patrick Laury
Patrick Laury has been on the board for four years but wants to remain another three. He believes board members must engage more with the public and he’s proud when people thank him for listening.
He plays golf, uses the fitness centers and rides a bike. He and his wife also own kayaks.
He started his career as a college professor but moved into corporate life after a few years. He worked for Lockheed Martin as a material system analyst but, towards the end of his career, he
made another change and went to work for Goodwill so that he could give back to the community. He also worked as a consultant.
“I think the (Bella Vista) Bar and Grill is proving to be a real attraction. I think the POA is doing a good job with that,” Laury said. He has enjoyed Lakepoint restaurant and believes it’s going in the right direction, with the management responding to what customers want. The event business at Lakepoint is doing well, he said.
Laury is supportive of the trails as a way to make the common property more accessible and more useful.
“I think that we could have done a better job in addressing directly the people whose properties are within proximity of the trail system,” he said.
When the trail builders go visit the members who
are complaining, they can sometimes move a segment of the trail and make the member feel better about the project, he said.
Meanwhile, people are moving into Bella Vista to be close to the trails, and that’s reflected in the increased numbers of building permits and lot sales.
An assessment increase is going to be necessary at some point, he said. But when it’s time to ask members to vote, there needs to be a clear plan with some immediate benefits.
Someday, the assessments should be enough to pay for some amenity usage without additional fees.
The board’s job is to serve the community, Laury said.
“I want people to recognize that I’m in it for them,” he said, “that I’m willing to talk to them about what they need and what they want … I want everybody to have something and that means you have to compromise. We’re all in this together now, so let’s go have fun.”