POA finds closing-ofcourses idea unpopular
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
About 90 people came to a meeting at 8 a. m. Monday to listen to the Bella Vista Property Owners Association board members discuss possibly closing golf courses, raising golf and other fees and balancing the budget for the coming year.
A week earlier, the board had discussed a $ 132, 000 budget shortfall and wanted to try to reach consensus about handling it. One scenario was by converting nine holes on Kingswood Golf Course and Branchwood Golf Course to other recreational activities. They also wanted to find more income by possibly raising golf, lakes and RV Storage fees.
Those in attendance were not given an opportunity to address the board.
Mary Riorden, a member who was there Monday just to listen, said, “ Closing the golf courses is a bait-and-switch tactic so we will agree to the $ 2 increase (for 18 holes ). ”
“ We’ve been residents for 23 years and property owners for 28 years, ” David Kowalski said. “(The POA Board of Directors has ) come up with some dumb ideas, but this is the top of the list of dumb. A chain store doesn’t close its busiest stores. ”
Some in attendance said they didn’t believe walking trails would be successful.
“ Go look and watch the trails — 85 percent of the of the time no one is on them at all, ” said Bob Mathias
The board didn’t decide which course (s ), if any, might be converted to other uses. They will hold a town hall meeting before they approve the final budget on Dec. 11 to help them learn what members want.
Chairman Roberta Dale listed savings from converting several golf courses if the board decides on this action.
The projected savings would be:
Branchwood Golf Course — $ 97, 000
Brittany Golf Course — $ 110, 000
Scotsdale back 9 or 7 holes — $ 170, 000
Scotsdale all 18 holes — $ 380, 000
Kingswood Golf Course (take away 9 holes and combine the remaining 9 with Berksdale Golf Course to make a 27-hole complex ) — $ 172, 000
Selling land straddling Arkansas and and Missouri, which is owned by the POA, is not a good business option, Dale said.
“ A poor economy and real estate prices do not recommend sale at this time, ” she said. “ The sale would produce a one-time revenue and would not fix a long-term budget deficit. ”
Besides balancing the budget, several board members are working to make the percentage of assessment dollars spent on golf and recreation more equal.
Currently, amenities receive 71 percent of the income from assessments, and golf receives 47 percent of that money, Director Bill Johnson said. Recreation gets 27 percent.
For the 2009 budget, General Manager Tommy Bailey increased income going to the amenities to 80 percent, and increased the golf portion to 49 percent, Johnson said. Recreation would receive 25 percent.
So, golf got more of the assessment dollars than recreation, but the board had instructed the general manager to give more money to recreation, Johnson said.
The board wanted more dollars to go recreation for several reasons.
About 10 years ago, golf rounds were at 365, 000, Johnson said. This year it might be 240, 000.
“ We have more golf capacity than we need. ”
Golf is declining in popularity as a sport, Director Jan Keirsey said.
“ What’s happening to golf locally is happening nationally. Not only has golf trended down in Bella Vista for 10 years, it has trended down
Bailey said one third or fewer of the residents play golf.
Johnson suggested, prior to any town meeting, Bailey bring back a balanced
The first goal is to maintain amenities and not let them fall into disrepair, Dale said. Next, if amenities are not being used they should be taken “ off-line. ” Finally, board members should keep in mind retirement incomes, the job market and the poor economy may affect the board’s choices.
Dale invited the membership to send their questions and ideas on the budget to info @ bellavistapoa. com. The POA will publish answers on the site.
Property owners can write Bella Vista POA, 98 Clubhouse Drive Bella Vista, AR. 72715.
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