LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Posted on Wednesday, August 6, 2008
He disagrees with friend on user fees Periodically some unthinking person suggests that all Bella Vista amenities be fully paid by user fees. Now a personal friend and one that I have a great deal of respect for seems to support those mislead ideas. "Sorry Charlie."I disagree and here is why.
Conceptually, Bella Vista was created as a residential / recreational community to be run by a Property Owners Association and supported by a owner-assessment program. The POA has provided the basic municipal services and has acted as a "park district"using assessment dollars (like taxes ) and user fees to support local amenities. It would be a very rare "park district"that operated without tax support. It would also be rare to see one with our population base that lists 31 sites on its'"amenities map"as does Bella Vista.
Now to the question of support with user fees only. First let us look at golf. Bella Vista has eight courses, 126 holes, 40, 978 yards, just from tee to center of the green. If laid in line this would run 23. 28 miles. Bella Vista is more than a recreational community; it is, and was, created partially as a golf community. Whether you play golf or not, or live on golf course frontage, the value of every lot, every home and every non-resident membership is supported by those more than 23 miles of greenery we call fairways.
The real question is "How much would non-golfer residents be willing to pay to maintain their property values What about lakes and parks ? We own and operate, and stock with fish, seven lakes with 10 boat landings, eight parks two swimming pools, several tennis courts two multi-purpose buildings (30, 832 square feet ) that include large, well-equipped fitness rooms.
Many people who do not live on a lake own boats and use these lakes; everyone does not swim, play tennis exercise, play miniature golf, shuffleboard, or have children who use the many playground pieces in the village. But I cannot believe they are so naive to not understand each of these amenities help to maintain our property values. All supported by user fees ? Really now, how much shall we charge our kids or grandkids to play in our park ?
Art Leu Bella Vista Drain fields are the problem The Property Owners Association spent a great deal of money in hiring an independent firm to do a flyover and locate the trouble spots in our lakes in regard to water pollution, and then sent one of their own employees out to check on them. With all the secrecy surrounding the POA's activities that have come to light lately, do you think we would be told anything if POA lakes ecologist Darrell Bowman came upon a problem ? Would you like to be the one to tell the owner of a high-priced lake lot that their drain field is too close to the lake and polluting it, and that they would have to correct the problem ? Certainly not Tommy Bailey (POA general manager ).
If they are going to draw down the lakes about six feet, that makes it easy - just check the shorelines after the draw-down and see which ones stay wet. The septic tanks are never the problem; it's the drain fields. Maybe someone like the Bella Vista FlyTyers would take on this project.
One last thought. The people of Bella Vista have no complaints coming when they go out and re-elect two of the three board-appointed directors back into office. It always helps to have your own people on board. Larry Behlendorf Bella Vista Time will tell I started a response to Byrd William's letter to the editor from two weeks ago, and after reading the latest issue of The Weekly Vista, believe this issue was covered. He may have intended the "pay as you go"as a tongue in cheek comment, but I think the responses show there is favoritism to that plan ! I think we just all want to see our assessment fees go to something that we are likely to use, and not support something that we are not. So on to the next subject... just golf. The overseeding issue is a big one. If it requires cart paths only, with no overseeding, we are going to lose a lot of income in the winter months. My concern comes from the "expert"opinion of the PGA professional that we hire to visit our courses. I read the article with his comments on how we should treat our courses. Each time he recommended something (i. e. no overseeding ) he used the phrase "with the increased rounds"of the courses. I'm sorry, but I've looked at the numbers on the POA Web site, and rounds have decreased every year, this year being no exception. We're down almost 11, 000 for the year so far.
If we're risking losing the business of our guests over the winter months because we don't overseed, are we really being fiscally responsible ? It seems the opinion is that overseeding on a three-year rotation will not harm the courses, so why not keep the members happy ? Time will tell if the board ignores the population once again. Mary Stewart Bella Vista Demand answers from the POA I cannot think of even one good reason for the Property Owners Association to not conform to the Freedom of Information Act. Unless, I repeat, unless they are hiding things from us - the members and owners. Can you ? An example is why was Christy Attlesey, POA communications manager, not able to give a list of the POA employees and salaries to Mrs. Ernest Hodges, as stated in a recent Weekly Vista letter to the editor ? It is our money they are spending, folks.
Also, who authorized sending 2, 000 ballots to Cooper Communities for the 2007 POA Board election ? The 2007 election is being contested in court and paid for by private donations.
The U. S. government has a public information officer that an individual can request information from and receive a reply, unless it has to do with national security. I don't think anything the POA is supposed to do has anything to do with national security. Wake up, Bella Vistans. Let's take back control of our city / village for the benefit of all, I repeat, all of the citizens and property owners - not, I say again, not just a select few ! Go to the POA Board meetings, ask questions during the forums and demand answers at the meetings. Dick Deaton Bella Vista Heartfelt thanks On May 13, I had a car accident on my way home in Bella Vista on Route 729. Two young ladies stopped to help me and they called my husband. He was able to get there, thanks to our neighbors.
Several others assisted with traffic and helped to console me until the ambulance arrived. The ambulance, with a wonderful EMT group, arrived immediately and I was in the best hands for the trip to the hospital.
I believe in angels, and all of these people were truly my angels. I don't know their names except for the EMT," Bo."All the staff at Northwest Medical Center, and Dr. Dickinson, took excellent care of me during my stay in the hospital. I wish to thank them all for their time and kind help, from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all ! Janet Townslay Bella Vista
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