LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Patriot 2030 plan

Most of us have read the Bella Vista Property Owners Association 2020 Plan. (This plan is subject

to change the day after the election Nov. 9). Now here is the Bella Vista Patriots 2030 Plan:

1. Dissolve the BVPOA. 2. Keep most of the amenities as they are, but place them under the operation of the city’s new Municipal Parks and Recreation Department.

3. We don’t need seven golf courses. Some should be transformed to make room for revenue sources for the city and building sites for schools.

4. Form a Bella Vista Public School District.

5. Form neighborhood POAs such as Lake Avalon POA, Lake Windsor POA, Highland Golf Course POA,

Country Club POA, etc.

6. Dissolve the Architectural Control Committee. We can have city ordinances for those duties.

7. Transfer the BVPOA Water Service to the Bella Vista City Water Department.

In the past few years, the BVPOA Board has either broken the law or violated its own policies at least 20 times. The POA continues to treat non-members better than assessment paying POA members. The POA members now have to pay over $4 million for the illegal stump dump fire that the POA hierarchy created. I personally have to pay the POA and Cooper Communities Inc. attorneys $10,224.50 because I informed the Benton County Circuit Court that I thought those two corporations were involved with operating an unpermitted stump dump. What egregious crime did I commit to receive such punishment?

For more than 20 years, many people said Bella Vista would never become a city. In 2005, the Bella Vista Patriots rented a bus and took a group of Patriots and members of the Concerned Citizens of Bella Vista to Little Rock to lobby the Legislature to create a law that would make it possible for us to become a city of the first class. Most of the voters at that time voted to become a city because, by doing that, they thought in time we would no longer be a POA- or Cooper-controlled community.

The word has almost always been that we would never get the bypass built around Bella Vista, but if we can hang on for another year or two, we are going to get to drive on it.

Those who think the BVPOA 2020 Plan will lead us into the future need to think again because the POA is not through paying for the damages to individuals who will be filing their claims soon. The bills may be more than the POA can pay and bankruptcy may be in order. Let’s pray that the judicial system will not

order that we as members need to come out of pocket to pay for the stump dump damages. The only money the POA has is our money. All the money it wastes is our money.

Jim Parsons Bella Vista

Yes vote

Although I am a relatively new resident in Bella Vista, I have enjoyed the

amenities for over 35 years while visiting my parents who live here. It has been a longtime goal to be able to move to this beautiful city.

Just this year, I was fortunate enough to join a golf league and meet some awesome ladies, leading to inviting my mom and her 94-year-old friend to play. I can swim, boat and kayak in our lakes, hike trails, spark a new interest in mountain biking with my grandsons, and have played pickleball for the first time. All of this is possible while working full time because these opportunities are right at our doorstep. My family has had reunions here for decades, including a great one at Lake Avalon this summer. I am proud of our community and want to see future generations enjoy what we have here.

As a new member of the recreation committee, it has been educational to see how much effort goes into keeping our community at its best. To keep it first class, I think that an investment of $11 more per month is a deal. This will be the first increase in almost 20 years.

This plan gets rid of most of the fees we now must pay to use our lakes, exercise facilities, pools and gun range. And the cost to play golf will go down, and we will get free range balls everywhere.

I voted yes for the 2020 plan and will be asking all my friends and neighbors to join me.

Jackie Gain Bella Vista

Shop local

It’s the season for shopping and Bella Vista has some excellent shops, restaurants and services that are working hard to earn your business. Shopping local is one of the simplest ways we can support a vibrant community and maintain a distinctive village feel.

When we spend our dollars locally, more of every dollar stays in the community. We create jobs and

income for families that might live on our block or around the corner.

It’s easy to fall into the rut of internet shopping for convenience’s sake but, in doing so, we are probably missing the uniqueness of our local businesses. Bella Vista has some awesome local retailers standing by, ready to help with gift selections, pet care, flower services, crafts, groceries, jewelry

and holiday beverages — just to name a few.

just to name a few.

How about trying one of BV’s unique restaurant options or food trucks instead of driving out of town for something to eat? We really have a great selection of dining options from fast-casual to more elegant — and you are sure to find a favorite spot to bring others when you want to show off our hometown.

Let’s be more mindful of our shopping decisions and make sure we’re doing everything we can to support our neighbors, entrepreneurs and local

businesses. Shopping local will help keep Bella Vista a unique village choice, unlike any other in Northwest Arkansas.

Steven Bourke Bella Vista City Council

Count our vote as yes

You can count us as a yes vote for the 2020 POA’s assessment plan. This plan is the best one we have seen proposed in our 17 years in Bella Vista. It is focused on all of us as members of the POA.

After all, we are the POA. The board and the staff work for us, and this plan shows they listened. In addition to all the fee eliminations and reductions, we like that non-members no longer will have the same access as members to many of our amenities. And while we may not use all of the amenities, we recognize the value they provide to our property and to the city as a whole.

We have enough negativity in Washington without bringing the bickering to our back door. It’s time to put aside all the negativity and issues of the past and start focusing on the future of Bella Vista and all that our amenities provide for this community. This 2020 plan is a winner and we need to make sure that it passes. Please, vote Yes for Bella Vista.

Phil and Dee Spencer Bella Vista