LETTERS EDITOR TO THE

How to help the vote of yes

I am the individual who started the “Welcome Meet and Greet” for new residents in 2017. I started the ”Meet and Greet” so that new residents can have a good understanding of the many amenities we offer. Bella Vista is a very special place to live and one that I do not take for granted. I have lived here for 14 years and so appreciate the quality of our amenities that are offered here.

Five years ago I joined the Recreation Committee for the POA when I realized I could have some say-so in the amenities that existed and the ones we might consider in the future. What I have learned from this committee is how much thought and effort goes into each of the amenities and that, while not everyone wants or needs them, they make

Bella Vista the special place it is. I do not use many of them, but guarantee there are many who do. Do they pay for themselves? No! They are subsidized by our assessments. They give all residents the privilege to use them or not. It is up to each and every one of us.

Everyone has been exposed to one or more assessment increase votes. It has been 18 years since an increase has passed. It is overdue and necessary to keep our amenities up to par. Please take the time to cast your ballot in favor of this assessment increase so we can continue to offer the quality amenities we have had in the past and add more as the need arises. Our community is not only unique, but it allows all of us to share with and attract new residents so that we can continue to prosper and grow.

1. Please cast your ballot and vote YES for this assessment increase. Voting dates are Dec. 12- Jan. 16.

2, Volunteer to make some phone calls to encourage other property owners to vote Yes. It is easy to do. Contact Carmen Dissing at carmend@bv vpoa.com or 479-855-5022.

3. Put out yard signs (available at Branchwood, Metfield, Riordan and the Country Club plus other locations).

4. Talk with others to encourage them to vote in favor of this increase.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am sending this to all of you on my own initiative and not on the part of the POA. I truly care about the future of Bella Vista. Debbie Sorensen Bella

Vista Who pays for fee reductions?

The 2020 Plan proposed by the POA Board and our COO will come at the expense of those that do not use our amenities. In my opinion, this is the most unfair and underhanded plan I have seen in my 20 years living in Bella Vista. It’s no wonder the Board has lost credibility and our trust … AGAIN. The Board is trying to have the absent vacant lot owners (who would pay no increase) and the minority who golf and use the amenities vote in a big increase for the rest of us.

An example in the 2020 plan flyer that the COO explained to various groups during the campaign shows savings on three different scenarios. Those savings amount to a total of $1,395 for three property owners, who golf and use amenities. It would take 19 property owners at the additional $72 per year each to off-set the reduction for those three scenarios. Those who golf and use amenities can already afford to do that. So, who is actually paying for those who will benefit the most from this ridiculous plan?

I believe most members would be willing to pay the additional $5 towards improving our amenities — but to ask them to pay extra for a select few that reap the most benefit is certainly not right. Why would people in their right mind want to support such a flawed, unfair and unethical assessment plan? Certainly, no one who does not play golf, use the fitness centers or other amenities! The vacant lot owners must have some skin in the game too. Think about who is really paying for a few. And, while they’re cutting costs, why doesn’t the Board start at the top

where the salaries are out of line with the positions and over a $100,000 was paid in bonuses last year.

Readers … go online at the POA website and see where the POA Board has wasted your money.

Don Lang Bella Vista

A house divided will fall

I did vote YES on the POA latest assessment increase, but I did not like the 2020 Plan as outlined by the board and current COO. The idea of reducing fees to get membership to vote for a plan that was skewed towards a select few that use the amenities the most and have the others pay for the reduction in revenue is morally wrong. However, this plan failed.

The chairman of the board and others stated the plan failed because unimproved lot owners voted it down. There was no way to assume this, due to the fact our COO said we will not have a vote count by unimproved/improved lot owners, “to do otherwise could result in accusations of vote tampering.” We had many improved lot owners voting NO, due to the reasoning above and other reasons.

The 2001 assessment that passed was supported by 56 percent of the vote from unimproved lot owners.

This new plan proposal of $13 for improved lot owners and $0 for unimproved lot owners is not moral and I can’t believe seven of nine board members supported it. The unimproved lot owners should also have “SKIN” in the game; they are as much property owners of the BVPOA as improved lot owners. Therefore, I cannot support this assessment increase.

The board should scrap their current proposal and develop a plan that will be fair for all property owners and not just a select few. We do need an increase in our assessments (not what we like to hear, but the stump dump fire, future legal fees and the repayment to our water department deems it necessary). I would suggest: 1) Leave fees as they are presently and freeze them for the next three years (90% of those using them can afford what they pay now), and 2) Ask for $5 from improved lot owners (everyone will pay same) and a $2 increase from unimproved lot owners. If explained properly, they should understand that they too have a stake in the future of Bella Vista.

The board needs to make some hard decisions: 1) management salaries of the POA are an issue, total salaries, without water and Food and Beverage have increased by $1,447,000 from January 2016 through December 2018 or 23 percent; and 2) The Food and Beverage Division has a loss over $1.8 million from January 2017 to date (more if you add the depreciation which they charge to clubs).

Our board representatives made some bad decisions over the past three years by approving the COO to spend our entire reserves. The POA has an annual operating budget of some $18 million; therefore, we should have reserves around $4.5 million or three months operating for unforeseen circumstances.

This new assessment plan proposal will divide our membership. The $0 increase for unimproved lot owners and the reduction in fees for a select few will be paid by the majority — improved lot owners.

A HOUSE DIVIDED WILL FALL!

Tommy Freytag Bella Vista

It’s about quality of life

We are a community of about 35,000 people that have the opportunity to live in one of the greatest places on earth. We are not as divided as some would have you believe. According to exit polling, the reason the recent vote to raise our POA dues failed was due to owners of 30 or more undeveloped lots casting a “no” vote. The majority of folks who live here voted in favor of improving the quality of life in Bella Vista.

This issue is about much more than whether you personally use the amenities or not. It’s certainly about much more than how much folks at the POA earn. It’s about our quality of life here in Bella Vista. The amenities provided by the POA are our biggest asset. I think there’s a fair comparison to other small communities that may have one big business that holds that town together. If that business moves out, the town dies. Unfortunately, we’ve seen that story repeated too many times.

If our industry (golf courses, lakes, trails, restaurants, tennis courts, fitness centers, etc.) become diminished or, worse yet, shut down, we no longer will be one of the most desired places to live. If people quit moving here to play golf or tennis, fish, hike, boat, ride bikes, exercise, etc., there will be homes coming on the market with no takers. That will ultimately drive prices down, our property values will take a huge hit. Fewer people being attracted to the area by our amenities mean fewer people buying and building homes. It’s Economics 101…supply and demand.

Folks need to quit looking at our amenities as having to turn a profit to be valuable, they are valuable because of the attraction they create. If our golf courses turn into goat ranches, that will hurt everyone, not just golfers. If our lakes are not managed properly, that

will hurt everyone, not just boaters or fishermen. If our fitness centers become dilapidated, that hurts everyone. Plus, think of other businesses in the area that would be negatively affected … everything from restaurants to hair salons to drug stores. It would definitely have a trickledown effect. It might not be noticed immediately, but the decline would be inevitable.

So please join me in helping to get the vote out … we need to reach quorum again. We are so close to seeing positive change for our community. Let’s not drop the baton … let’s get this to the finish line!

Respectfully,

Dave and Julie Armstrong Bella Vista

I want those numbers

It seems the POA is like the Democrats — can’t accept the vote so change the rules. Several have been trying to get the salary compensation for 2018 and the budget for 2019. Figures are not available even by request. Before I vote “yes” I want those numbers.

Julie Storm Bella Vista Assessment vote

Many people forget the fact that the failure of the Bella Vista Assessment increase will have a negative effect on their property values. They don’t see the big picture. My husband and I retired and built a home in Bella Vista seven years ago. We have put much love and effort into our home in this community only to see its future as one full of aging, tired buildings and a lack of care for the lakes and other amenities. Don’t they see that this community was built on the premise of a POA and the amenities it offers? That’s why we moved here.

Katy Van Note Bella Vista